for immediate release

A Bloomin' Festival Offers Plants, Tips and Fun!

May 13 — 15

Media Only:
Julie McCaffrey
(847) 835-8213
jmccaffrey@chicagobotanic.org

GLENCOE, Ill. (April 19, 2011) — Find everything you need to get your garden blooming at A Bloomin' Festival on Friday, May 13 through Sunday, May 15. The center of the festival is the 45th annual plant sale with plants that are particularly suited to growing in the Chicago area. You’ll also enjoy a lovely springtime festival featuring a farmers' market with fresh-baked goods, organic produce, honey, pottery, and tool sharpening. Shop early at the Preview Evening for members of the Chicago Botanic Garden held on Thursday, May 12 from 4 to 7 p.m. and enjoy refreshments and the best selection of plants.

Sponsored by the Woman’s Board of the Chicago Horticultural Society, the plant sale showcases more than 25,000 annuals, ferns, fruit and vegetable plants, geraniums, herbs, native wildflowers, ornamental grasses, perennials, roses, shade perennials, shrubs, and vines — all for sale! This is the Midwest’s premier plant sale and a great way to kick off the spring planting season.

“Ninety percent of the plants we offer are locally grown. These tried and true and new introductions are adapted to our soil and climate,” said Mary Hill, President of the Woman’s Board of the Chicago Horticultural Society. “Members of the Woman’s Board of the Chicago Horticultural Society, Chicago Botanic Garden staff, master gardeners, and committed volunteers from surrounding communities will provide horticultural information as they assist you with plant selection throughout the sale."

This year many plant vendors will participate, including Craig Bergmann, Lakeland Nursery, Lundberg Nursery, Markus Specimen Trees, Northwind Perennial Farm, Ted’s Greenhouses, Turks Greenhouse and W&M Land Corp. Horticulturists will give gardening demonstrations and offer tips that help you get off to a good start this season. At 3 p.m. on Friday, Corri White will present “Rose Care Made Easy.” At 11 a.m. on Saturday, Benjamin Carroll will present “Colorful and Edible Containers.” At 11 a.m. on Sunday, Nancy Clifton will present “Beautiful and Bountiful Hanging Baskets.” Visit from 1 to 3 p.m. to enjoy live music by The Teflons on Saturday and The Barehand Jug Band on Sunday.

The Festival is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15. Special members-only sale hours are from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, May 13. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org for a catalog of the rich plant offerings and to order tickets for the Preview Evening.

Admission to the Chicago Botanic Garden is free. Select event fees apply. Parking is $20 per car; free for Garden members. For information about Garden programs and events, call (847) 835-5440, or visit www.chicagobotanic.org.

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Editors, please note: The Chicago Botanic Garden's newsroom is online at www.chicagobotanic.org/pr. For digital images, contact Julie McCaffrey at (847) 835-8213 or at jmccaffrey@chicagobotanic.org.

Interact with the Garden for this and other Garden events and programs:

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The Chicago Botanic Garden, one of the treasures of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, is a 385-acre living plant museum featuring 24 distinct display gardens and four natural areas. With events, programs and activities for all ages, the Garden is open every day of the year. Admission is free; select event fees apply. Parking is $20 per car; free for Garden members. The Garden is located at 1000 Lake Cook Road in Glencoe, Ill. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org, or call (847) 835-5440 for seasonal hours, images of the Garden and commuter transportation information.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is managed by the Chicago Horticultural Society. It opened to the public in 1972 and is home to the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden, offering a broad array of adult classes in plant science, landscape design and gardening arts. Through the Division of Plant Science and Conservation, Garden scientists work on plant conservation, research and environmental initiatives that have global impact. The Center for Teaching and Learning brings the wonder of nature and plants to children, teens and teachers. The Garden's Horticultural Therapy and Community Gardening programs provide nationally recognized community outreach and service programs. A program of the Chicago Botanic Garden, Windy City Harvest is an organic vegetable and plant production enterprise that provides instruction in sustainable horticulture and urban agriculture to residents of Chicago's North Lawndale and West Side neighborhoods.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is a member of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA). The Chicago Botanic Garden is also host to Botanic Gardens Conservation International-U.S., and a member of the Center for Plant Conservation. In 2006, the Chicago Botanic Garden received the Award for Garden Excellence, given yearly by the APGA and Horticulture magazine to a public garden that exemplifies the highest standards of horticultural practices and has shown a commitment to supporting and demonstrating best gardening practices.