Midwest

[Garden Calendar Coordinator]

Share your local garden events with other gardeners from your neck of the woods. Find out about cool happenings right where you live, including garden tours, plant sales, nature walks, classes, workshops, and more! Scroll through the posts below to find events in your area – or just click the “reply to this post” button below to let other gardeners know about events going on near you!

[Luke Miller]

2010 Chicago Flower & Garden Show

March 6-14

Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago

The Chicago Flower & Garden Show’s 16th annual homage to horticulture and landscape is designed to inspire, educate and motivate visitors and offer the best of landscape design and the latest in sustainable and green products.  Among the show's 25-plus themed gardens will be those pairing several of Chicago's acclaimed theaters with top Midwest landscapers in keeping with the 2010 show theme: "Cultivating Great Performances."  Participating theaters include Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Lookingglass Theatre Company and The Goodman Theatre.

Returning highlights include the popular, free educational seminars, interactive gardening workshops and container gardening classes. Culinary demonstrations daily by top chefs and the inspirational Tablescapes displays also return along with the Children's Activity Garden.

Participate in or view entries of the newly established horticulture competitions in houseplant, photography and window box design categories. Shop the Marketplace filled with garden and eco-friendly items.

Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sundays 10 am until 6 pm. Weekday adult admission is $15, weekend adult admission is $17; children 4 to 12 are always $5. Discounted Parking is $14.  For special rates for groups of 15 more, call 773-435-1250 or visit chicagoflower.com.

[Chicago Botanic Garden]

The Northern Illinois Gesneriad Society holds its annual show and sale, which features approximately 50 exhibits of 20 different types of gesneriads and an educational display with information on types of gesneriads, including propagation and tips on how to grow these interesting plants.

Plants, cuttings, tubers and rhizomes are on sale from $2 to $10. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/plantshows for more
information or call (847) 835-5440.

[Chicago Botanic Garden]

The Illinois Orchid Society presents this show, in which 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. 40 displays of orchids, from the rarest of species to cultivated hybrids, will be artistically arranged. The Society will provide an orchid sales area and repotting services for $5.

Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. There is a special photographer's hour on Sunday at 9 a.m. Lectures will also be scheduled in the Alsdorf Auditorium. The Illinois Orchid Society holds its meetings, which are open to the public, on the second Sunday of the month. Meeting dates are subject to change. Call (847) 835-8284 for information on plant society meetings.

Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/plantshows or call (847) 835-5440 for more information.

[Chicago Botanic Garden]

The Chicago chapter of the Ikenobo Ikebana Society presents an exhibition of traditional Japanese flower arranging. The Ikenobo Ikebana Society will also demonstrate traditional Japanese flower arranging games. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/plantshows or call (847) 835-5440 for more information.

[Chicago Botanic Garden]

The Midwest Fruit Explorers present this hands-on workshop in the Fairchild Room with step-by-step instructions on how to graft and care for fruit trees. The best varieties for the Midwest will be available, including apple, pear and Asian pear trees. Members will guide visitors to select the right tree for the right location. After purchasing root stock (approx. $4), visitors can follow the demonstration and leave with one or more trees ready
to plant in the ground. Public hours are from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. No registration required.

Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/plantshows or call (847) 835-5440 for more information.

[Chicago Botanic Garden]

Presented by the Midwest Daffodil Society, hundreds of daffodils will be on display and judged by the American Daffodil Society judges. The Show will include cut blooms, floral design and photography competitions. Hours are from noon to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information visit www.chicagobotanic.org/plantshows or call (847) 835-5440.

[Chicago Botanic Garden]

This event features a display of approximately 50 African violets and other gesneriads, educational exhibits, and a plant sale. Plants on sale range in price between $7 and $25. Members of the Glenview/North Shore African Violet Society will be available to answer questions on how to grow these plants. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on both days.

Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/plantshows or call (847) 835-5440 for more information.

[Chicago Botanic Garden]

The Central States Dahlia Society holds its annual dahlia sale, which features dahlia tubers and plants in a wide array of sizes, shapes and colors. Dahlia plant and root sale prices begin at $4. Society members are available to answer questions about the culture of dahlias. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/plantshows or call (847) 835-5440 for more information.

[Chicago Botanic Garden]

The Midwest Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society presents a display and sale of more than 150 rhododendron and azalea varieties grown by members. Members will be available to answer questions and plants are available for purchase. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/plantshows or call (847) 835-5440 for more information.