MCCD plans Native Plant Container Garden Workshop

If you are you interested in gardening with native plants, have limited gardening space or just like to keep your flowers just outside your window, get started with McHenry County Conservation District's Native Plant Container Garden Workshop from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 12, at Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road, Crystal Lake.

Gardening with native plants provides food and shelter for a wide variety of local birds, butterflies and other insects. Learn about native plants that benefit local wildlife, discover some of the species that may come to visit your new garden, and review the care and maintenance instructions for a successful mini-garden. Then pot up your own native container garden to take home with you. These are perfect for those who do not have room for a big native garden or who want to add some plantings to a patio or balcony.

The program is for adults and families, ages 5 and older. Registration and fees required by Wednesday, June 8.

Program is free for county residents and $5 for nonresidents; each container planting is $25, pay only for the number of container gardens you would like to take home: one for the whole family or maximum of one garden per person.

Registration is accepted online at MCCDistrict.org, by phone for free programs only at (815) 479-5779, by mail-in and drop-off at Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road in Crystal Lake, or drop-off only at Lost Valley Visitor Center, Route 31 and Harts Road in Ringwood.