Super
Seed
Saturday

Saturday, January 23, 2027
Regenstein Center

Special Hours: The Garden will stay open until 4 p.m.

Hear from experts, explore behind the scenes, swap seeds with gardeners

Admission:
  • Free admission to Super Seed Saturday events; preregistration is not required for the Seed Swap
  • Registration is requested for the free lecture, free tours of the Dixon National Tallgrass Prairie Seed Bank, and the Rare Book Room
  • Admission is free for Garden members. Regular parking and admission fees apply for nonmembers.
 

Highlights:

Lecture by Bevin Cohen
Alsdorf Auditorium, Regenstein Center
12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

Presentation: "From Garden to Seed: Planning, Growing, & Saving Seeds"
Bevin Cohen from Michigan—owner of the Small House Farm, an award-winning food and garden author, nationally recognized educator, public speaker, and podcast host of the popular Seeds & Weeds. Bevin has written over 10 books including Saving Our Seeds and Herbs in Every Season. Learn more at smallhousefarm.com.

Bevin will host a “Meet & Greet” and book signing of Grow Great Vegetables Illinois and Herbs in Every Season during the Seed Swap in Burnstein Hall from 1:30 – 3 p.m.
 

14th Annual Seed Swap
Burnstein Hall & Krehbiel Gallery
1:30 – 3 p.m.

Gardeners come together to share, swap, and learn more about seeds. Gather expert tips about starting and saving seeds, and everything seed-related in between. Browse displays and chat with Garden staff and volunteers to find answers to your growing questions. Guests are not required to bring or swap seeds.

Seed Swap

 

Tour the Dixon National Tallgrass Prairie Seed Bank
Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center
10 – 11 a.m.

Did you know the Chicago Botanic Garden has a seed bank? Take a rare behind-the-scenes tour of the Dixon National Tallgrass Prairie Seed Bank, located in the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center with Sarah Hollis, Conservation Scientist, and learn more about this crucial work. See the state-of-the-art lab—including all the unique seed prep equipment—and learn the multiple steps to seed banking from their arrival to long-term storage. Limited to 12 participants.
 

Seeds of Yesteryear: Selections from the Rare Book Collection
Lenhardt Library, Regenstein Center
11 a.m. – noon

Presented by: Donna Herendeen, Lenhardt Library manager of public services. Go back in time through this viewing of seed catalog selections from the Lenhardt Library’s Rare Book Collection. See a variety of colorful seed catalogs from the late 1800s – early 1900s.