Get your garden ready: A list of upcoming plant sales throughout the suburbs
Gardeners can get the growing season off to a good start with upcoming plant sales featuring perennials, vegetables, native and organic plants. It is also a good way to support local nonprofit organizations.
Arlington Heights
• The Arlington Heights Garden Club will host its annual plant sale from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 5, on the grounds of the Arlington Heights Historical Museum, 110 W. Fremont St., Arlington Heights.
The sale includes perennials, annuals, grasses, ground covers, herbs, native plants and more, all raised by and dug from member's gardens for sun and shade areas. Master Gardeners available for questions. For information, www.ahgardenclub.com/plant-sales.
Aurora
The Rosary Sports Boosters hosts their annual plant sale. Shop at Schaefer's Garden Center, 120 S. Lake St. in Montgomery, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays during the month of May to support Rosary athletics. Schaefer's offers a wide selection of perennials, annuals, planters, hanging baskets, vegetables, floral arrangements, and gift items. A percentage of your purchase on those days will go to support Rosary athletics. Show the voucher, available at www.rosaryhs.com, or mention Rosary Athletics.
Barrington
• Smart Farms of Barrington will hold its annual plant sale from 9 a.m. to noon Friday, May 7, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 8, at Smart Farm, 490 W. Route 22, in Barrington, just west of the Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital campus. The sale includes a large variety of vegetables and herbs, heirloom varieties. Masks and social distancing are required. Cash, check and credit cards will be accepted. For information, (847) 875-2060 or smartfarms.org.
Bartlett
• The Tri-Village Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 8, at the Bartlett Log Cabin, located in Bartlett Park, 211 N. Eastern Ave. Experienced gardeners will be on hand to answer your gardening questions. Proceeds from this sale will support We Grow Dreams. Pick up a gift for Mother's Day from the large assortment of perennials and annuals for sun and shade.
The sale specializes in perennials for sun and shade, as well as plants that attract hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. The plants are from local nurseries. Visit www.facebook.com/TriVillageGardenClub/.
Batavia
• The Batavia Lions Club will hold its 39th annual plant sale Saturday, May 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until sold out.
Club volunteers will have a roaming wagon filled with locally grown flower baskets in the Woodland Hills and 14th Colony neighborhoods.
They also will have stationary wagons in the 7-Eleven parking lot at Wilson and Prairie streets; H.C. Storm Elementary School, 305 N. Van Nortwick; and 750 Main St. at Mallory Street, across from Ollie's Garage.
The club will have an assortment of geraniums, combo baskets, variegated impatiens, lantanas, petunias, and more. These extra-large baskets are grown in Maple Park and exceed everyone's expectation of size, beauty and durability.
The Lions Club has been a continually active service organization in Batavia since 1974. One of its original charter members will even be out selling baskets on May 8.
One hundred percent of the fundraising efforts support the club's community service projects, such as vision and hearing, diabetes, scholarships for students, the Batavia Interfaith Pantry and more.
For information, visit batavialionsclub.org or www.facebook.com/Batavialionsclubil/.
• The Batavia Plain Dirt Gardeners will hold their annual Plant, Tree and Shrub Sale fundraiser from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 8, at 1168 Pine St. and 415 Maple Lane, both in Batavia. Harvested from members' yards will be Virginia bluebells, Virginia waterleaf, brunera, daffodils (assorted colors), hostas (various sizes and types), wild geranium, scilla, and blue wood aster. Prices range from $1 to $10. Proceeds benefit club horticultural scholarships.
For more information, email bataviaplaindirtgardeners@gmail.com. Visit bpdgclub.blogspot.com.
Founded in 1991, the Batavia Plain Dirt Gardeners club works with the Batavia Park District to maintain the Batavia Wildflower Sanctuary and sponsors several activities annually.
Bloomingdale
• The Bloomingdale Garden Club will host its annual spring flower and plant sale Friday and Saturday, May 14-15.
This event will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Bloomingdale Park District maintenance building, 259 Springfield Drive, on the north end of Springfield Park, between Schick Road and Lake Street.
The sale will feature professionally grown annuals in pots and flats, including premium 10- and 12-inch hanging baskets, geraniums and accent plants, specialty annuals, cannas, grasses, tropicals and King Tuts grasses, vegetables, and herbs, as well as perennials from members' gardens.
There also will be a Master Gardener help desk, gardening items for sale, and raffles.
They will accept cash, check or credit cards.
Proceeds support area charities and garden club monthly programs. Visit bloomingdalegardenclub.org or contact bloomingdalegardenclub@gmail.com for more. Masks will be required.
Crystal Lake
• Downtown Crystal Lake's Spring Flower Sale Fundraiser will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 8, at the corner of Williams and Brink streets. Volunteers from Downtown Crystal Lake will be selling hanging baskets and planters from Countryside Flower Shop & Nursery. Visit downtowncl.org/events/flower-sale/.
Des Plaines
• Des Plaines Garden Club's annual Plant and Garden Flea Market will be from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 15, in the east parking of Frisbie Senior Center, 52 E. Northwest Hwy, Des Plaines. Cash sales only. Rain date is the following Saturday, May 22. Pick up some annuals, perennials, vegetables, a hanging basket or maybe a houseplant. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer your questions and help select your plants. You may find a garden tool donated by one of our members. The club, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary, is a nonprofit group of gardeners with more than 90 club members. The proceeds are used to maintain several community projects with seniors in nursing homes through the Frisbie Senior Center, to provide a program called "Fun with Flowers" for schoolchildren, and to maintain several community gardens. For information, visit www.desplainesilgardenclub.com.
Downers Grove
• The West Suburban Humane Society will host its annual Mother's Day Weekend Plant Sale from 1 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 7, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 8, at Doggie Depot, 421 Maple Ave. in Downers Grove. Shoppers can stock up on a variety of plants, flowers, herbs and vegetables. Volunteers from the Humane Society handpick each year's selection from Sunrise Greenhouse in Grant Park.
The plant sale is the Humane Society's third largest fundraiser of the year. All proceeds go toward the animal shelter's operating costs and animal care.
The sale will follow state and local COVID-19 guidelines. There will be designated pull-in and parking spaces for shoppers, social distancing and enforced crowd limits, a mask requirement and plenty of hand sanitizer and gloves available for all. While shoppers do not need to purchase a ticket or reserve a time slot, they will be asked to remain in their cars until a spot to shop becomes available. www.wshs-dg.org.
• The Village of Downers Grove public works department and the Conservation Foundation host a Native Tree and Shrub Sale. Online orders are accepted now through noon May 26. The order pickup will be 2 to 6 p.m. Thursday, June 3, at the public works, 5101 Walnut Ave. Order at the-conservation-foundation.square.site/.
Elburn
• The seventh annual Organic Transplant Sales at Heritage Prairie Farm in Elburn continues on Saturdays, May 8 and 15, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the greenhouse, 2N308 Brundige Road. A brochure with a list of available plants is posted on the website at www.heritageprairiefarm.com.
All of the transplants are USDA Certified Organic and include such plants as tomatoes, herbs, squash, peppers, kale, and much more. With an influx of home gardeners over the past year, seed shortages this spring had many gardeners searching for inventory. As a USDA Certified Organic Farm, patrons of the plant sales can be assured that the transplants have been grown with the same organic practices as all of the produce Heritage Farm sells. Questions about the plant sale? Call the farm office at (630) 443-5989.
Visit www.HeritagePrairieFarm.com or www.facebook.com/heritageprairiefarm/.
Elgin
• Wild Ones of Greater Kane County will be having a modified plant sale Saturday, May 22, at Hawthorne Hill Nature Center, 28 Brookside Drive in Elgin. The group was formerly named Wild Ones of Northern Kane County.
Shoppers need a free ticket for an assigned time to enter the sale in order to maintain social distancing. RSVP your time on EventBrite.com.
You will need to show your ticket on your phone or in print, one person per ticket. Masks will be required in order to enter and must be worn inside.
The number of people inside at any time will be limited to 50. Cash, check, or credit card accepted.
The plants come from Taylor Creek Nursery, Possibility Place and more. Visit www.facebook.com/GKWildOnes/.
Elmhurst
• Certified organic vegetable and herb seedlings, as well as a limited number of pollinator plants, will be available for purchase from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 8, in the parking lot of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 235 S. Kenilworth, Elmhurst. Bags of organic compost and growing mix also will be available. Those who preordered seedlings will be able to pick them up as well. Seedlings are provided by West Star Organics in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, and will be available in 3½-inch containers.
Please wear a mask. Cash or checks only. Credit cards will not be accepted. All proceeds benefit church missions. Visit elmhurstucc.org/seedlings-sale/.
• Crestview Garden Club will host its annual plant sale from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 15, at Centennial Park, 155 E. St. Charles Road in Elmhurst. The plant sale will offer a variety of sun and shade perennials, natives, herbs, tomatoes, ground covers, shrubs, vines, houseplants. It also will feature plants that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Experienced gardeners on site to answer questions and help with plant selection.
A portion of plant sale proceeds will be donated to support community projects. The sale will take place rain or shine. Credit cards and checks accepted. CDC guidelines and safety precautions will be followed. For information, contact Laurie Stinson at ltstinson1@gmail.com or (630) 408-7900. Follow the club on Facebook.
Grayslake
• Lake County Extension Master Gardener plant sale will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 12, at University of Illinois Extension, 100 S. Route 45, Grayslake. It will feature plants from Lake County Master Gardeners and the Extension Demonstration Gardens. Close to 2,000 plants will be available for purchase, including perennials, native plants that attract and support pollinators, houseplants, and homegrown herbs. Also, 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. For details, visit extension.illinois.edu/lm.
Ingleside
• Friends of Volo Bog will hold a Native Shrub and Tree Sale. Order online by 3 p.m. Friday, May 14. Pickup is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 22, and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 23, at Volo Bog State Natural Area, 28478 W. Brandenburg Road, Ingleside. Supplies are limited; pre-order/pre-pay only. Proceeds will support educational programs, projects and events at Volo Bog State Natural Area. www.friendsofvolobog.org.
Lake Zurich
• The Garden Club of Lake Zurich will host its annual plant sale from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 15, at the Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail (Route 22 at Old Rand Road), Lake Zurich. Reasonably priced, professionally grown perennials, including native plants from members' gardens along with vegetables, herbs, grasses, houseplants and other garden related items for sale. Master Gardeners available to answer your gardening questions. They will be following all COVID social distancing guidelines; masks are required. Cash or check; rain or shine. Visit www.gardencluboflakezurich.org. The club, celebrating 47 years, serves Lake Zurich, Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer and surrounding communities.
Lake County
For the past 16 years, the Lake County Forest Preserves and Possibility Place Nursery have partnered to host one of the most-visited native plant sales in Chicago area. Due to social distancing guidelines, they are hosting an online sale again this year. Your plant purchases will be shipped right to your doorstep. Sales of native trees, shrubs and perennials are open through Dec. 31.
Order at www.lcfpd.org/plant-sale/. There is a minimum purchase of 18 pints, in any combination of plants. Are 18 plants more than you need to accomplish your garden goals? Ask a neighbor to split the box.
Perennial plants will ship beginning May 15. Perennial inventory began increasing after April 15; tree and shrub inventory will increase in June. Different sizes may be available in each species.
The Lake County Forest Preserves receives a portion of each sale, benefiting its educational programming.
Lincolnshire
• The Lincolnshire Garden Club will host its plant sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 5, at Ascension of Our Lord Greek Orthodox Church, 1207 Riverwoods Road, Lincolnshire. It will feature perennials, including shade, sun, native, and ground covers; arrangements; garden art; hanging baskets; and baked goods. Visit lincolnshiregardenclub.com/plant-sale. It is the Lincolnshire Garden Club's primary fundraising event. The funds raised allow the club to continue its tradition of providing grants to community organizations that support their goals of education, beautification and nature restoration. The perennials come from the gardens of our members, grown in local soil and weather conditions.
Mount Prospect
• The Mount Prospect Historical Society Spring Bulb Sale runs through June 1. The society is offering spring flower bulbs for sale, guaranteed to bloom or you get a free replacement. Proceeds will benefit the society. Bulbs ranging from gladiolas, irises and amaryllis to hosta, lilies, strawberries and beyond can be ordered completely online with payment through PayPal or a credit card. Each order will be shipped directly to the purchaser. To purchase bulbs, visit www.mtphist.org. For details, call (847) 392-9006 Tuesday through Thursday, or email info@mtphistory.org.
Naperville
• The Naperville Garden Club will host its annual plant sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, May 7, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 8, at 9S031 Chandelle Drive in Naperville's Aero Estates. It will feature hanging baskets, variety of annuals, herbs plus unique garden items, such as teapot bird houses. First come, first served; cash or checks only. Visit www.facebook.com/NapervilleGardenClub/.
Palatine
• Plum Grove Garden Club's plant sale is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 15, in the Palatine Family Aquatic Center parking lot, 340 E. Palatine Road. There will be perennials, annuals, decorative pots, tomatoes, herbs, garden treasures, tools and raffle prizes. Contact noraleemack@yahoo.com for more information.
Park Ridge
• The Park Ridge Garden Club hosts its 90th annual plant sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 15, at Cumberland Park, 101 S. Cumberland Ave. Choose from an array of annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, herbs, vegetables and member-grown perennials. New this year: Order select items online for contactless pickup. Limited quantities of 10-inch New Guinea impatiens, 10-inch geraniums and 10.5-inch herb planters with rosemary and thyme can be ordered at www.parkridgegardenclub.org. Pick up for online orders will be from 10 a.m. to noon at The Centennial Activity Center, 100 S. Western Ave.
Rolling Meadows
• The Rolling Meadows Garden Club will host a Plant & Craft Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 15, at a new location, 3000 Central Road, Rolling Meadows. Visit www.rollingmeadowsgardenclub.org.
Wheaton
• The Wheaton Garden Club is hosting a flower and plant sale Saturday, May 15. The event will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at 0N650 Coventry Drive in Wheaton.
The sale will feature professionally grown annuals, many of which are Proven Winners. Summer favorites available for purchase include a variety of begonias, coleus and petunias, as well as some hard-to-find specialty plants.
Proceeds support area community organizations and scholarships for College of DuPage horticulture students. Organizations supported include the Cosley Zoo Foundation, Illinois Prairie Path and Willowbrook Wildlife Center. The garden club will be accepting cash or check payments.
If you have questions, please email the Garden Club at info@wheatongardenclub.org. Visit wheatongardenclub.org.