ENJOY YOUR VISIT — Exhibits, shows and art

Plant shows and sales are located in the Regenstein Center

For more information about the plant societies and flower shows held at the Chicago Botanic Garden, please contact flowershows@chicagobotanic.org

2008 Plant Shows

Show of Summer, Garden Club of america
June 21 and 22, 2008 — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Show of Summer, with a theme this year of "Tapestry: The Interwoven World," is a Garden Club of America-sanctioned show hosted by the Garden Guild of Winnetka, Kenilworth Garden Club, Lake Forest Garden Club, Garden Club of Evanston, Winnetka Garden Club and Garden Club of Barrington. Judging takes place on Friday, June 20. This show qualifies to have the Chicago Horticultural Society Award, issued by the Chicago Botanic Garden, to be awarded to a worthy participant in the show.

Show of Summer Special Events
Artistic Demonstration and Workshops with Carla Barbaglia
Carla is a premier international floral designer, an instructor at the Instituto Italiano Decorazione Floreale per Amatori in San Remo, Italy, and a global medal winner for her floral creativity, interpretation, and concepts.

Floral Demonstration
Saturday, June 21
10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Alsdorf Auditorium
$40 tickets will be available at the door.

Horticulture Speaker Bruce Holst
Bruce is an international explorer with an emphasis on the floras of Belize and Venezuela; an accomplished photographer; and director of Plant Collections and Research Library as well as curator of the Herbarium at the Center for Tropical Plant Science and Conservation at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, Florida.

Lecture and Slide Show
"Biodiversity: The Most Complex and Fragile Fabric on Earth"
Saturday, June 21
1:30 p.m.
Alsdorf Auditorium
$40 tickets will be available at the door.

WisConsin-Illinois Lily Society Show
July 12, 2008 — Noon to 4:30 p.m.
July 13, 2008 — 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

This show, presented by the Wisconsin-Illinois Lily Society, features true lilies. A true lily belongs to the genus Lilium, a member of the Liliaceae family. There are about 80 different species of lilies, and thousands of hybrids. Enjoy floral arrangements in four artistic categories, and a beautiful judged display of more than a hundred lily blooms.

Northshore Iris & Daylily Society Daylily show & SALE
July 19 and 20, 2008 — 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Presented by the North Shore Iris and Daylily Society, the sale will be on both days, with a show on Sunday. Visitors will be able to choose their favorite daylily bloom and artistic arrangement as part of the show's "You Be the Judge" theme on Sunday.

Cactus and Succulent Society of Greater Chicago Show & Sale
July 26 and 27, 2008 — 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

This event features cactus and succulent plants grown by members of the Cactus and Succulent Society of Greater Chicago. Free children's educational programming will be provided by ME4E (Multidisciplinary Education for the Environment) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Programs include Make Your Own Native Cactus (Opuntia/Prickly Pear craft), Slinging Succulents (a bean bag game), and Don't Get Stuck! (a word find).

Bromeliad Society of Greater Chicago Show & Sale
August 2 and 3, 2008 — 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Plants in the bromeliad family, including pineapples and Spanish moss, are generally easy to grow, require little care, and reward the grower with brilliant, long-lasting blooms and ornamental foliage. Members of the Bromeliad Society of Greater Chicago will be available to answer questions about these plants during this event, presented by the Society.

Gardeners of the North shore show
August 9, 2008 — Noon to 4:30 p.m.
August 10, 2008 — 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Gardeners of the North Shore host this annual show, which includes a judged exhibition with more than 500 entries of anything a home gardener can grow, including flowers, vegetables, herbs and houseplants. The event is open to all amateur gardeners, and some plants will be for sale.

PHOTO: bonsai mid-America bonsai
show & Sale
August 15, 2008
Noon to 5 p.m. (show);
9 a.m. — 5 p.m. (sale)
August 16 and 17
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(show & sale)

The 31st Annual Mid-America Bonsai Exhibition will include a judged display of 200 bonsai trees reflecting all types of bonsai styles. More than a dozen vendors will be selling bonsai trees, raw nursery stock, pots, tools, and supplies. Free demonstrations and lectures will be held on Friday at 2 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Workshops will be held throughout the weekend for an additional fee (registration required).

Garden Clubs of Illinois State Show
August 23 and 24, 2008 — Noon to 4:30 p.m.

Presented by the Garden Clubs of Illinois, this show will include a judged exhibition of flower arrangements, plus a cut horticulture competition.

Illinois Mycological Association show & sale
August 31, 2008 — 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Come learn about the "Fascinating Mushrooms and Fungi of Illinois," the theme of this year's annual show, which celebrates the richness of fall mushrooms in Illinois. Featured will be fifty to a hundred varieties of mushrooms foraged from area forests in the days prior to the show. Presented by the Illinois Mycological Association, members will provide information and answer questions regarding mushrooms and fungi. (Mycology is the study of fungi and their use to humans as a source for medicine and food, as well as their dangers, such as poisoning or infection.) There will be a children's education area, and mushroom-related books, t-shirts and other items will be for sale at this event.

28th Annual roadside flower sale and workshops
Sale: September 12 to 14, 2008 — 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Workshops: September 3 to 5, 2008 — 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Chicago Botanic Garden volunteers host the 28th annual Roadside Flower Sale, a display and sale of natural, handmade plant and floral arrangements. This one-of-a-kind event showcases ideas on how to decorate indoors and make gifts from the Garden's specially collected dried flowers, pods and grasses. More than 400 flower arrangements, wreaths, potpourris, candles and stationery are available for purchase.

Lakeshore African violet Society show & SALE
September 20, 2008 — Noon to 4:30 p.m.
September 21, 2008 — 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Among the daintiest and most vivid petite flowering houseplants, African violets are treasured for their ease of growing, continuous blooms and hardiness. Visitors will enjoy more than 100 judged exhibits, and benefit from advice on growing and propagation. This year's theme is "We Vote for Violets."

Central states dahlia society show
September 27, 2008 — Noon to 4:30 p.m.
September 28, 2008 — 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Dahlias are known for their bright, vibrant colors and perfect petal arrangement. This 77th annual Dahlia Flower Show, presented by the Central States Dahlia Society, will feature a judged exhibit of nearly 1,000 dahlia blooms ranging in size from a silver dollar to a dinner plate. Society members will answer questions and provide written information about dahlias.

Illinois Orchid Society show & Sale
October 11, 2008 — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
October 12, 2008 — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Special photographer's hour at 9 a.m.

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. Tabletop displays, from the rarest of species to cultivated hybrids, will be artistically arranged. The Society will provide an orchid sales area and repotting services.

Midwest daffodil society bulb sale
October 18 and 19, 2008 — 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Hundreds of daffodil bulbs will be on sale featuring unusual, hard-to-get varieties. Daffodil enthusiasts will provide expert advice. This is the perfect opportunity to purchase daffodil bulbs in preparation for the American Daffodil Society's National Convention, held at the Chicago Botanic Garden in 2009.

Wisconsin-Illinois Lily Society Bulb Sale
October 18 and 19, 2008 — 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Presented by the Wisconsin-Illinois Lily Society, a wide variety of bulbs will be available at this annual sale.

Midwest Fruit Explorers Show & Sale
October 18 and 19, 2008 — 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Featuring apples, pears, paw paws, grapes, kiwis and more, this display consists of freshly harvested fruit grown in the area by members of the Midwest Fruit Explorers. There will be apple cider press demonstrations and tastings, and apples and cider will be available for purchase.

JULIE, Inc. is the proud sponsor of the American Flower Show Series.

The American Flower Show Series is endowed in honor of Louise Durham Mead and Walter Langworthy Mead.