Home & garden calendar, Aug. 11-17
Send events for this calendar to homes@dailyherald.com with “calendar listing” in the subject line. Deadline is two weeks prior to the event.
Tuesday, Aug. 13
Bonsai & Brew Studio: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13, at Koval Distillery, 4241 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago. Bring your friends, grab a drink and dive into the captivating art of bonsai. Expert instructors will guide you through the fundamental skills and techniques of bonsai. Learn to pot, prune and craft your very own bonsai tree, all while enjoying a lively atmosphere. For information, lincolnsquare.org.
Wednesday, Aug. 14
Seasonal Tree Walk: 9-10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14, Sept. 18, Oct. 16 or Nov. 13, at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Enjoy a morning walk to explore the trees at the garden. Each month, visit a different section of the garden and learn about the trees unique to that area. Dress for the weather. Register. $24-$30. For information, chicagobotanic.org.
Native Seed Collection for the Home Gardener: 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14, at Crystal Lake Public Library, 126 W. Paddock St., Crystal Lake. Join Sarah Michehl from The Land Conservancy of McHenry County for tips and tricks on how to collect your native plant seeds. She will cover basic seed identification, collection methods and timelines, and tips on how to direct sow your seeds. For information, (815) 337-9502 or conservemc.org.
Thursday, Aug. 15
Garden Club of Inverness — ‘Oh My Dahlia!’: 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, at All Saints Lutheran Church, 639 S. Quentin Road, Palatine. Susan Erickson presents, “Oh My Dahlia!” Erickson is a new dahlia hobbyist but has jumped in with both feet. She will share what she’s learned about growing these beautiful flowers and will share growing and storage tips, as well as some surprising facts she has learned. She started a year ago with six tubers, and now has multiples each of 26 different varieties. Open to the public. For information, gardenclubofinverness.com.
Friday, Aug. 16
46th Mid-America Bonsai Exhibition: Noon to 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 17-18, at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Centered at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Permanent Bonsai Collection featuring over 150 world-class trees, it’s a showplace of Bonsai from across the Midwest and beyond. National enthusiasts bring their trees to be judged in the main hall at the Garden’s Regenstein Center. Guest Judge is Jack Sustic, former Curator of the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington D.C. There will be 30 vendors selling trees, tools, pots, stands, suiseki, scrolls, soil, fertilizers, etc. There will also be workshops and lectures, including a Children’s Bonsai Styling workshop. Garden admission fee. For information, (630) 665-8164 or midwestbonsai.org.
Saturday, Aug. 17
Prairie Walk & Talk: 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Take a guided walk through the native shoreline and Dixon Prairie. Observe areas not traveled by most, and learn about the magnificent Illinois native plants and the wildlife that depend on them. Dress for the weather. Register. $24/$30. For information, chicagobotanic.org.
Hydrangea Bloomania!: 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, at The Growing Place, 2000 Montgomery Road, Aurora or 25W471 Plank Road, Naperville. Join for a series of talks ranging from hydrangea basics to advanced care techniques. Gardeners of all levels will learn something new. Free, no registration required. For information, thegrowingplace.com.
Ask a Master Gardener: 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, at Evanston Main Library, 1703 Orrington Ave., Evanston. Illinois Master Gardeners will be on hand in the lobby of the main library to answer gardening questions and provide information. For information, evanston.libnet.info.
Creating an Interior Design — From Mood Board to Reveal: 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, at Westmont Public Library, 428 N. Cass Ave., Westmont. Registration required, visit westmont.librarycalendar.com/events/month.