Home and garden calendar, Aug. 18-24
Send events for this calendar to homes@dailyherald.com with “calendar listing” in the subject line. Deadline is two weeks prior to the event.
Aug. 18
46th Mid-America Bonsai Exhibition: Garden hours Sunday, Aug. 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, the exhibition is a show 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. There will also be 30 vendors selling trees, tools, pots, stands, suiseki, scrolls, soil, fertilizers, etc. Included with garden admission. For information, (630) 665-8164 or midwestbonsai.org.
Hydrangea Bloomania!: 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 18, at The Growing Place, 2000 Montgomery Road, Aurora and 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.
Plant Swap: 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18, at Elmhurst Public Library, 125 S. Prospect Ave., Elmhurst. Plant lovers of all ages are invited to meet at the library to trade gardening supplies and pest-free plants, including houseplants, potted plants, cuttings, succulents and more. Plant swaps are a great way to start a new hobby or for expert gardeners to add more variety to their collections. No registration required. For information, (630) 279-8696 or elmhurstpubliclibrary.org.
Aug. 19
Suburban Garden Club: 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19, at the Indian Head Park Administrative Building, 201 Acacia Drive, Indian Head Park. Want to help pollinators and preserve biodiversity? Join members and friends of the Suburban Garden Club to hear Greg Walter discuss honeybees, their role in our landscape and what locally grown honey can do for you. All are welcome. Free. For information, email mmintz@anl.gov.
Aug. 20
Native Seed Collection for the Home Gardener: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 20, at McHenry County College, 8900 U.S. Highway 14, 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. $15. For information, conservemc.org.
Aug. 21
Tri-Village Garden Club: 6:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month, at Streamwood Fire Station #31, 1204 S. Park Ave., Streamwood. For information, trivillagegardenclub.org/wordpress or facebook.com/TriVillageGardenClub.
Aug. 22
Apple Creek Food Forest Open House: 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, at Apple Creek Food Forest, SW corner of Hercules Drive and Dean Street, Woodstock. Interested in seeing what’s happening out at The Land Conservancy of McHenry County’s Food Forest? Come out for a tour, visit the gardens, and see the progress being made. Refreshments will be served. Free. For information, (815) 337-9502 or conservemc.org.
Garden After Hours — Goth Gardens: 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, at The Growing Place, 2000 Montgomery Road, Aurora. Combine your love of plants with a touch of gothic charm at Garden After Hours: Goth Gardens. Learn how to add the gothic aesthetic to your outdoor space. Get inspiration from goth-inspired plant displays while you sip themed drinks. Create your own goth-inspired containers and enjoy dinner from the food truck before you leave. Ages 21+ only. Free to enter. No registration required. For information, (630) 820-8088 or thegrowingplace.com.
Aug. 23
Lombard Garden Club — Birds in the Garden: 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, at the Lombard Community Building, 433 E. St. Charles Road, Lombard. Pam Karlson presents, “Birds in the Garden: Creating and Enjoying a Bird Oasis.” The presentation features photos from Karlson’s Chicago bird garden habitat, illustrating how it’s possible to attract over 100 bird species. Tips include landscape enhancements, practices and plant selection, with an emphasis on native plants. Chicago’s location along the migratory route, bird species diversity, habitat, diet/foraging, nesting, supplemental support and community science will also be discussed. There is no charge and the public is welcome to attend. For information, lombardgardenclub.org.
Aug. 24
Chicagoland Daylily Society — Daylily Sale: 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, at American Legion Post 80, 4000 Saratoga Ave., Downers Grove. Hundreds of the most beautiful and unique registered daylilies will be available for purchase. Members and hybridizers will be available to answer questions. Free admission. For information, (630) 852-9807 or chicagolanddaylilysociety.org.