June Meeting

The speaker for our June meeting is Vicki Nowicki, who will talk about the Ark of Taste, a committee within Slow Food International that searches for rare foods that deserve to be preserved. Vicki will share her experiences attending Terra Madre 2012 in Turin, Italy, with farmers from 151 different countries. Our meeting is Wednesday, June 19, at 7 pm at the Downers Grove Public Library. Please join us for this exciting presentation! 

Wild Edibles and Unique Seeds

Pat Armstrong's  Wild Plant Family Cookbook is now available in Kindle form. Soon it will come out in Nook and pdf form. Pat's Prairie Poetry will soon be available in pdf form. Go to blazing-star.com/joomla/ebooks for information and how to order.

She will also be teaching a two-week Introduction to Edible Wild Plants and a five-week Edible Wild Plants of Summer class for the Resiliency Institute in Naperville. Go to theresiliencyinstitute.net for information and how to register.

Looking for seeds that you may not normally find in stores or catalogs? Try Gourmet Seed International (gourmetseed.com) and Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (rareseeds.com). Let us know if you try a unique vegetable this season!

Thanks for Making the Plant Sale a Success!

Our 2013 Plant Sale was an amazing success. Whether you helped with planning or setting up or just supported us by buying organic plants, we appreciate it!

"Thanks so very much to all of you who donated your time, dug plants, circulated advertising fliers, created poster boards, or contributed in other ways," said plant sale coordinator Nancy Carlson.

Thanks to Annie Jagielski for the photos.

Plant Sale This Weekend!

Cantigny Greenhouse Open to the Public on May 5

The Horticulture Department at Cantigny Park will host an open house on Sunday, May 5, from 10 am to 3 pm.  The event offers garden enthusiasts a rare opportunity to go inside the Cantigny greenhouse where more than 1,000 varieties of flowers are propagated annually.

The 18,000-square-foot greenhouse supplies the plants displayed throughout the Cantigny gardens and golf course as well as interior spaces around the park.

The open house offers something for all ages and interest levels.  Self-guided tours will be available along with demonstrations, a “green activity” for kids, and exhibits by local organizations that promote environmental conservation and education.

Open house admission is free, and so is parking.  Please note: Visitors should enter Cantigny Park through the main entrance on Winfield Road, not at Shaffner Road.  Complimentary trams will be running from the main parking lot to the greenhouse.

More information about Cantigny Park, including hours, directions and a calendar of upcoming events is online at Cantigny.org.

COD Spring Plant Sale

College of Du Page Spring Plant Sale
Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Monday, May 6 through Wednesday, May 8, Noon to 5 p.m.

Located in the Technical Education Centeron the College's main campus, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn.

Shoppers can choose from a variety of herbs, vegetables, and unusual annuals and perennials, including native species. In addition, student-made hanging baskets and planters will be available for purchase.

Free valet parking will be available on Friday, May 3, and Monday, May 6. Payment will be accepted by cash or check only.

The Horticulture department at College of DuPage currently offers an Associate of Applied Science degree program. Students can also earn certificates in Floral Shop Management, Greenhouse Management, Horticulture, Landscape Design and Construction, Landscape and Turf Management, Nursery and Garden Center Management and Sustainable Landscapes.

For more information on the Spring Plant Sale, contact College of DuPage Greenhouse Supervisor Amy Hull at (630) 942-3806 orhullamy@cod.edu.

Local Plant Sales and Garden Walks

It will soon be garden walk season! Here are a few dates to add to your summer calendar.

If you know of any others, please email the information to Carol Morency at midway117@gmail.com.

Lisle Women's Club Garden Gait

June 23, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Visit lislewomensclub.org for information

Hope Among the Flowers Garden Walk

Benefitting Bridge Communities

Saturday, July 13, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Visit dgfumc.org/gardenwalk

DuPage Friends of Extension Brunch at Ball Gardens

Saturday, July 20, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Benefitting the U of I Extension Programs

visit dupagefriendsofextension.webs.com

Chicago's Dearborn Garden Walk

Start at Latin Middle School, 45 W. North Avenue, Chicago

Sunday, July 21,12-5 p.m.

Visit dearborngardenwalk.com