'Gardeners on the Go' beginning to sprout

The "growing season" generally refers to the lush, warm-weather months from mid-spring until the first frost in fall.

It's a time of great natural beauty, when rich, vibrant colors explode into full bloom and enliven our environs.

This summer, the Fox Valley Park District decided it would be the perfect time to "grow" a new program designed for green-thumb types who like to branch out and explore the leafier side.

The seed for "Gardeners on the Go" was planted in the fertile minds of Park District employees Jennifer Huber and Debbie Augsburg. Over the years, when they would lead trips to flower shows and annual fall garden tours throughout Aurora, their guests always had similar requests on their wish lists.

"There were a lot of comments by people who expressed a desire to visit different nurseries and greenhouses," said Augsburg, horticulture supervisor for the Park District, "so we thought it would be fun to start scheduling monthly tours around the area."

"Gardeners on the Go" has since sprouted, and it's beginning to take root. Earlier this month, the group traveled to Winding Creek Nursery in Millbrook for its first official trip. The group of 12 returned with plenty of baggage.

"All the plants and shrubs we brought home took up more room on the bus than the passengers," said Huber, program coordinator.

So it goes for these adventurous outings, which are a combination of sightseeing, education, shopping, socializing and plant-loving fun.

Huber said plans are in place to take tours on a rotating basis to a different place each month - even during the dormant months - in the spirit of gardening and growing.

The program is open to adults of all ages (sorry kids) and costs a mere $10 to cover transportation costs. Each trip begins with a group breakfast at a local restaurant, and then it's off to explore.

Upcoming trips are set for the We Grow Dreams Greenhouse and Garden Center in West Chicago (July) and Ball Seed Company in West Chicago (August) - the largest seed packaging plant in the country.

The traditional fall garden tour of Aurora takes place in September, including a stop at the Phillips Park Sunken Garden and all of the Park District community centers, which are surrounded by flora and fauna. Augsburg said more than 40,000 annuals are planted Districtwide each year.

Fall/winter visits include the Bramel Farm in Yorkville for a tour of pumpkins and ornamental gourds, and a return to Winding Creek Nursery in December for some holiday wreath making.

All those who take a tour with Gardeners on the Go enjoy the built-in benefit of having Augsburg on board. Augsburg carries more than 35 years of experience at the park district's greenhouse and provides essential expertise to create a better understanding of the intricate world of flowers, plants and shrubs.

With thousands and thousands of plant varieties, trying to figure out what combinations work best in your garden can sometimes be intimidating. For Augsburg, helping make sense of it all comes, well, naturally.

"Even if I'm in a garden center on a Saturday morning - if I see someone struggling to understand what plants they should buy, I introduce myself and try to help out," said Augsburg.

As with Gardeners on the Go, there's always something new to grow.

• Jeff Long is the public relations manager for the Fox Valley Park District. Contact him at jlong@fvpd.net. To get involved with Gardeners on the Go, contact Jennifer Huber at jhuber@fvpd.net