Home & garden calendar, Aug. 3-15

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

Plant Giveaway: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays to Fridays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, to Sept. 27, at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Volunteers or staff in the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden share information about the featured plant and encourage visitors to take a seedling home to plant. A care sheet with growing information and use tips is available for visitors to photograph. Note: seedlings or seeds are distributed each program day while supplies last. Featured plants: Aug. 1-30 Greek oregano. chicagobotanic.org.

Welcome to Birding: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, at Gail Borden Public Library’s Elgin Room, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. Daily Herald “Words on Birds” columnist Jeff Reiter will discuss birds, birding and birders. Get fun insights about the nature of birdwatching and why it’s so popular. The talk is based on Reiter’s new book, “The Best of Words on Birds.” Copies available for sale and signing. Free; register at gailborden.info.

Sulky Bird Count: 8:30-10:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Aug. 4-25, at Crabtree Nature Center, 3 Stover Road, Barrington. Join a naturalist in exploring this preserve while looking for local birds. A limited supply of binoculars available for loan at select events. All levels of birding skills welcome. Free. fpdcc.com/series/sulky-bird-count/.

Garden Club of ​Lake Zurich: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, at Ela Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. Learn about turtles with Kathryn McCabe, a wildlife ecologist for the Lake County Forest Preserves. She has participated in long-term, state-endangered Blanding’s turtle research, including monitoring movements via radiotelemetry and managing threats like fungal disease. Become a member and receive a $25 garden nursery gift card. Refreshments and business meeting follows program. Visit gardencluboflakezurich.org.

Hoffman Estates Garden Club’s “Ask Our Experts”: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, at Township of Schaumburg, 1 Illinois Blvd., Hoffman Estates. Get answers to those pesky questions you’ve been asking yourself. Maybe you don’t know where to start, or don’t have time to research, get conflicting information. This is a chance to pick the brains of the club’s gardening experts on an array of topics. Nonmembers welcome. The club offers several presentations and field trips throughout the year. The club meets on the first Thursday of the month, starting in August. hoffmanestatesgardenclub.com/events/.

Northern Illinois Hosta Society’s annual hosta auction: Noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, at University of Illinois Extension Kane County office, 535 S. Randall Road, St. Charles. Sales begin at noon with the live auction at 1 p.m. Many unique and rare hostas and companion plants on offer. Cash, checks, and credit cards accepted. On-site, free registration required. Visit northernillinoishostasociety.org.

Healing Gardens: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, at Stone Hill Farm, 37W249 Dean St., St. Charles. Come enjoy the natural wooded setting and perennial gardens. Admission is $5 per person; $10 per family; cancer survivors are free. Donations of time/money for upkeep are welcome. Special programs monthly. The Healing Gardens is cultivated and hosted by Deborah Marqui, owner of Stone Hill Farm with her husband, Buzz. Marqui leads day retreats, hosts Silent Saturday Mornings, Yoga in the Garden. For information, call (630) 740-2597 or visit healinggardensatstonehillfarm.com.

Plant Bingo fundraiser: 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, at The Growing Place, 2000 Montgomery Road, Aurora. An adults-only Plant Bingo night! Play to win plants and gardening stuff, with proceeds benefiting local horticulture nonprofits. 21-or-older event. $15. online or $20 at the door. Register: thegrowingplace.com.

Garden Club for kids: 3:30-4:15 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, at Geneva Public Library, 227 S. Seventh St. Young gardeners entering third to fifth grade explore the magic of planting, learn how things grow, and get their hands a little messy as they plant seeds and create garden-inspired projects. Registration required via gpld.org.

Create a Lego Garden: 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at Chicago Botanic Garden’s Lenhardt Library, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Create a Lego garden with artist Alysa Kirkpatrick. Lego bricks will be available throughout the exhibition for attendees to create their own dream garden from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays to Sundays. Lego creations stay at the garden. Free with admission; no registration required. chicagobotanic.org/america-grows.

Bloomingdale Garden Club: 6:15-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, at Cornerstone Faith Community Church, 118 First St., Bloomingdale. Veronica Porter (known as Aunt V) will speak about “Indoor Gardening to Extend the Season, from Houseplants to Succulents.” Porter is a third-generation organic farmer, chef, culinary instructor, and food educator for homes and gardens. She is a licensed chef and holds a Master’s of Organic Urban Farming and Gardening. Visitors are welcome. Social time begins at 6:15 p.m., announcements at 6:45 p.m., and meeting at 7 p.m. Visit bloomingdalegardenclub.org.

Fall Preview Greenhouse Tour: 6-7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, at Cantigny Greenhouse, Schaffner Road entrance, Wheaton. The greenhouse manager will lead you through the greenhouse, where you’ll discover a curated selection of plants destined for the gardens. Space is limited. $25 (canned or bottled beverage included). Register: cantigny.org/event/greenhouse-tour-8/.

Give a Sip fundraiser: 3-6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, at the Country Bumpkin Garden Center, 27691 N. Gilmer Road, Mundelein. Lake County Extension Foundation offers an afternoon of raffles, prizes, shopping, and socializing. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener, a Master Naturalist, or a 4-Her, this garden social fundraising event supports all Illinois Extension programs in Lake and McHenry County. $30 through July 31; $35 after. extension.illinois.edu/events/.

BioBlitz event

Food Forest Trail Bioblitz: 10-11:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 7, at Apple Creek Food Forest, 3210 Dean St., Woodstock. Interested in learning more about our local flora and fauna? Join The Land Conservancy of McHenry County in walking the Creekside trail and help document as many species of plants, insects and any other wildlife you see. Free. Register: conservemc.org/event/food-forest-trail-bioblitz/.

Garden shows

48th Mid-America Bonsai Exhibition: noon to 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 15-16, at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Sponsored by the Midwest Bonsai Society, one of the largest regional shows in the nation featuring over 80 world-class trees from across the Midwest and beyond. Trees will be judged by bonsai professional Boon Manakitivipart. Thirty vendors selling thousands of trees, tools, pots, stands, scrolls, soil/fertilizers, etc. Workshops, demonstrations, bonsai tour, tree raffle and society gear available. Included in general admission. chicagobotanic.org.

Ikenobo Ikebana Society Chicago Chapter Show: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 22-23, in the Burnstein Hall at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Regenstein Center, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Presented by the Ikenobo Ikebana Society, Chicago Chapter. Ikenobo is the origin of Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging. Included in general admission. chicagobotanic.org.

Heirloom Garden Show: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, at Garfield Farm Museum, 3N016 Garfield Road, Campton Hills. Museum antique flower, vegetable gardens and prairie plots on display with growers of heirloom varieties displaying and selling. $8 or $3 children under 13. garfieldfarm.org.

Illinois Mycological Association Display & Sale: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6, in the Burnstein Hall at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Regenstein Center, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. The show celebrates the richness of fall mushrooms in Illinois. Exhibits 50 to 100 varieties of mushrooms foraged from area forests in the days prior to the show. Members of the Illinois Mycological Association provide information and answer questions regarding mushrooms and fungi. Mushroom-related books, T-shirts and other items are for sale. Included in general admission. Visit chicagobotanic.org or illinoismyco.org.

Central States Dahlia Society’s 59th annual Dahlia Show and Sale: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 19-20, at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Included in general admission. Visit centralstatesdahliasociety.com/dahlia-show-2026.

Illinois Orchid Society Fall Show & Sale: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10-11, 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. Included with general admission. Visit chicagobotanic.org.

Nature walks/bike rides

America Grows walking tour: 11 a.m., noon, 1 and 2 p.m. weekdays, to Sept. 25, at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Join a guided walking tour of the garden and get a closer look at the Heritage Garden, Fruit & Vegetable Garden, and more. This tour features “America Grows: 250 Years of Garden Stories.” Hear about the garden’s history and development, including the Skokie River Corridor and current initiatives. Free with admission; no registration required, 45 minutes and covers 0.6 miles. Register: chicagobotanic.org/america-grows.

Forest Invaders Hike: 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, at Fullersburg Woods, 3609 Spring Road, Oak Brook. Ages 18 and up can take a short hike with plant experts, and learn how to identify nonnative and invasive species in the wild by leaf, root, and stem. $5. Register: dupageforest.org.

Paths of Pollinators Walk: 9-10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Have you ever wondered how bees, butterflies, and other pollinators traverse the flowers at the garden? How are they able to navigate between petals and pistils to find pollen? Take a walk around the garden looking for and learning more about these magnificent creatures. Dress for the weather. $30. Register: chicagobotanic.org.

Bike Tour of the Gardens: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, at Cantigny Visitors Center, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Bob Carr, greenhouse grower at Cantigny, will lead a small group ride, stopping at garden spots along the way to discuss the plantings. Biking through the gardens is only allowed on these tours. One child (no charge) may be included with each paying adult. $15. Register: cantigny.org/event/.

Family Evening Hike-Sounds of the Evening: 6:30-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, at Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center, 3609 Spring Road, Oak Brook. Join an adventure with short stops along the way, kid-friendly activities, and a take-home spotlight card. All ages; under 13 with an adult. $10 per family. Register: dupageforest.org.

Morning Prairie Walk: 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, at Crabtree Nature Center, 3 Stover Road, Barrington. Join a hike around Phantom Prairie for ages 12 or older. Free; no registration required. fpdcc.com/event/morning-prairie-walk-3/.

Seasonal Tree Walk: 9-10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Enjoy a morning walk exploring 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. Led by Mark Zampardo, horticulture educator. Meet at Visitor Center. $36. Register: chicagobotanic.org.

Beginner Bird Walk Main Island: 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Discover the sights and sounds of nature on a relaxed evening bird walk throughout our display gardens. This guided walk will help you spot songbirds, waterfowl, and raptors in their natural habitat. This is a beginner-friendly event; all levels of experience are welcome. Binoculars are recommended but not necessary. Dress for the weather. $30. Register: chicagobotanic.org.

CCC at Fullersburg, A Guided History Hike: 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 22, at Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center, 3609 Spring Road, Oak Brook. Visit trails and structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps on a 2.5-mile hike that explores the legacy of the World War I veterans who helped shape the preserve during the Great Depression. Ages 16 and up; under 18 with an adult. $10 per person. Register: dupageforest.org.

Family Evening Hike-Trees & Trails: 6:30-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, at Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center, 3609 Spring Road, Oak Brook. Join an adventure with short stops along the way, kid-friendly activities, and a take-home spotlight card. All ages; under 13 with an adult. $10 per family. Register: dupageforest.org.

Workshops

Designing for Change in the Native Perennial Garden: 9:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at Morton Arboretum Thornhill Education Center, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. In this interactive program, learn how to keep your native garden from getting away from you. It covers: how native perennials are different from traditional garden perennials; how to emulate natural plant communities by planting in layers; how to think about plant sociability; how to prepare a site for new planting. Led by Angela Bowman, Bowman Gardens Ecological Garden Design. $32-$39. Register: mortonarb.org.

Night Fliers Mothing Workshop: 7:30-11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. In this evening workshop, a special rig will be set up to draw in In this evening workshop, a special rig will be set up to draw in some of these night fliers. Learn to recognize various nighttime critters and become acquainted with community science apps that will be used in future research to help preserve our planet. Class will start inside then move outdoors. Dress for the weather. $94-$118. Register: chicagobotanic.org.

Garden Mandala Making: 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday Aug. 13, at the Cantigny Education Center, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Meet the guide in the Visitors Center. Hands-on workshop shows how to create your own botanical mandala using items from your garden. Led by Director of Horticulture Jamie Burghardt, learn how to balance your colors and patterns before choosing materials gathered by the horticulture team to create your own mandala. $40 (includes one canned or bottled beverage). Register: cantigny.org/event/mandala-making/.

Fall Garden Care: 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26, at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Proper garden care in the fall helps ensure healthy plants the next spring. Tim Johnson, senior director of horticulture, will offer techniques for taking care of your lawn, trees, shrubs, and perennials, including fall fertilizing, mulching, cutting back plants, and protecting plants from wind and animals. Get pointers for fall planting of woody plants and spring-flowering bulbs. Dress for the weather. $49. Register: chicagobotanic.org.

The Ecology of Oaks: 7-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26, at the Cary Area Public Library meeting room, 1606 Three Oaks Road, Cary. Native oaks are a keystone species that many other species rely on. How do they connect with other woodland plants, and what can you do to help our native oak trees? Sarah Michehl of TLC will share more about the fascinating life of oak trees. Register: conservemc.org.

Fall Lawn Care: 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Fall is the best time to prepare for a healthy, lush lawn in the upcoming season. Tom Fritz, plant health care specialist, will offer the basics of lawn renovation and how to prepare your lawn for winter. Discuss and observe proper techniques for installing sod, seeding and overseeding, and aerating and fertilizing — all aimed at revitalizing your lawn. Dress for the weather. $49. Register: chicagobotanic.org.

Reaping the Harvest: 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, at University of Illinois Extension office, 100 S. Route 45, Grayslake. Learn about collection, processing, and sowing of native seeds with Luke Dahlberg, native seed program manager at Citizens for Conservation. Hosted by Wild Ones Lake-to-Prairie Chapter and the University of Illinois Extension Lake County. Seeds are key for restoring our ecosystems and adding native plants to our yards. As diverse as our native plants are, they are equally diverse in how they disperse their seeds. Participants will look at different approaches for seed collection, equipment, and techniques to clean that seed, and sowing to get the best results out of those seeds. Register: extension.illinois.edu/events/.