Home & garden calendar, Feb. 15-22

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

Garden Club of Downers Grove: 12:15-3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16, at American Legion Post 80, 4000 Saratoga, Downers Grove. Ken Benson, a landscape architect and host of the show “Landscaping with Ken Benson” from 1992-2000, presents “Houseplants, Our Friends.” It starts at 12:15 p.m. for refreshments followed by the club's general meeting then the presentation at 1:45 p.m. Visit gardenclubofdownersgrove.net or facebook.com/gardenclubdownersgrove.

Bloomingdale Garden Club: 6:15-8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, at Cornerstone Faith Community Church, 118 First St., Bloomingdale. It will be the annual business meeting, including a review of 2025 activities, upcoming events for 2026 (including the popular flower & plant sale in May), and a discussion about the club’s charitable donations. The club will also be making lanyards for name badges at meetings. Social time begins at 6:15 p.m., announcements at 6:45 p.m., and meeting at 7 p.m. Visit bloomingdalegardenclub.org.

Batavia Plain Dirt Gardeners: 6:45 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, at the Batavia Public Library, 10 S. Batavia Ave. Guest Karly Tumminello, director/curator of the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum at Benedictine University in Lisle, teaches nature writing. Learn how to record your observations of nature through a journal or field notebook. Look at the key features of nature journals, various techniques of descriptive writing, how to incorporate visual elements, and basic sketching. All are welcome. Visit bataviaplaindirtgardeners.org or facebook.com/BataviaPlainDirtGardeners/.

Wild Ones “From Wasteland to Wonder”: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18, on YouTube Live. In “Easy Ways We Can Help Heal Earth in the Suburban and Urban Landscape,” learn how small shifts in how we care for trees, soil, and land can restore life, reduce effort, and create healthier suburban and urban landscapes in this free webinar with Basil Camu. Drawing on two decades of hands-on experience through Leaf & Limb, Camu shows how working with natural systems instead of against them can help heal land, reduce maintenance, and create healthier, more resilient landscapes. Register: wildones.org.

Garden Club of Inverness: 10:15-11:45 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, at All Saints Lutheran Church, 639 S. Quentin Road, Palatine. Dan Pilguy, owner and operator of Arlington Crest Farms, is entering his 10th year of business in Palatine. He last visited the club in 2019. He will share his trials and tribulations over the past decade as a suburban farmer. He will share what he has learned, including best practices as a grower, how he has developed his business to meet the needs of local consumers, and his hopes for future endeavors to make a lasting impact in the community. Free. Visit gardenclubofinverness.com.

Lombard Garden Club: 12:30-3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, at the Lombard Community Center, 433 E. St. Charles Road. In “Bee an Advocate for Nature,” Bruce Blake, a pollinator garden specialist with the DuPage Monarch Project, will talk about the decline in monarch butterfly and native bee populations. Many other insects and pollinators have lost habitat and food sources. This in turn affects birds, amphibians and other animals that depend on them for food. Learn how you can be an important part in helping the natural world thrive. All are welcome; no charge. Visit lombardgardenclub.org.

Arlington Heights Garden Club: 6:30-8:15 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, at St. Simon’s Episcopal Church, 717 W. Kirchoff Road, Arlington Heights. In “Warblers Unveiled, Discover the True Songbirds of Summer,” Alyse Cohen Burman will explore the diverse species of warblers, their unique habitats and the critical role they play in our ecosystems. Learn about these small songbirds known for their beautiful colors and melodies. Social time at 6:30 p.m. with meeting and program at 7 p.m. Guests welcome. Visit facebook.com/AHGardenClub.

Grayslake Greenery Garden Club, “Gardening in Comfort”: 6:30-9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, at State Bank of the Lakes, 50 Commerce Drive, Grayslake. Presenters Mary Zorc, an Extension Master Gardener and the lead for the “Ask A Master Gardener” booth at the Grayslake Farmers Market, or Robin Martin, a newly certified Master Gardener and a strong advocate for the Gardening in Comfort approach. “Gardening in Comfort” involves using adaptive tools, equipment and techniques to best fit the needs of the gardener. Anyone, at any age, can garden with greater ease, preventing injury and reducing stress on the body. Included in the presentation will be a display of adaptive tools. Bring the tools you use to share your success with the group. Visit grayslakegardenclub.org.

Antique Apple Tree Grafting Seminar: 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 1, at Garfield Farm Museum, off Garfield Road, Campton Hills. Learn how to grow your own antique apple trees at 37th annual event. For $40, participants will learn traditional apple grafting techniques and take home three grafts of heirloom varieties to plant in the spring. Reservations are required by calling (630) 584-8485 or emailing info@garfieldfarm.org.

Garden Club of ​Lake Zurich: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, at Ela Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. In “Art, Music and Words About Birds,” prairie steward and natural history writer Cindy Crosby offers a fun talk on birds and their place in cultural history. Birds have influenced classical and pop music, and are the focus of films, books, and works of art in textiles, painting, sculpture and more. ​Guests welcome. Refreshments and business meeting follows program. Sign up via the library website, eapl.org. gardencluboflakezurich.org.

Roselle Park District Garden Club: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 5, at Roselle Park District, 10 N. Roselle Road. An introduction to sustainable perennial food systems. Permaculture is a cumulation of thousands of years of food forests created by indigenous communities around the world. These cultures created ecosystems of edible plants that mimicked nature to build self-sustaining systems. There are three main permaculture ethics, Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Share. There are 12 main principles of permaculture. It will touch on the ethics and principles and then delve into some of the main ideas of permaculture and how simple things can be incorporated into any style garden. Guests welcome. facebook.com/RPDgardenclub/.

Central States Dahlia Society: 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 8, at Elk Grove Village Township Office, 600 Landmeier Road. Doors open at 1 p.m. Auctioneer Jim Kassner leads an auction of up to 50 highly-prized dahlia tubers contributed by fellow society members. Visit centralstatesdahliasociety.com.

Geneva Garden Club: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, at the Stephen R. Persinger Recreation Center, 3507 Kaneville Road in Geneva. Kane County/University of Illinois Master Gardener will present “Pet-friendly Landscaping.” The program starts at noon following lunch. Guests are welcome. Visit genevagardenclub.com/general-meetings/.

Rolling Meadows Garden Club: 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, at the Rolling Meadows Community Center, 3705 Pheasant Drive. In “Nifty Plants for Shady Sites,” Heather Prince, horticulturist educator at The Morton Arboretum and Chicago Botanic Garden, will explore the colors and textures of special shade loving plant varieties for dry shade, moist shade, part shade, and dense shade. All are welcome. Visit rollingmeadowsgardenclub.com for more details.

Plant sales

Organic Seedlings Sale: First Congregational United Church of Christ in Elmhurst is now taking order for its 12th annual sale. Preorders for certified organic vegetable, herb and annual flower seedlings will be taken through Feb. 28. New this year, order bags of organic mushroom compost and potting mix too. For information on ordering your seedlings, visit elmhurstucc.org/store. Seedlings will be available for pick up at the Green Garden Fair from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 9, at the church, 235 S. Kenilworth.

Wheaton Garden Club sale: Orders are open for the Wheaton Garden Club’s annual plant sale. Put in your order at wheatongardenclub.org by Sunday, March 1. The plant pickup date is Saturday, May 16, in Wheaton. The sale features professionally grown annuals many of which are Proven Winners. Hundreds of offerings include hanging baskets, individual pots of various sizes, and flats. Summer favorites available for purchase include a wide variety of geraniums, coleuses, salvias, zinnias and petunias. A wide selection of red white and blue flowers are available in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Proceeds support area community organizations and scholarships for College of DuPage, Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South students. Organizations supported include We Grow Dreams, Sustain DuPage, and Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans. Questions, email plantsale@wheatongardenclub.org.

Workshops

Pruning Principles: 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18, in the Learning Center at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Tim Johnson, Chicago Botanic Garden’s senior director of horticulture, will show how using the correct technique for pruning is key to maintaining healthy plants. Learn the principles of pruning, including proper tool use, techniques for pruning trees and shrubs, and the best time to prune both evergreen and deciduous plants. Discover a variety of pruning tools for maximum efficiency and plant health. $40. Register: chicagobotanic.org.

Assessing Soil Health for Ornamental Landscapes: 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, in Morton Arboretum’s Thornhill Education Center, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. If you’ve noticed a decline in your ornamental landscape’s vegetation, poor soil could be the cause. In this hands-on workshop with green industry outreach coordinator Michelle Catania, learn about the plant-soil relationships of healthy ornamental landscapes, the basics of soil properties, and the importance of soil sampling. $42 or $49. Register: mortonarb.org.

Building Healthy Soils: 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, in Morton Arboretum’s Thornhill Education Center, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Learn about properties of healthy soils and how they impact your landscape. In this hands-on workshop with green industry outreach coordinator Michelle Catania, learn how to assess soils and learn the functions that help support all kinds of healthy plants. Whether you grow vegetables, flowers, trees, or shrubs, this workshop will introduce you to a deeper understanding of garden soil, and give you tips and techniques for creating healthy soils in your yard. $32 or $39. Register: mortonarb.org.

Introduction to Houseplant Care: 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, on Zoom with Chicago Botanic Garden. New! Learn to think like a horticulturist with Sarah Nolimal, Chicago Botanic Garden’s senior horticulturist, as you explore indoor plant care, including basic requirements and treatment plans. Expand your knowledge of topics like environmental factors, plant selection, healthcare, and seasonal maintenance. Bring your questions and get expert guidance on keeping your plants thriving year-round. $25. Register: chicagobotanic.org.

Gardening for Hummingbirds: 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, on Zoom with Chicago Botanic Garden. Make your yard a haven for ruby-throated hummingbirds with a great selection of native plants that provide food sources and nesting sites from spring to fall. Led by Duncan Himmelman, Ph.D., college horticulture instructor. $65. Register: chicagobotanic.org.

Dappled Delights, Adding Color to Shade Gardens: 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, in the Regenstein Center Plant Science Lab at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. New! Shady spaces do not have to be dull. While spring ephemerals provide early interest, many fade quickly, leaving gaps in the garden. Explore a wide variety of plants — both foliage and flowers — that keep shade gardens vibrant well into summer and fall. Chicago Botanic Garden plant curator Jacob Burns will show how to combine textures, colors, and bloom times for continuous appeal, plus offer tips on selecting plants that thrive in low light. Whether you are working under mature trees or in the shadow of a building, discover creative ways to transform dim areas into colorful, layered landscapes. $32. Register: chicagobotanic.org.

Introduction to Pruning: Noon Thursday, March 5, online, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 7, at Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Practice correct pruning techniques and learn which plants to prune now and, more importantly, which to prune later. Learn which trees and shrubs to prune at different times of the year and the best practices in pruning different species of trees and shrubs. In this interactive class, you will complete a 60-minute online component on your own before attending an in-person session. Spend the in-person session outdoors with Katrina Lewin, plant records coordinator, who will demonstrate what to prune and how to do it. Then put on your gloves, grab some pruners, and try it yourself. $42 or $49. Register: mortonarb.org.

Sustainable Garden Design: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fridays, March 6 to April 17, in Morton Arboretum’s Cudahy Room, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. In this introductory-level gardening class with Fearless Gardening horticulturist Heather Prince, learn the basic principles of designing a sustainable garden and create a personalized plan for your space. Sustainable landscape and gardening techniques include smart water usage in both dry and wet situations, choosing plants both for their aesthetic beauty and their value to wildlife, and implementing pest control practices that are safe for people and the environment. Through a combination of lectures and hands-on workshops, students will: discuss the effects of climate change on landscapes, wildlife, and people; learn garden design basics including site analysis, measuring and drafting plans to scale, techniques for organizing garden spaces, sustainable hardscape options, and combining plants to create multi-season interest; create a design drawing for a small section of your own garden to create an eco-friendly, sustainable landscape at home; and learn to reduce resources and costs in your garden by using proper maintenance techniques, integrated pest management practices, and plants as problem solvers. $170 or $200. Register: mortonarb.org.

Spring Bonsai Care and Soil Science: 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, in the Grainger Center’s Bonsai Studio at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Explore the seasonal care of deciduous, evergreen, and tropical bonsai, starting with the emergence from winter dormancy and continuing through the growing season. Topics will include soil and repotting, spring growth, and pest management. Bring in your trees for work and discussion on care. Led by Chris Baker, curator of bonsai. $49/$62. Register: chicagobotanic.org.

Food Forest Design Workshop: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 21, in Morton Arboretum’s Thornhill Education Center, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Food forests are an approach to growing edible plants that incorporates all of the layers found in naturally occurring forests. This holistic approach is beneficial in several ways, both for the local population as well as for the environment. This course provides general information and guidelines on food forests and how to plan and care for them, including information on edible native species, companion planting, and other considerations for better cultivation. This course is for everyone; no special knowledge is required. If you’d like to learn from home, please check out the self-paced online course, “How to Create a Food Forest” (on demand). The instructor is Natalie Burgos, Chicago Region Trees Initiative steward, The Morton Arboretum. It is for age 16 or older. $32-$39. Register: mortonarb.org.

Garden shows

Orchid Show 2026: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to March 22 at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Rewind to the 1960s and ’70s at the “Orchid Show: Feelin’ Groovy” where 10,000 vibrant orchids are the hottest thing since bell bottoms. $9-$16. Visit chicagobotanic.org/orchid. Photographers' hours ($30) are 8:15-9:45 a.m. and 4:15-5:45 p.m. Tuesdays; pre-show ticketed access for photographers; capacity is limited.

Orchids after Hours: 5-8 p.m. Thursdays, March 12 and 19; Fridays, Feb. 13 to March 14; and Saturdays, Feb. 14 and 28, and March 14, at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Mingle with the blooms and enjoy a vibrant night out at Orchids After Hours, featuring cocktails and light bites for purchase. Separate ticket required; members cannot use free Orchid Show tickets for this event. $16-$25. Visit chicagobotanic.org/orchid.

Orchids after Hours Silent Disco: 5-8 p.m. Saturdays, Feb. 21 and March 21, at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Age 21 or older can mingle with the blooms and enjoy a vibrant night out at Orchids After Hours, featuring cocktails and light bites for purchase. Separate ticket required; members cannot use free Orchid Show tickets for this event. $25. Visit chicagobotanic.org/orchid.

Illinois Orchid Society’s 74th Spring Show and Sale: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 14-15, at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. See hundreds of rare and unique orchids from the private collections of the top growers in four states compete in 130 competition classes in the longest-running amateur orchid exhibition in the Chicago area. The show is free, included in Chicago Botanic Garden admission and parking. Shop for orchid plants and supplies from our network of commercial growers and collectors. Reserve your timed entry to the Chicago Botanic Garden in advance. Visit chicagobotanic.org/orchid.