Events, Activities and Meetings
Below you will find a calender, upcoming activities, and a list of meetings. Hope to see you there!
34th 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 2015 is eligible to win again.
Five winners were selected for the 34th Annual Event! See the Beautification Awards page for more information.
Five winners were selected for the 34th Annual Event! See the Beautification Awards page for more information.
96th Annual Plant Sale
This annual event will be held at Cumberland Park on May 16, 2026. See the PLANT SALE page for more information.
31st Annual Garden Walk
This annual event will be held at various local gardens on June 28, 2026. 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.
Date: March 12, 2026
Program: Correct Pruning of Shrubs and Trees
Speaker: Mel Zaloudek
This will be a short course on the proper techniques and aesthetic goals of tree or shrub trimming, which have frustrated all too many homeowners and more than a few professional landscapers. Various tools will be demonstrated. Since pruning dominates the over appearance of any property, for better or worse, why not learn the easiest total makeover for your home.
Mel graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in taxonomic botany and served on the horticulture faculty of Triton College for 20 years. He is currently an independent landscaping consultant and has been presenting programs regularly to groups large and small across the greater Chicago metropolitan area.
Program: Correct Pruning of Shrubs and Trees
Speaker: Mel Zaloudek
This will be a short course on the proper techniques and aesthetic goals of tree or shrub trimming, which have frustrated all too many homeowners and more than a few professional landscapers. Various tools will be demonstrated. Since pruning dominates the over appearance of any property, for better or worse, why not learn the easiest total makeover for your home.
Mel graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in taxonomic botany and served on the horticulture faculty of Triton College for 20 years. He is currently an independent landscaping consultant and has been presenting programs regularly to groups large and small across the greater Chicago metropolitan area.
Date: April 9, 2026
Program: The Overlooked Splendor of Ants and Their Roles in Our Lives and Gardens
Speaker: Sean Menke, Ph.D.
Come learn about one of the most common animals you see every day. They are small and tend to only be noticed when they irritate us. Ants; they are everywhere, almost, they do everything, and our world (and gardens) would literally fall apart without them. But very few people actually stop and "see" them. Today we will take a little time to appreciate their beauty, their biology, and learn how they impact us, our gardens, and the surrounding planet.
Sean is a professor of Biology at Lake Forest College. His research integrates the study of ecology, behavior and evolution into the fields of biogeography, community ecology and invasive species. His research focuses on how urbanization and biological invasions influence geographic patterns of diversity and how climate and habitat restoration influence ant community structure. For the past two years he has been focusing on how the Periodical Cicada emergence influences ant community ecology.
Program: The Overlooked Splendor of Ants and Their Roles in Our Lives and Gardens
Speaker: Sean Menke, Ph.D.
Come learn about one of the most common animals you see every day. They are small and tend to only be noticed when they irritate us. Ants; they are everywhere, almost, they do everything, and our world (and gardens) would literally fall apart without them. But very few people actually stop and "see" them. Today we will take a little time to appreciate their beauty, their biology, and learn how they impact us, our gardens, and the surrounding planet.
Sean is a professor of Biology at Lake Forest College. His research integrates the study of ecology, behavior and evolution into the fields of biogeography, community ecology and invasive species. His research focuses on how urbanization and biological invasions influence geographic patterns of diversity and how climate and habitat restoration influence ant community structure. For the past two years he has been focusing on how the Periodical Cicada emergence influences ant community ecology.
Date: May 14, 2026
Program: Creating Your Own Spring Planter
Coordinator: Suzanne Dahm
In this hands-on workshop, members will select five plants from a variety of premium annuals to create their own beautiful container garden. In addition, this year we will have our own member, Nancy Ciemens, demonstrate making a beautiful container garden.
Nancy owned her own business, The Urban Garden Designer, in Chicago. She planned and planted rooftop decks, balconies, container gardens and window boxes in the city and north side neighborhoods of Chicago.
Members must register and pay in advance for a portion of the cost of the plants provided. You must pre-register as there usually are few additional plants the day of the program. Participation is optional. Check newsletter for more details.
Program: Creating Your Own Spring Planter
Coordinator: Suzanne Dahm
In this hands-on workshop, members will select five plants from a variety of premium annuals to create their own beautiful container garden. In addition, this year we will have our own member, Nancy Ciemens, demonstrate making a beautiful container garden.
Nancy owned her own business, The Urban Garden Designer, in Chicago. She planned and planted rooftop decks, balconies, container gardens and window boxes in the city and north side neighborhoods of Chicago.
Members must register and pay in advance for a portion of the cost of the plants provided. You must pre-register as there usually are few additional plants the day of the program. Participation is optional. Check newsletter for more details.
Date: June 11, 2026
Program: Landscaping with Curb Appeal
Speaker: Ken Benson
This is an informative, interactive and descriptive program on the do’s and don’ts and the myths of curb appeal. We will explore developing visually appealing gardens while avoiding common mistakes. Pictures from Florida, New Mexico and Arizona examine the trends that influence our Midwest landscaping.
Ken has his masters and bachelor’s degrees in horticulture from the University of Illinois, Champaign. He is a landscape architect and was the host of cable TV’s Landscaping with Ken Benson 1992-2000. He was a board member of Chicago Flower and Garden Show 1998-2008 and a founding board member of MELA-Midwest Ecological Landscapers Association. Ken has been giving programs to garden clubs since 1972.
Program: Landscaping with Curb Appeal
Speaker: Ken Benson
This is an informative, interactive and descriptive program on the do’s and don’ts and the myths of curb appeal. We will explore developing visually appealing gardens while avoiding common mistakes. Pictures from Florida, New Mexico and Arizona examine the trends that influence our Midwest landscaping.
Ken has his masters and bachelor’s degrees in horticulture from the University of Illinois, Champaign. He is a landscape architect and was the host of cable TV’s Landscaping with Ken Benson 1992-2000. He was a board member of Chicago Flower and Garden Show 1998-2008 and a founding board member of MELA-Midwest Ecological Landscapers Association. Ken has been giving programs to garden clubs since 1972.
Park Ridge Garden Club
P.O. Box 637
Park Ridge, IL 60068
P.O. Box 637
Park Ridge, IL 60068