Roses: How Many Do You Have in Your Garden?

Speaker: Jackie Kosbab: Retired Senior Horticulturist of Cantigny Park

Jackie, a retired horticulturist from Cantigny Park in Wheaton, continues to keep her hands—and her imagination—deep in the world of garden design. She consults seasonally for Northmoor Country Club in Highland Park and has recently brought her expertise to the Elgin Garden Club. Jackie has a particular fondness for roses and delights in weaving them into the gardens she helps shape. 

 Program: Roses may seem temperamental royalty, demanding and delicate, yet they’re far gentler than their reputation suggests. With a touch of patience and a bit of wisdom, they unfurl into effortless beauty—soft petals catching the morning light; fragrance drifting on warm breezes—turning any garden into a place where wonder quietly blooms.

Gardening in Comfort

Speakers: Mary Zorc or Robin Martin

Mary Zorc is a Extension Master Gardener (EMG) for the past 7 years and the lead for the “Ask A Master Gardener” booth at the Grayslake Farmers Market.Mary has been involved in many aspects of the Lake Country Master Gardener Plant Sale including hotographing the event. She is involved in garden education, design, planting and maintenance for her neighborhood landscape. 

Robin Martin is a newly certified Master Gardener in 2024. She is a strong advocate for the Gardening in Comfort approach, Robin is passionate about using adaptive tools and techniques to make gardening more accessible and less physically demanding-especially for those with mobility or health challenges.

Program: Gardening in Comfort involves using adaptive tools, equipment and techniques to best fit the needs of the gardener. Anyone, at any age, can garden with greater ease, preventing injury and reducing stress on the body. Using the tools and techniques presented here, every gardener can enjoy Gardening in Comfort. Included in the presentation will be a display of adaptive tools. Bring the tools you use to share your success with the group.

Bringing Nature into Your Yard.

Speaker: David Eubanks, Eubanks Environmental.

David has worked as a distinguished environmentalist, ecologist, and native plant designer for 30 years. He works one-on-one with clients to use native wildflowers, trees, shrubs, and grasses that bring life and beauty to a landscape – from butterfly gardens to raingardens to native shorelines and ponds.

Program: Bringing Nature into Your Yard The beauty and function of native plants. This presentation translates for home use the indigenous plants of Illinois’ prairies, woodlands and wetlands. Taking cues from how nature works in the “Chicago Wilderness” of nature preserves, Mr. Eubanks will demonstrate how native plants can beautify a home while solving landscape challenges such as wet spots in the yard, shady spots, and spots blasted by the sun. Raingardens, shade gardens and prairie pollinator gardens can bring life to the home landscape far beyond the traditional turf and ornamental plants typically used around homes. Specific native wildflowers, grasses, sedges, trees and shrubs will be discussed -- from installation details to maintenance considerations. Over time, “going native” can be relatively easy to maintain while providing four season interest. Conservation begins at home is the theme of this presentation.

Growing Tea Garden

Speaker: Carolina Schottland

Extension Master Gardener (EMG). Within the EMG program, she is project leader for the Speakers Bureau and the EMG Seed Library and Seed Expo. Carolina is also a Lawyer, Trustee Round Lake Beach, Stuart of Nippersink Forest Preserve Preserve leading conservation and restoration programs. She is an active volunteer with the Chicago Botanic Garden, Buehler Enabling Garden and President of the Round Lake Area Garden Club

Program: If you enjoy a nice cup of tea and have a flare for gardening, come learn what plants you can grow in our area to create or enhance your very own tea blends. We will focus on a vast array of plants that can be used for making tea. This talk includes an interactive, sensory component of fresh or dried plants depending on the season. Comprehensive plant list provided.

Putting your Garden to Bed

Speaker: Bill Karges

Bill has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Botany and a minor in Speech, so he enjoys talking about all aspects of the world of plants. He has managed Garden Centers for over 50 years, where he offers advice on a wide range of horticultural topics. Whether your gardening questions concern cultural requirements, insect and disease problems, fertilization practices, or soil structure issues, he tries to blend traditional, reliable information with current research to help customers improve their gardening skills.

Program: This presentation will outline how to prepare your garden for winter. With a focus on perennial gardens, you'll learn what to cut down, how and when to cut it, and how to prevent this year's problems from recurring in future years. The proper use of mulches will also be covered in detail. Our members are welcome to bring plant samples for discussion of insect, disease and/or cultural problems as time permits.

Illinois’s Exotic Invasive Weeds

Speaker: Jane Buck

Jane is a member of the Antioch Garden Club. She was a past president of Iowa Garden Clubs, is a Flower Show Judge Emeritus, and has been a long time NCG Central Region Board Member.

Program: Identifying and controlling Invasive Plants in Illinois. Jane’s program will touch on the Illinois Exotic Weed List. Prevention is one of the most effective and cost efficient means of managing invasive plants. 

Saturday, May 17, 2025

Homegrown perennials, annuals, vegetables and tropical plants from our members gardens and gently used garden items.

Cash, checks, or credit cards!

Container Design

Speaker: Anna Kessling

Learn the ins and outs of container design, making sure that your planter includes plants that will flourish in the right space. Learn about color design and starting with a good foundation. Think “thriller, filler, spiller”.

Creativity in the Garden

Speaker: Carol Chichorski

Does creativity elude you in the garden and elsewhere? Is creativity an art or a science? Carol’s presentation focuses on the unexpected, taking risks and the creative process. Let this presentation be your inspiration and road map to expressing individuality in your garden.

Dietary Strategies to Optimize Cognitive Health

Speaker: Veronica Porter

“Ask Aunt V”

"My passion is to create community in all I do, from growing a garden, to preparing a meal, to educating, gathering, and enjoying life's harvest."

The brain requires certain nutrients to stay healthy. The foods we eat can have a big impact on the structure and health of our brains. Eating a brain-boosting diet may support both short-term and long-term brain function. The microbiome of your soil matters to your Microbiome.

Veronica Porter was born and raised in Naperville when it was still considered a small farm town. It was a time that you learned from your elders, explored with your friends, and followed in the footsteps of time worn traditions.

Veronica brings these values to modern times and shares her experiences by educating and strategizing for healthy, organic, heirloom gardening, farm to table food integrity, cooking, preservation and living a life in a responsible, sustainable manner. She is a third generation organic farmer, chef, culinary instructor, and food educator for home and garden. Veronica is a Licensed Chef and holds a Master’s degree in Organic Urban Farming and Gardening.

Animal Resistant Gardening

Speaker: Mel Zaloudek

Rabbits, deer and squirrels enjoy our gardens more than we do, it seems, and constantly adapt to our defensive strategies. Minimize your costly landscape losses through a combination of tactical plant selection, physical barriers and effective repellents. The most successful strategies of our local landscape profession will answer many of your questions, so bring more!

Reclaim your time, your expense and your peace of mind.

Holiday Party Potluck

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Shepherd of the Lakes Church

285 E Washington St., Grayslake

Doors open at 6:30 Dinner at 7:00

Guests Welcome!

Members and Guests with last names starting:

M-P: Appetizers

F-L: Sides (hot/ cold, salads, fruit, cheese,

potatoes, bread, muffins, etc.)

R-Z: Entrées (to serve 6-8)

A-E: Desserts

Bunco & Food Drive (Appetizers & Deserts)

Please bring non- perishable items such as canned goods, pasta, rice, beans, paper products such as toilet paper, paper towels, diapers, hygiene products such as toothbrushes, paste, soap, and household goods such as sponges, cleaners to be donated to Avon Township food pantry. There will be volunteers in the parking lot who will load their cars with the items between 6:30 and 7:00 pm.

Bunco at 7:10 Join us for a fun filled evening. It’s easy to play...

Appetizers & Desserts will be provided by volunteers.

Photo by Alfonso Alberto Ramirez Alvarez

Growing Your First Orchid Successfully

Speaker: Don White from Anything Orchids

The intent of the program is to help people be successful orchid growers. Lighting conditions, watering and repotting are stressed. Don will also try to correct orchid growing fallacies.

Don has been growing orchids for around 40 years and still has his first plant. He owns and operates Anything Orchids, an orchid greenhouse business, selling orchid plants and supplies as well as boarding orchids for growers who do not have time or space in their homes. The business has been in operation for over 30 years. Don is a member of both the Batavia Orchid Society and the Illinois Orchid Society. His plants have won numerous awards at orchid shows. Don was a teacher in Orland Park for 35 years.

Speaker: Sandy Washburn, is a Master Gardener and President of Wild Ones, Lake to Prairie Chapter.

Traditional turf grass and its maintenance can be expensive. The costs of water, time, fertilizer, chemicals, loss of birds and insects can take a toll on your budget and the health of your soil. Cutting back or even replacing turf grass with native plants, mini-clover and/or walkable ground covers is a real possibility and can be done a little at a time.

Bring a dish to pass or pay $10.00 towards the meat. Wear your Hawaiian attire. Bring a chair or sit at the picnic tables. Recommended car pooling because parking is limited.

Willow Point Park, N. Cove Rd., Gages Lake, IL

Homegrown perennials, annuals, vegetables and tropical plants from our members gardens and

gently used garden items.

Cash or checks only

General Meeting

April 22, 2024

Announcements:

Program: “Tropicals”

Speaker: Kim Hartmann

Time: 6:30 doors open 7:00 meeting

Place: Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church

285 E Washington Grayslake Illinois

Give your garden that tropical look and feel. Tropical plants with their bold colors and unique forms create impact, add style and brighten the mood of any garden.

• Community plantings sign ups

• Election and installation of officers

• Garden Walk/Social plans

• Finalize Plant Sale details

• National Garden Week plans for June 2-8

• Scholarship winner announcement (if applicable)

• Horticulture tip