Home and garden calendar, July 28-Aug. 8
Send events for this calendar to homes@dailyherald.com with “calendar listing” in the subject line. Deadline is two weeks prior to the event.
July 28
Seed Swap: Noon to 2 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of each month through September, at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, 500 N. Dunton Ave., Arlington Heights. You can drop off, pick up and trade seeds, plants, flowers and vegetable harvests all season long. Library card not required. The University of Illinois Extension Cook County Master Gardeners will be on hand answer plant questions. For information, (847) 392-0100 or www.ahml.info.
Ravenswood Manor Garden Walk: 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 28, at Ravenswood Manor Park, 4626 N. Manor Ave., Chicago. Join for the 68th annual Ravenswood Manor Garden Walk. $5 suggested donation. Stay for the free love concert at 4:30 p.m. in Ravenswood Manor Park. $5 suggested donation. ravenswoodmanor.com.
Sunday Garden Series: 1 p.m. Sunday, July 28, at McHenry County College Demo Garden, 8900 Highway 14, Crystal Lake. Join for the new “Sunday Series” of free talks in the Demonstration Garden, just off parking lot C. Each topic is presented by a different Master Gardener. Topics include vegetables on July 28, seed saving on Aug. 25 and herbs on Sept. 22. (815) 338-3737 or extension.illinois.edu.
Container Gardening: 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 28, at Robert Crown Branch Library of the Evanston Library, 1801 Main St., Evanston. Learn to grow vegetables, fruits and flowers without needing outdoor space. Free; registration required. Visit evanston.libnet.info.
Aug. 2
Hydrangeas 101: 9 a.m. to noon Friday, Aug. 2, at The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Get tips for choosing, planting and caring for hydrangeas, a top choice among home gardeners. Ages 16 and older. $42-$49. For information, mortonarb.org.
Aug. 3
Bonsai Show: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 3-4, at The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. The Prairie State Bonsai Society presents its bonsai exhibition at The Morton Arboretum’s Destination Asia Festival. Prairie State Bonsai Society members come from all over the Chicago area and will be displaying trees that they have been developing over the years. The exhibition will include a section of trees in training, so that visitors can see bonsai trees in progress. Included with Arboretum admission. For information, call (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org/explore/activities/events/bonsai-show.
UPCOMING
Monday, Aug. 5
Naperville Community Gardeners — Preserving Safely: 6 p.m., Monday, Aug. 5 at Knox Presbyterian Church, 1105 Catalpa Lane, Naperville. Caitlin Mellendorf, a registered dietitian and wellness educator with Illinois Extension, will cover multiple kinds of food preservation, including canning (including updates in the canning process), freezing, dehydration and fermentation. Bring your canner pressure gauges for a free test from the Illinois Extension office. Gauges should be tested yearly. Testing starts at 6 p.m.; program starts at 6:30 p.m. Visit www.napervillecommunitygardeners.com.
Tuesday, Aug. 6
Garden Club of Lake Zurich — Landscaping with Native Shrubs: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6, at Ela Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. The Volo Bog Natural Resource Coordinator will discuss how to incorporate native shrubs into your landscape. Guests welcome. Refreshments served. Visit http://www.gardencluboflakezurich.org.
Thursday, Aug. 8
Garden After Hours: Cocktail Gardens: 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8 at The Growing Place, 25W471 Plank Road, Naperville. Music and cold drinks in the summer garden. Sample herb-infused simple syrups. Food truck on site. Create your own make-and-take “cocktail garden,” filled with your favorite herbs. Free to enter; ages 21+. Visit thegrowingplace.com or call (630) 355-4000.