Past Events

Have you ever wondered how landscape architects, plant breeders and native plant specialists garden at their own homes to create their own patch of paradise? Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at elegant English-style gardens, prairie and native woodland gardens, small urban gardens, a nurseryman’s tropical garden and much more. Nina Kozial is a horticulturist and educator who tends plants on a deer-infested acre about 40 miles from Chicago. She has taught horticulture, design and residential landscape design history at the Chicago…

Propagating plants is one of the best garden practices to do. Make more plants for free! What’s not to love? Propagating at home can be tricky. This program will cover the procedures and pitfalls of making your own plants. Dolly Foster has been a Horticulturist for 24 years, and a Certified Arborist since 2008, She holds a Master’s in Agriculture from U of I. For the past 24 years, Dolly has been presenting lectures on many gardening topics. She has…

Let's learn from each other Our speakers on these topics and others will be Jeff, Laurie, Cheryl, and Linda. We will also be sampling different varieties of tomatoes, tasting them, and choosing our favorites. We will also circulate a sign-up sheet at this meeting for the September potluck picnic.

Location:  622 Town Rd., West Chicago.  Park in the lot directly across from the entrance. Cross the street and enter the Garden on the blacktop to the LEFT of the building.  There will not be a sign but we’ll have someone there to direct you into the Garden. The Garden tours at Ball are “self-guided”, however we have several Master Gardeners who have been trained as docents.  You are welcome to bring a family member or friend or two.  The Gardens…

Jeff Schulz will be teaching us the basics of design, styling and general care of Bonsai plants. Jeff's vintage farm specializes in Japanese maple, conifers, shrubs, trees, pottery, annuals and perennials. He has been providing top quality bonsai plants to Chicagoland since 1993. His business hosts several visiting Bonsai artists that teach workshops. 

We will hold our club's annual election of officers. Following elections, our members will create a unique Christmas centerpiece for the West Suburban Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Each club member will add their own personal touches to the centerpieces. The residents love our annual Christmas projects and look forward to receiving them every year.