Home & garden calendar, March 3-14

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 ​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.

Prospect Heights Garden Club: 11:30 a.m. Thursday, March 5, at Gary Morava Recreation Center, 110 W. Camp McDonald Road, Prospect Heights. Toshiko Kolback will talk about Ikebana, also known as Kado, a traditional flower arrangement with seasonal elements chosen to be symbolic of a theme or with color to complement a room’s decoration. Toshi’s arrangements will be raffled at the end of the presentation. A business meeting will start at 11:30 a.m. followed by a brown-bag lunch. Any questions, call Ann Johnson at (847) 253-1223. Visit phparks.org/affiliates-2/.

Hoffman Estates Garden Club: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, March 5, at the Schaumburg Township building, One Illinois Blvd., Hoffman Estates. In “Designing with Color for Lasting Impact,” Diane Smith, owner of Perennial Professionals, will show how to use color strategically to create harmony, highlight focal points, and add year-round interest. Learn simple, effective strategies for creating seasonal palettes, plant pairings, and design highlights that boost curb appeal. Social hour with refreshments at 6 p.m. and a short business meeting at 6:30 p.m. Nonmembers are welcome. Visit hoffmanestatesgardenclub.club.

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/.

Seed Swap: 1-2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7, in St. Charles Public Library’s Huntley Community Room, 1 S. Sixth Ave. Swap seeds with local gardeners. This also is the first chance to get seeds from the heirloom seed library. You do not have to bring seeds to take seeds, but it is encouraged. Heirloom and open-pollinated seeds are preferred. Label seeds to the best of your ability. Master Gardeners from the University of Illinois Extension available to answer gardening questions. No registration required. Visit scpld.org.

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.

Gardeners of Central Lake County: 7 p.m. Monday, March 9, in the Crosslife Evangelical Church basement, 431 W. Austin Ave., Libertyville. In “Birdscaping,” Donna Kinski will present ideas to attract birds to your yard by providing their needs through plant and tree choices. By making your garden a haven for birds, you can help declining bird populations. Visit gardenersofcentrallakecounty.org.

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/.

Gardens, Et Cetera of Wheaton: 12:30-2 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, at Gary United Methodist Church, 224 N. Main St., Wheaton. The topic will be flower arranging. All are welcome. Call Kathryn at (630) 408-5487.

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.

Tri-Village Garden Club: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, at Streamwood Fire Station 31, 1204 S. Park Ave., Streamwood. Katherine Mueller will speak on “Monarchs in the Spring.” She is a member of the Schaumburg Monarch Initiative, an organization that encourages the planting of milkweed and other native plants and establishing a butterfly garden. The meeting is open to all. Visit acebook.com/TriVillageGardenClub/.

Schaumburg Community Garden Club: 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, at Spring Valley Nature Center, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg. Jack Pizzo of Pizzo Habitat Restoration will discuss the benefits of establishing and planting native plants to support ecosystem health and vitality. He specializes in the successful restoration of natural areas and the cultivation of deep-rooted, native plants. Just in time for the spring sale, Pizzo will answer any questions you have about plants and best practices for a beautiful yard. The business meeting starts promptly at 7 p.m.; doors open at 6:30 p.m. Visit schaumburggardenclub.org or facebook.com/schaumburggardenclub/.

Des Plaines Garden Club: 9:45 a.m. Thursday, March 12, in the GENCenter, 52 E. Northwest Hwy., Des Plaines. The program starts at 10 a.m. Pacey will talk about the benefits of raised gardens and planters, and suggest plants that will do well in both. Bending and kneeling becomes more difficult as we age. Peglow will share some useful tips and a few chair yoga exercises to practice before you head out to garden. The business meeting starts at 11 a.m., followed by raffle and snacks. Bring a sack lunch and coffee cup, as coffee and dessert are provided. Visit desplainesilgardenclub.com or facebook.com/DesPlainesGardenClub/.

Garden Club of Downers Grove: 12:15-3 p.m. Monday, March 16, at American Legion Post 80, 4000 Saratoga, Downers Grove. Dolly Swibes Foster, a horticulturist and certified arborist, presents “Long Blooming Perennial Garden.” 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, March 17, at Cornerstone Faith Community Church, 118 First St., Bloomingdale. The club’s own Master Gardener, Gail Sanders, will show how to plant and maintain container gardens so that they can become attractive season long additions to the home landscape. It will include recipes for container displays and guidelines for plant selection. Social time begins at 6:15 p.m., announcements at 6:45 p.m., and meeting at 7 p.m. Visit bloomingdalegardenclub.org.

Mount Prospect Garden Club: 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 17, at Mount Prospect Police Station, 911 E. Kensington Road. Due to the District IX annual meeting and luncheon on March 10 in Palatine, this month’s meeting is on the third Tuesday. Rolfe Jaremus will talk about “Soil -- Can You Dig It.” 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.

Wild Ones: 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, on YouTube Live. In “Rethinking Horticulture with Real Ecology,” field botanist and science communicator Joey Santore, creator of “Crime Pays But Botany Doesn’t,” examines how inherited design norms like straight lines, uniform spacing, tidy edges, and color-grouped plantings shape expectations for native landscapes. These conventions, rooted in European garden traditions and reinforced by modern lawn culture, continue to influence how native plant gardens are judged, managed, and defended, often at the expense of biodiversity, soil health, and long-term ecological resilience. Free. Register: wildones.org.

Garden Club of Inverness: 10 a.m. Thursday, March 19, at All Saints Lutheran Church, 639 S. Quentin Road, Palatine. Jim and Jake Fabbrini of Fabbrini’s Flowers, a family-owned floral shop in Hoffman Estates, will present current trends in floral design, color palettes, and arrangement styles. By exploring Fabbrini’s design process, learn about what’s trending in today’s floral industry. And, some lucky winners will take home a lovely arrangement. Free. Visit gardenclubofinverness.com.

Arlington Heights Garden Club: 6:30-8:15 p.m. Monday, March 23, at St. Simon’s Episcopal Church, 717 W. Kirchoff Road, Arlington Heights. In “Spring Garden Field Trips,” Becky Booth will share her favorite area garden events and places to visit for recovery from the bleakness of winter. She has been an avid gardener in three homes across the Northwest suburbs. She enjoys photographing plants to capture them at their peak and sharing with others. Visitors are welcome to come and find garden places to visit in the area. Social time at 6:30 p.m. with meeting and program at 7 p.m. Guests welcome. Visit facebook.com/AHGardenClub.

Plant sales

Buffalo Grove Garden Club’s annual plant sale: Through March 29. Orders accepted via bgparks.org/information/garden-club/. Pickup date will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 9, at the Alcott Center in Buffalo Grove. The sale features professionally grown annuals and herbs as well as perennial coral bells in 4.5-inch pots. A selection of 10- and 12-inch baskets are offered as well. To commemorate America 250 this summer, many red, white and blue offerings are available. Proceeds fund a scholarship program, planting and maintenance of four community gardens as well as presenters at meetings held March through December. Questions, contact cmcoffey65@gmail.com or bgbloomer822@gmail.com.

Citizens for Conservation’s 30th annual Spring Native Plant, Shrub and Tree Sale: Available through April 4 or until order capacity is reached. The sale offers more than 200 varieties of native plants including many species of plants that support local pollinators. Also available for pre-order: a special “30 plants for 30 years” garden, featuring a curated selection of plants to mark the sale’s 30th anniversary. Orders are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, and there is a $50 pre-order minimum charge. The in-person sale will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at CFC’s Hill ‘N Dale Preserve, 11801 Ridge Road, Barrington Hills. Online order pickup will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, May 1, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 2, at the sale site. For more information, visit citizensforconservation.org or contact (847) 382-7283.

Central States Dahlia Society’s annual Dahlia Plant Sale: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3, in Burnstein Hall at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Admission to the dahlia sale is included in admission to the botanic garden. centralstatesdahliasociety.com.

Master Gardeners' Plant Sale: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 16, at the University of Illinois Extension grounds, 100 S. Route 45, Grayslake. Featuring a selection of nursery-grown varieties not readily available at traditional garden centers – natives, new cultivars of perennials, grasses and pollinator-friendly plants. Many varieties of home-grown tomatoes, along with other vegetables and herbs, will be available. In addition, shop “Garden Treasures” for new and gently used items to enhance your landscape and home, including yard art, garden tools, decorative containers and gardening books. University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer your gardening questions, help with plant selection, and offer gardening advice. All proceeds support projects and programming for volunteers, youth and adults in Lake County. For details, call (847) 223-8627 or visit extension.illinois.edu/lm.

Workshops

Seed Library open: noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday, to March 22, in the Lenhardt Library at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. At harvest time, save seeds for yourself, and return some to the Seed Library for others to “borrow” next season. Instructions on seed growing, harvesting, and saving are distributed with each hand-packed seed envelope. Before you get growing, check out the latest seed growing tips from the experts. By participating in the Seed Library, you become part of the growing community of seed savers and a keeper of shared knowledge for the next generation of gardeners. Many books are available for reading and borrowing. Visit chicagobotanic.org/library/seed_library.

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.

Trees and Shrubs with Winter Interest: 9-11 a.m. Saturday, March 14, at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Horticulture educator Mark Zampardo will show how the trees and shrubs that add interesting form, color, and texture to the winter landscape. Class will start inside and then move outdoors for a garden walk, weather permitting. Dress for the weather. $52-$65. Register: chicagobotanic.org.

Fruits That Surprise: 1-2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Explore fruits that thrive in your northern Illinois garden with just a bit of care. Learn surprising ways to grow fruits with the reputation of being difficult to maintain. Discover some of the unsung heroes of the fruit world such as pawpaw, fig, serviceberry, quince, and Concord grapes. Class will start indoors and then move outdoors for a garden walk. Dress for the weather. $25-$32. Register: chicagobotanic.org.

Make Your Own Compost: 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Can banana peels, grass clippings, and vegetable scraps enhance your home garden? They can, if turned into compost. Learn how to transform leftovers and garden waste into food for your soil for free, and without bad odors or attracting pests. Led by Lorilin Meyer, assistant horticulturist. $20-$25. Register: chicagobotanic.org.

Best New Plants of 2026: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, via Zoom. Learn about some of the most exciting annuals, perennials, and woody plants that are ready for immediate consideration in our gardens. Led by Mark Dwyer, owner of Landscape Prescriptions by MD. $52-$65. Register: chicagobotanic.org.

Spring Vegetable Growing: 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 19, via Zoom. Learn about choosing the best location for your garden and how to create ideal growing conditions. Understand the value of soil testing and learn about cool-season crop selection and indoor seed starting. Discover planting strategies such as vegetable spacing, planting times, and succession planting. Learn how weed control impacts the health of your plants. Led by horticulturist Riley Finnegan-Carrion. $25-$32. 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.

Midwest Fruit Explorers Grafting Workshop: 1-4 p.m. Sunday, March 29, at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. The Midwest Fruit Explorers present this hands-on workshop with step-by-step instructions on how to graft and care for fruit trees. Beginners are welcome! Experts will guide newcomers, and grafting supplies including scion wood will be available for purchase. No registration required. Regular parking and garden admission fees apply. Visit chicagobotanic.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. Floor-to-ceiling sunbeams made of cascading orchids light up the room in living color. Lose yourself in a 10-foot lava lamp aglow with colorful blooms, then hit the road as a flower-filled Volkswagen Beetle carries you through a Route 66 daydream. $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, March 6 and 13; and Saturday, 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. Saturday, 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 and 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.

Northern Illinois Gesneriad Society Show & Sale: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 21-22, at Chicago Botanic Garden’s Burnstein Hall, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. The gesneriad family contains some of the most decorative and widely grown tropical plants including lipstick plant, primrose, gloxinia, and African violets. Explore the beauty of approximately 50 exhibits featuring 20 different types. Learn about the diversity of their flowers and foliage, and see free demonstrations on propagation, soil, and more. Shop for cuttings, tubers, and rhizomes on sale for $2-$20. Regular parking and garden admission fees apply. Visit chicagobotanic.org/flowershows.

Midwest Bonsai Society Spring Show & Sale: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 16-17, at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Presented by the Midwest Bonsai Society. Hundreds of bonsai specimens will be on display or for sale. Free demonstrations and lectures will be held in Regenstein Center. Workshops for beginners and accomplished bonsai growers will be held in various locations. Additional fee and registration is required for workshops. Visit midwestbonsai.org or chicagobotanic.org.