Nine local not-for-profits will watch their funds grow at this year's show when classes for each are held three times daily through Sunday March 16 in the Teaching Garden, one of the most popular exhibit areas. Potting Parties will be held at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. every day. Flower Power Parties will be held at 12 noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. daily. The two classes each are limited to 20 people per session. The $20 "lab fee" include the donation and covers the cost of a pot, earth and bulbs or a vase and fresh-cut flowers that will be given every participant.
Donations benefit a different non-profit group each day:
"You are not only being charitable when you sign up but you also learn something and you get to take home a finished example of your newly acquired skills," says show director Tony Abruscato, who credits landscape designer Heidi Sibert with the idea for the seminars.
Show hours are 9:30 a.m. until 6 p.m., Saturdays through Wednesday, and until 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, the only evening when there are free refreshments and entertainment after 5 p.m. Adult admission -- which includes a new, concurrent Home Lifestyle Expo and opening weekend Fine Art Show -- is $14 weekends, $12 weekdays and $20 for a two-day pass. Tickets for children aged 4 to 12 are $5 every day. All-day parking is $11.
You can order tickets online by visiting chicagoflower.com, where no service fee is charged. To purchase tickets for groups, call 773-435-1250 x249. Individual tickets are also available at the door.
Potting Tips
If you want to try your hand at potting, also known as container gardening, here are some tips from Elizabeth Hoffman, president of West End Florist and Garden, a 100 year old family business in Evanston. Elizabeth recommends putting plants in pots or containers because they:
Are Easy to Change Seasonally and Maintain
Are More portable to suit your needs or the plants needs
Are Perfect for Small Areas and Windowsills
Are Beautiful Focal Points in a Time Saving Package
Are limited to your imagination for a container, if it can hold soil it can be planted
Vintage Sinks, Antique Kitchen Pots, Kettles, Old Boots, etc.
When potting, do:
Use a Quality Potting Mix (lightweight)
Water only when Necessary (when the top two inches are dry to the touch)
Fertilize Regularly with Either an Organic or Inorganic Fertilizer according to its' directions
Deadhead, Pinch back dead or dying flowers and foliage
Place heavy containers on plant stands with wheels
When potting, don't:
Use Soil from your Garden
Pack Soil Down and Squeeze all the Air out of it
Overfill your Container with Soil (leave a 1" space between top of pot and soil line)
Let Plants Sit in Water, Do provide Drainage
THEME GARDENS AT THE FLOWER AND GARDEN SHOW
Portal to Spring
Krimson Valley Landscape Contractors in Roselle, Ill. 630-529-5588
Show guests enter through a winding pathway lined with evergreens and daffodils. The City of Rosemont's Welcoming Garden was designed by Krimson Valley Landscape Contractors who have provided commercial landscaping for leading businesses in Chicagoland for 34 years.
Sleeping Beauty Garden The ever-popular fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty, is evoked in this woodland scene designed by Greg Pierceall, professor of horticulture/landscape design at the University of Illinois. The garden takes inspiration from the American Ballet Theatre production of Sleeping Beauty, on stage April 9-14 at the Civic Opera House. 3 Photography Garden Belgard Hardscapes in Mundelein, Ill. 847-557-5008 | BelgardUSA.com Photographs inspired by nature and culled from dozens of entries in an amateur photo contest are displayed on a gauze mesh-draped trellis. Guests are invited to make a $1 donation to Canine Companions for Independence in order to vote for their favorite works of art. This garden is presented by Belgard Hardscapes--a major manufacturer of brick pavers and retaining walls.
Photography Garden
Belgard Hardscapes in Mundelein, Ill. 847-557-5008 | BelgardUSA.com Photographs inspired by nature and culled from dozens of entries in an amateur photo contest are displayed on a gauze mesh-draped trellis. Guests are invited to make a $1 donation to Canine Companions for Independence in order to vote for their favorite works of art. This garden is presented by Belgard Hardscapes--a major manufacturer of brick pavers and retaining walls.
Train Garden
Valkner Nurseries in Sheridan, Ill. 815-496-9054
Created by Valkner Nurseries, this Train Garden combines lush greenery in a scenic composition with model trains from the LGB Club of Chicago in a scenic display that is guaranteed to wow young and old alike.
5 Garden Conifers: Legacies of Living Art Rich's Foxwillow Pines Nursery in Woodstock, Ill, 815-338-7442 | richsfoxwillowpines.com Rich's Foxwillow Pines Nursery specializes in dwarf plant material specially suited for modern downsized spaces. All tree selections exhibit a unique quality such as a superior growth habit, outstanding color, unusual texture or extremely slow growth. Cameos>>
Garden Conifers: Legacies of Living Art Rich's Foxwillow Pines Nursery in Woodstock, Ill, 815-338-7442 | richsfoxwillowpines.com Rich's Foxwillow Pines Nursery specializes in dwarf plant material specially suited for modern downsized spaces. All tree selections exhibit a unique quality such as a superior growth habit, outstanding color, unusual texture or extremely slow growth.
Americana
Cypress Group in West Chicago, Ill.
630-293-0339 | cypressgroupinc.com and Leisure Woods Inc. in Genoa, Ill. 888-442-9236 | www.leisure-woods.com
A leading manufacturer of cedar gazebo kits, Leisure Woods offers a variety of pre-engineered gazebos designed to complement both residential and commercial environments. At Cypress Group Inc. a highly trained team of licensed landscape architects and experienced landscapes designers create appealing, efficient environments based on extensive site evaluations. .
Gardeners on the Go
Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana Chevy Dealers; www.Chevydriveschicago.com
A longtime supporter of the Chicagoland Flower & Garden Show, Chevy supports active outdoor lifestyles. Visitors can check out the new Equinox, Impala, Silverado and Tahoe while strolling through the garden designed for Chevrolet by Rich's Foxwillow Pines Nursery, Woodstock, Ill.
Backyard Escape
Aquascape Inc. in St. Charles, Ill.
630-659-2057 | aquascapeinc.com and West End Florist & Nursery in Evanston, Ill. 847-251-1943 | westend.com
and Collegiate Landscape in Sugar Grove, Ill. (630) 466-7600 | www.collegiatelandscaping.com
This garden echoes Mother Nature's intricate designs in mind, showcasing the myriad ways in which water features enliven green spaces. Aquascape's ecosystem water features offer outdoor living at its best, requiring little maintenance. The display includes an element for environmentally conscious gardeners: a rainwater harvesting system to recycle water off the roof and other impermeable surfaces.
Garden Gourmet
Royal Prestige Cookware in Madison, Wis. 800-785-3319 | www.RoyalPrestige.com
More than two dozen top-ranked chefs plant the seeds of culinary inspiration with dynamic cooking demonstrations using fresh vegetables and herbs from the garden. Presented by Royal Prestige, the name synonymous with dependable products of excellent quality and value, including cookware, china, crystal, flatware, and cutlery.
South of the Border
Triton College Ornamental Horticulture Department in River Forest, Ill. 708-456-0300 | triton.cc.il.us
Triton College's Ornamental Horticulture Department features hands-on experience in Floral Design and Greenhouse Management, Landscape Design and Botanic Gardens. The program houses a retail flower shop, greenhouses and a botanic garden.
Teaching Garden
The Barn Nursery in Cary, Ill. 847-658-3883 | www.barnnurserylandscape.com
The Teaching Garden designed by The Barn Nursery and presented by Special Events Management, producer of the Chicagoland Flower & Garden Show, is the focal point for the Show's How-To classes that dig deep into the roots of gardening. It offers visitors non-stop, hands-on gardening tips—ranging from growing basics to Landscaping 101.
Mille Fleurs: A Floral Flair
Sylvia's Flowers & Home in Arlington Heights, Ill. 847-255-4680 | www.sfbuds.com
Enjoy the sights and smells of a variety of fresh-cut flowers from Holland, South America, California, New Zealand, Thailand, Singapore, Hawaii and many other global gardens. This street-style open market allows visitors to pick small quantities by the stem out of buckets and discover new varieties that inspire to make fresh-cut flowers a daily event.
Eco-Friendly
English & Sons Landscaping in Montgomery, Ill. 630.264.2128 | English-sons.com
This eco-friendly garden demonstrates how driveways, walkways and patios paved with permeable materials can regenerate rainwater—either to irrigate lawns and planting areas or to be collected in a reservoir for later use. Also highlighted are drought-tolerant shrubs and foliage and a homeowner's dream-come-true: RTF sod, which virtually regenerates on its own after it is damaged.
Tablescapes
American Institute of Floral Designers in Baltimore, Md. 410-753-3318 | AIFD.org and American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), Chicago, Ill. 312-467-5080 | www.asidillinois.com
Some of the top floral and interior designers in Chicagoland display innovative table settings that express the almost limitless possibilities in taking the dining table to new heights. With flowers and greenery as a starting point, they create tables that are truly works of art.
Ultimate Back Yard
Coast-to-Coast Hot Tubs in Crystal Lake, Ill. 815-477-7727 | coasttocoasthottubs.com
The garden features the things dreams are made of: a hot tub, lush greenery, a scaled-down swimming pool and more. It's filled with visual eye candy on the design and construction of behind-the-home spaces that family and friends can enjoy.
Gardening Live!
Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, Ill. 847-835-5440 | www.chicagobotanic.org
The Gardening Live! stage and exhibit area becomes a beehive of activity every year with 20-minute demonstrations by Garden horticulturists and educators between 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily. It features live on-air talk and news shows with WGN radio personalities. Master gardeners and Garden staff answer visitors' garden questions and there's a book store too.
Sugar from the Sun
RikRock Garden in Arlington Heights, Ill. 847-291-3455 | www.chicagoextremepools.com
This garden--presented by Sun So Sweet Prunes—is a smaller-size replica of a unique and artful new permanent display that just opened in the Garfield Park Conservatory. It features a combination of water features, boulders and fruit trees that are sure to be the talk of the Windy City.
Seminars help gardens and gardeners blossom
Noted authors, academics and gardening professionals will be on hand to offer expert advice to novice gardeners and seasoned enthusiasts alike Saturday, March 8, through Sunday, March 16,at the Chicagoland Flower & Garden Show, held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road in Rosemont. You can brush up on groundcovers or perennials, find great new shade plants, gather tips for a big-time landscaping or learn to recycle rain water.
Fifty-four professionals from across the nation are slated to speak at Garden Seminars:
Seven experts from the Morton Arboretum will offer seminars:
Phil Riske's "Flowering Cherries, Pears and Crabapples: The Divas of the Ornamental Tree World," focusing on the challenges and characteristics of these beautiful but "high maintenance" trees
Doris Taylor's "Shade Gardening: Creating a Woodland Garden under Mature Trees" discussing proper techniques of shade gardening, selecting the right plants, the proper amount of light needed and planting away from the trunk of the tree.
Todd Jacobson, the Morton Arboretum Manager of Horticulture, discusses imaginative planting combinations in his seminar "Innovative Planting Combinations." Jacobson shows how considering color, texture and season, can create spectacular planting combinations. Katrina Lewin presents "The Perfect Cut: How To Prune Trees and Shrubs Correctly." Lewin will discuss the proper timing and methods for pruning trees and shrubs. She will explain how to prune young trees to develop a strong structure, and how to attain pleasing form and maximum floral display for shrubs.
In "Bewitched by Witch-hazels" a presentation from Arboretum Curator of Living Collections Kunso Kim, will address the breakthrough work being done to introduce new and hardy Witch-hazel selections.
Donna Smith's presentation "Simplify Your Garden: Maintenance Tips for the Busy Gardener"
Andrew Gapinski present "Shrubs: The Forgotten Element, Selection and Care for Shrubs in the Home Landscape"
The roster of speakers also includes representatives of the University of Illinois Extension and professionals from the Chicago Botanic Garden. The Chicagoland Flower and Garden Show is sponsored by Belgard Hardscapes, a nationwide network of paving stone and garden wall products manufacturers. Show hours are 9:30 a.m. until 6 p.m., Saturdays through Wednesday, and until 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, the only evening when there are free refreshments and entertainment after 5 p.m. Adult admission -- which includes a new, concurrent Home Expo and opening weekend Fine Art Show -- is $14 weekends, $12 weekdays and $20 for a two-day pass. Tickets for children aged 4 to 12 are $5 every day. All-day parking is $11. You can order tickets online by visiting chicagoflower.com, where no service fee is charged. To purchase tickets for groups, call 773-435-1250 x249. Individual tickets are also available at the door.
