Home & garden calendar, Sept. 28-Oct. 4
Send events for this calendar to homes@dailyherald.com with “calendar listing” in the subject line. Deadline is two weeks prior to the event.
Upcoming
South Barrington Garden Club: 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, at South Barrington Park District, 3 Tennis Club Lane. Peggy Galvin will present the hands-on project “Make Your Own Fall Arrangement.” Visit sbgclub.org.
Prospect Heights Garden Club: 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, at Gary Morava Recreation Center, 110 W. Camp McDonald Road, Prospect Heights. Tamara Black will speak on “Flowers at the White House.” Bring a brown bag for lunch and there will be raffle prizes. Any questions, call Chris at (847) 506-9851.
Hoffman Estates Garden Club, “Breathing New Life into your Landscape”: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, at the Schaumburg Township building, One Illinois Blvd., Hoffman Estates. Diane Smith of Perennial Professionals Inc. will discuss how to work with and enhance your existing garden. Discover how to transform your existing landscape into a thriving and beautiful outdoor space. Learn how to evaluate your current landscape, identify areas of improvement, and consider your desired outcome. Discover creative ways to breathe new life into existing features like patios, walkways, and planting beds. Discover cost-effective ways to achieve your renovation goals without breaking the bank. First of a two-part series. Smith will return in March for Part 2: “Design for Color for Lasting Impact.” The presentation begins at 6:45 p.m. after a short business meeting. Nonmembers are welcome. Visit hoffmanestatesgardenclub.club.
Roselle Park District Garden Club, “By the Light of the Moon”: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, at Roselle Park District, 10 N. Roselle Road. Many can only enjoy garden spaces in the evening after a busy day. Why not create a special garden to enjoy when the sun goes down and the moon rises? Learn about garden design and delve into the many types of plants that add color and texture to dusk and beyond. facebook.com/RPDgardenclub/
Roselle Park District Garden Club scarecrow contest: Saturday, Oct. 4, at Roselle Park District, 10 N. Roselle Road. The 2025 Scarecrow Contest will once again be held during the Roselle Founders Day Festival. Families, schools, clubs, and organizations are invited to create a scarecrow to be voted on by fest attendees. Contest entry is free. Scarecrows must be set up between noon and 1 p.m. Oct. 4 outside the Clauss Recreation Center and must be removed at the end of the fest at 6:30 p.m. Prizes will be awarded: first place, $100; second place, $75; third place, $50; and honorable mention, $25. All winners will receive a gift card from a local business, one free garden club membership, and one free 2026 garden walk ticket. Registration deadline is Sept. 27. Questions, email rosellegardenclub@gmail.com. facebook.com/RPDgardenclub/.
“Planning for Next Year's Garden”: 11 a.m.-noon Saturday, Oct. 4, Wauconda Area Public Library’s Lincoln Room, 801 N. Main St., Wauconda. Learn all about steps to take now to create a successful native garden next year. From planning and design to plant choices and cleanup. Have your native landscaping questions answered. Register: wauclib.org.
OAKtober Celebration Native Tree and Shrub Sale: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, at Independence Grove Forest Preserve, 16400 W. Buckley Road, Libertyville. Lake County Forest Preserves’ largest native tree and shrub sale and select the perfect native plant for your yard. Meet at North Bay Pavilion. View available plant list and educational resources at LCFPD.org/OAKtober.
Garden Club of Lake Zurich, “Making the Most of Your Herbal Harvest”: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, Ela Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. Master gardener and garden coach Mark Lyons shares his love of gardening with tips on how to harvest and store your bumper crop of herbs as well as how to use herbs to prepare butters, vinegars, oils, teas, sachets, and other healthy, herbal delights. Hosted with the Ela Public Library; register at gardencluboflakezurich.org.
Rolling Meadows Garden Club, “Beyond Summer”: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Rolling Meadows Community Center Laurel Room, 3705 Pheasant Drive, Rolling Meadows. In “Sustaining a Year-Round Kitchen Garden,” Nicole Jagielski will show how to break free from the conventional growing season and discover how to harvest healthy produce nearly every month of the year, even in the cold. She is the owner of Patio Produce, a local kitchen garden design and gardening coaching business. Whether creating a brand new kitchen garden or modifying an existing one that hasn't produced the harvest you were hoping for, Nicole can guide or install the edible garden of your dreams. All are welcome. Visit rollingmeadowsgardenclub.com.
Des Plaines Garden Club: 9:45 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, at the Frisbie Senior Center, 52 E. Northwest Hwy. in Des Plaines. Business meeting starts at 10 a.m., followed by program at 11 a.m. Visit desplainesilgardenclub.com or facebook.com/DesPlainesGardenClub/.
Chicagoland Daylily Society: 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at The Community House, 415 W. 8th St., Hinsdale. In addition to the bratwurst Octoberfest potluck, there will be the election of officers and photo contest. Visit chicagolanddaylilysociety.org.
Mount Prospect Garden Club ‘Gardens of the Midwest’: 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, at Mount Prospect Village Hall’s Farley Room, 50 S. Emerson St. Learn about the beautiful gardens that are close to home. Brock and Ruth Ann Seney will discuss the gardens at Cantigny, Morton Arboretum, Chicago Botanic Gardens, Missouri Botanic Gardens, Des Moines Botanic Gardens, Reiman Gardens, Anderson Japanese Gardens and others. Brock and Ruth Ann are avid travelers and visit gardens wherever they can. Ruth is a Master Gardener and an experienced speaker. The meeting begins with social time, followed by the 10 a.m. business meeting and 11 a.m. speaker. Guests are welcome. Visit gcmp.weebly.com.
Geneva Garden Club: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, at the Stephen R. Persinger Recreation Center, 3507 Kaneville Road in Geneva. Heather Prince will present “Hydrangeas 101.” The program starts at noon following lunch. Guests are welcome. Visit genevagardenclub.com/general-meetings/.
Plant & Produce Swap: 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, at Glenview Public Library, 1930 Glenview Road, Glenview. Suffering from zucchini overload? Share your garden's bounty, house plants, and seeds with the community, then connect with fellow gardeners. Nothing to bring? You can still join the swap and take some fresh items home. In partnership with the Glenview Gardeners. Drop in. Visit glenviewgardeners.org.
Garden Club of Inverness, ‘Container Design 101: The Basics And Beyond’: 10-11:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, at All Saints Lutheran Church, 639 S. Quentin Road, Palatine. Be it on the front stoop, porch, flanking the garage, patio, or balcony garden, containers provide seasonal color, design, and most importantly, curb appeal to our environments. Stephanie Dalton, owner of Can’t ContainHer specializing in landscape design as well as four-season custom container garden design and installation, shows how to select the right container, soil, and plants, as well as essential maintenance practices of container gardening. Free; all are welcome. Visit gardenclubofinverness.com.
GardenWorks Project's Harvest Against Hunger: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, in the Thornhill Education Center at The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Celebrate community, connection, and impact at the GardenWorks Project's eighth annual fundraiser. Every dollar raised helps provide fresh, healthy food to families in DuPage County. The $100 ticket includes farm-to-fork appetizers, beverages (including a seasonal Arboretum beer), a sneak peek at the 2026 season, and complimentary Arboretum admission all day. To purchase tickets, visit gardenworksproject.org. With the goal of increasing the local food systems to improve food security, The GardenWorks Project collaborates with food pantries, social service agencies, and community organizations to grow fresh produce for households facing hunger.
Des Plaines Garden Club Holiday Luncheon: 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, at Manzo’s Banquets in Des Plaines. Mary Cantrell will present “Fall Creations,” a demonstration into the world of professional floral design. There will be a raffle of prizes, an instant win board, a silent auction, and the popular bake sale. There also will be a 50/50 raffle with proceeds going to the Irma Lehmann Scholarship Fund. A choice of 3 entries is available for the luncheon. Cost is $45 per person. Call Mary at (847) 331-1888 to make a reservation no later than Oct. 31. Visit desplainesilgardenclub.com or facebook.com/DesPlainesGardenClub/.
Garden shows
Illinois Orchid Society Fall Show & Sale: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11-12, at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Presented by the Illinois Orchid Society, this show will feature artistically arranged table top displays from the rarest of species to cultivated hybrids. Individual orchids in 128 classes will vie for red, white, and blue ribbons. Twenty-five entries will receive “best of class” green ribbons, and the best-appointed plant in the show will receive the Chicago Horticultural Society Award from American Orchid Society judges. Illinois Orchid Society also providing orchid plants for sale as well as repotting services. Photographers' Hour: 9-10 a.m. Oct. 12. Admission to the show is free with general admission to the Chicago Botanic Garden. Visit chicagobotanic.org.
Midwest Fruit Explorers Show & Sale: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 18-19, at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Burnstein Hall, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. See a display of freshly harvested fruit grown in the area by members of the Midwest Fruit Explorers, featuring apples, pears, paw paws, grapes, kiwis and more. Visitors can obtain information on growing fruit. Shop for apples, cider and more. Admission to the show is free with general admission to the Chicago Botanic Garden. Visit chicagobotanic.org.
Midwest Daffodil Society Bulb Sale: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 18-19, at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Burnstein Hall, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Hundreds of varieties of daffodil bulbs will be available for purchase. Find a vibrant array of unique, rare, and unusual bloom types that offer proven color, hardiness and stability. Plus, daffodil enthusiasts will be on hand ready to offer expert growing tips. Admission to the show is free with general admission to the Chicago Botanic Garden. Visit chicagobotanic.org.
Wisconsin-Illinois Lily Society Lily Bulb Sale: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 18-19, at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Burnstein Hall, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Presented by the Wisconsin-Illinois Lily Society. An annual sale that offers a wide variety of lily bulbs. Admission to the show is free with general admission to the Chicago Botanic Garden. Visit chicagobotanic.org.