Events, Activities and Meetings
Below you will find a calender, upcoming activities, and a list of meetings. Hope to see you there!
33rd Annual Garden Club Beautification Awards Contest
The City of Park Ridge and the Park Ridge Garden Club co-sponsor a Beautification Awards Contest. The contest recognizes residents of free-standing, single-family homes that have made their home and landscape the most attractive in our city. Up to 5 winners each receive $100 from the Garden Club, a 1-year complimentary garden club membership, and a lawn sign from the City. Any previous winner prior to 2014 is eligible to win again.
Five winners were selected! See the HOME page for more information.
Five winners were selected! See the HOME page for more information.
95th Annual Plant Sale
This annual event will be held at Cumberland Park on May 17, 2025. See the PLANT SALE page for more information.
30th Annual Garden Walk
This annual event will be held at various local gardens on June 22, 2025. See the GARDEN WALK page for more information.
Annual Field Trip
Members travel as a group to significant horticultural and historic sites for information and pleasure. The day always includes lunch and a stop at a garden center for shopping opportunities. There is a fee to cover transportation, entrance fees, and lunch.
Meetings
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Meetings are held the second Thursday of each month from September through June beginning at 7:00 p.m. at 100 S. Western in Park Ridge at the Centennial Activity Center. Enter using the door to the south of the main entrance.
For a full list of upcoming programs and detailed descriptions, please read below. Guests are encouraged to attend meetings. Guests may attend two meetings free of charge. For membership information, please visit the ABOUT page. |
Meetings start at 7:00pm. There is a club meeting after which there's time for socializing until the program starts as noted below. Programs generally last 1 hour. Meetings typically adjourn at 9:00pm.
Our Program selection for this season will be centered around the NGC and Garden Clubs of Illinois goals and objectives. We will be sharing programs about flower arranging, butterflies, conservation, environment, horticulture, indoor plants, and Illinois wildflowers. Our programs are a balance of requests from our members, ideas to be used for the club’s special activities, and suggestions for our continuing projects. All Programs will have a PowerPoint presentation with speakers that will include some handouts and raffled demo arrangements.
All programs were chosen for the continuing education of our members.
All programs were chosen for the continuing education of our members.
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Program:
Holiday Celebration Entertainment: The Frozen Robins Date: December 5, 2024 Time: 6:30pm |
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The Frozen Robins are the most entertaining holiday caroling group in Chicago, with more than 25 years of experience in providing holiday cheer at events of all types. They feature exclusive and off-beat arrangements, sublime harmonies and superb costuming, backed by years of stage, improvisation and musical entertainment experience. When you’re a Frozen Robin, you’re not just a singer, you’re a four-star performer. Their style is upbeat, interactive and decidedly fun. These carolers know how to make any event light up with a seasonal glow.
Please bring cash if you would like to support our raffle.
Please bring cash if you would like to support our raffle.
Program:
Plastic Paradise: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Date:
February 13, 2025
Time:
7:00pm
Plastic Paradise: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Date:
February 13, 2025
Time:
7:00pm
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a massive accumulation of plastic waste and debris floating in the Pacific Ocean, impacting marine life and ecosystems. This environmental crisis has gained global attention, leading to the creation of numerous documentaries that aim to raise awareness and inspire change. Through this film we will witness the scale of pollution and learn about the broader implications of plastic pollution on our planet. This and other documentaries call for action to mitigate plastic pollution and promote sustainable alternatives.
Popcorn will be served with the movie.
Popcorn will be served with the movie.
Program:
Success with Soil or Talk Dirt(y) to Me
Speaker:
William (Bill) Karges
Date:
March 13, 2025
Time:
7:00pm
Success with Soil or Talk Dirt(y) to Me
Speaker:
William (Bill) Karges
Date:
March 13, 2025
Time:
7:00pm
In this program you will learn how to evaluate the type of soil you have and what you can do to maintain heathy soil or improve poor soil. The basics of soil structure, pH, fertilizers and various amendments will be covered in detail. This presentation will have an emphasis on organic methods.
Bill has a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany and Speech and enjoys talking about all aspects of plants. For nearly 50 years, Bill managed a 105-year-old garden shop, where he offered advice on a wide range of gardening topics. Whether your horticultural questions concern cultural requirements, insect and disease problems, fertilization practices, or soil structure issues, Bill blends traditional reliable information with current research to help gardeners improve their skills.
Program:
Hydrangeas 101
Speaker:
Heather Prince
Date:
April 10, 2025
Time:
7:00pm
Hydrangeas 101
Speaker:
Heather Prince
Date:
April 10, 2025
Time:
7:00pm
Heavenly hydrangeas! One of our favorite long-blooming shrubs for the home landscape, hydrangea varieties have become one of the hottest must-have plants for your yard. We'll discuss the siting, care and pruning requirement of each of the five shrub species and two vines commonly planted in the Chicago area.
Heather Prince has been a professional horticulturist for more than 20 years in numerous roles from public gardens to retail and wholesale to private consulting. She currently balances a busy freelance horticultural writing and teaching schedule with her role as email marketing manager for The Garden of Words.
Program:
Creating Your Own Spring Planter
Coordinators:
Jack Barnette, President
Suzanne Dahm, Coordinator
Date:
May 8, 2025
Time:
7:00pm
Creating Your Own Spring Planter
Coordinators:
Jack Barnette, President
Suzanne Dahm, Coordinator
Date:
May 8, 2025
Time:
7:00pm
In this hands-on workshop, members will select plants from a variety of premium annuals to create their own beautiful container garden. Members will register and pay in advance for a portion of the cost of the plants provided. Remember, you must pre-register as there usually are few additional plants the day of the program.
Participation is optional. Check the newsletter for more details.
Participation is optional. Check the newsletter for more details.
Program:
Eat the Neighborhood: Edible and Medicinal Wild Plants Right in Your Own Backyard
Speaker:
David Odd
Date:
June 12, 2025
Time:
7:00pm
Eat the Neighborhood: Edible and Medicinal Wild Plants Right in Your Own Backyard
Speaker:
David Odd
Date:
June 12, 2025
Time:
7:00pm
Dave Odd is Chicagoland's only full-time forager. For over a decade he provided locally foraged ingredients to some of the top restaurants in Chicago and celebrity chefs like Rick Bayless, Grant Achatz, Stephanie Izard and multiple Iron Chef and Top Chef winners. Now he has devoted his career to teaching everyday people about the bounty of edible and medicinal plants and mushrooms right in our own backyards. Through his Eat the Neighborhood foraging tours and events you will learn about dozens of edible and medicinal plants and mushrooms that you probably see and walk right by every day. Connecting people with the natural world around them to incorporate some of those things into their everyday lives, like our ancestors did for generations, is the ultimate goal.
The installation of new officers and committee chairs that were elected for the upcoming year at the May meeting will take place at this meeting.
The Plant Exchange will also take place at 6:00 PM in front of the Centennial Activity Center.
Park Ridge Garden Club
P.O. Box 637
Park Ridge, IL 60068
P.O. Box 637
Park Ridge, IL 60068