2024 - 2025 Program Information
All Programs to be held at Ela Public Library unless otherwise noted
August 6th - Stacy Iwanicki - Topic: "Landscaping with Native Shrubs"
Stacy Iwanicki is the Natural Resources Coordinator at Volo State Bog. A resident of Wonder Lake, IL, Stacy and her husband, have established native habitat on their 1.25 acre suburban lot. Come and learn more about how to incorporate natives into your landscape.
August 6th - Stacy Iwanicki - Topic: "Landscaping with Native Shrubs"
Stacy Iwanicki is the Natural Resources Coordinator at Volo State Bog. A resident of Wonder Lake, IL, Stacy and her husband, have established native habitat on their 1.25 acre suburban lot. Come and learn more about how to incorporate natives into your landscape.
September 3rd - Eileen Davis – Topic: "Owls of Lake County"
Learn how specialized feathers, beaks, and talons help owls rule the food chain. Get a close-up look at local owl skins. The life of owls will be discussed along with their importance to our environment. Eileen is an educator for the Lake County Forest Preserve.
September 3rd - Eileen Davis – Topic: "Owls of Lake County"
Learn how specialized feathers, beaks, and talons help owls rule the food chain. Get a close-up look at local owl skins. The life of owls will be discussed along with their importance to our environment. Eileen is an educator for the Lake County Forest Preserve.
October 1st - Alyse Cohen Burman - Topic: “The Bat Facts"
Alyse has been birding for over 20 years. She has travelled throughout the US following her passion. Besides birds, she has also studied bats and their environmental impact. Learn about howbirds and bats co-exist while competing for food and habitat around Lake County and what gardeners can do to enable bats to co-exist in our area.
October 1st - Alyse Cohen Burman - Topic: “The Bat Facts"
Alyse has been birding for over 20 years. She has travelled throughout the US following her passion. Besides birds, she has also studied bats and their environmental impact. Learn about howbirds and bats co-exist while competing for food and habitat around Lake County and what gardeners can do to enable bats to co-exist in our area.
November 5th - Harvest Dinner - No Meeting: "Members' Only Potluck"
No Meeting/Program this month. Members will gather to celebrate our gardens with a fall feast!
December 3rd - David Brooks – Topic: “Creating Backyard Pollinator Habitats"
David is a professional naturalist specializing in Illinois natural history and green landscaping. Creating landscapes that are friendly and inviting to pollinators is a great way to act locally on behalf of the environment. This program will discuss benefits, cover planning, design, and proper maintenance of different habitat components.
December 3rd - David Brooks – Topic: “Creating Backyard Pollinator Habitats"
David is a professional naturalist specializing in Illinois natural history and green landscaping. Creating landscapes that are friendly and inviting to pollinators is a great way to act locally on behalf of the environment. This program will discuss benefits, cover planning, design, and proper maintenance of different habitat components.
January 7th - No Speaker – Topic: “Garden Trivia"
The Lake Zurich Garden Club members and guests will be divided into groups to play plant and garden trivia. Let’s have fun and win some prizes!
January 7th - No Speaker – Topic: “Garden Trivia"
The Lake Zurich Garden Club members and guests will be divided into groups to play plant and garden trivia. Let’s have fun and win some prizes!
February 11th - Leslie Goddard – Topic: "Lady Bird Johnson - A Living History"
Lady Bird Johnson forged her own path as first lady as an advocate for the environment. Wildflowers were her passion, and she started the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Lady Bird saw roadside restoration as an opportunity to bring ecological richness, and plant and animal diversity to unhealthy and homogenous areas. The Highway Beautification Act was her signature achievement toward her goal. Leslie Goddard has a Ph.D. from Northwestern University and is an actress and historian who has been portraying famous women in history for more than 10 years.
The public is invited to attend this free event - registration is required through ELA Library website.
February 11th - Leslie Goddard – Topic: "Lady Bird Johnson - A Living History"
Lady Bird Johnson forged her own path as first lady as an advocate for the environment. Wildflowers were her passion, and she started the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Lady Bird saw roadside restoration as an opportunity to bring ecological richness, and plant and animal diversity to unhealthy and homogenous areas. The Highway Beautification Act was her signature achievement toward her goal. Leslie Goddard has a Ph.D. from Northwestern University and is an actress and historian who has been portraying famous women in history for more than 10 years.
The public is invited to attend this free event - registration is required through ELA Library website.
March 4th - Cindy Crosby – Topic: “Bison Tales and Tall Grass Trails”
Join prairie steward and natural history writer Cindy Crosby in a discovery of the fascinating stories associated with the history of bison in Illinois’ “Landscape of Home.” Learn how these animals influenced the plants we know and love in the Midwest. Find out how nature preserves are bringing back bison to roam in their original tall grass prairies.
March 4th - Cindy Crosby – Topic: “Bison Tales and Tall Grass Trails”
Join prairie steward and natural history writer Cindy Crosby in a discovery of the fascinating stories associated with the history of bison in Illinois’ “Landscape of Home.” Learn how these animals influenced the plants we know and love in the Midwest. Find out how nature preserves are bringing back bison to roam in their original tall grass prairies.
April 8th - Nancy King - Topic: "Pressed Flowers - Pictures, Books and Pendants"
Nancy has worked at the Naper Settlement Museum since 2011. She has always loved
growing flowers and takes responsibility for the dried flower garden on the museum
grounds. She is also an accomplished floral designer. Nancy will demonstrate the
techniques she has acquired in floral design and dried flower arrangements.
April 8th - Nancy King - Topic: "Pressed Flowers - Pictures, Books and Pendants"
Nancy has worked at the Naper Settlement Museum since 2011. She has always loved
growing flowers and takes responsibility for the dried flower garden on the museum
grounds. She is also an accomplished floral designer. Nancy will demonstrate the
techniques she has acquired in floral design and dried flower arrangements.
May 6th - Kathi Rose - Topic: "Floral Design Demonstration"
Kathi will present various floral design styles with tips, techniques, and direction. The styles presented can be used in home, for entertaining or to enter a flower show. Kathi has a degree in horticulture from the University of Illinois and is a certified landscape architect. She has owned “Kaleidoscope of Floral Design” for 27 years.
May 17th - Plant Sale - Ela Area Public Library - Lake Zurich - 8:30 - Noon
The Club will offer hundreds of member- grown perennials and annuals, woodland plants, saplings, vegetable seedlings, natives, groundcovers, houseplants, herbs, and garden decor. Plant sale is Saturday, May 17th, 8:30 am - noon at the Ela Area Public Library (275 Mohawk Trail (Corner of Rt. 22 and Old Rand Rd)) in Lake Zurich. Come early as plants go quickly. Get expert advise from our master gardeners and other members of the Garden Club. RAIN OR SHINE! Cash/check/credit card.
May 17th - Plant Sale - Ela Area Public Library - Lake Zurich - 8:30 - Noon
The Club will offer hundreds of member- grown perennials and annuals, woodland plants, saplings, vegetable seedlings, natives, groundcovers, houseplants, herbs, and garden decor. Plant sale is Saturday, May 17th, 8:30 am - noon at the Ela Area Public Library (275 Mohawk Trail (Corner of Rt. 22 and Old Rand Rd)) in Lake Zurich. Come early as plants go quickly. Get expert advise from our master gardeners and other members of the Garden Club. RAIN OR SHINE! Cash/check/credit card.
June 3rd - Melanie Bromberek - Topic: “Planning a Vegetable Garden"
Melanie is the farm manager at the College of Lake County campus farm. Previously she worked for Windy City Harvest, the Urban Agricultural department of the Chicago Botanic Garden. Melanie will give advice for planting various types of vegetables in a wide variety of spaces.