2025 - 2026 Program Information
All Programs to be held at Ela Public Library unless otherwise noted
August 12th - Natasha Norris - Topic: "Trees The Feed Foundation"
Trees That Feed Foundation believes that tree crops are a large part of the answer to world food concerns. Tree crops are nutritious, yet require less input of labor, agro-chemicals, fertilizers and space than field crops. Trees also restore ecological balance to land damaged by misuse or neglect, capture and sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and create habitats for small animals and birds. Planting a tree is a winning bet all around…for decades to come. Trees That Feed Foundation has positively impacted 25 countries. The Foundation has distributed over 350,000 fruit-bearing trees, and has surpassed the 1-million-mark in breadfruit-based meals donated to schools, orphanages, and hospitals. It has provided more than 10,000 educational activity books in 9 different languages. Natasha Norris is the communications and program manager of the program.
August 12th - Natasha Norris - Topic: "Trees The Feed Foundation"
Trees That Feed Foundation believes that tree crops are a large part of the answer to world food concerns. Tree crops are nutritious, yet require less input of labor, agro-chemicals, fertilizers and space than field crops. Trees also restore ecological balance to land damaged by misuse or neglect, capture and sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and create habitats for small animals and birds. Planting a tree is a winning bet all around…for decades to come. Trees That Feed Foundation has positively impacted 25 countries. The Foundation has distributed over 350,000 fruit-bearing trees, and has surpassed the 1-million-mark in breadfruit-based meals donated to schools, orphanages, and hospitals. It has provided more than 10,000 educational activity books in 9 different languages. Natasha Norris is the communications and program manager of the program.
September 2nd - Harvest Dinner - No Meeting: "Members' Only Potluck"
No Meeting/Program this month. Members will gather to celebrate our gardens with a fall feast!
September 2nd - Harvest Dinner - No Meeting: "Members' Only Potluck"
No Meeting/Program this month. Members will gather to celebrate our gardens with a fall feast!
October 7th - Mark Lyons - Topic: “Making the Most of Your Herbal Harvest"
Mark Lyons, “The Garden Troubadour”, is a master gardener, consultant and educator. He has been gardening since he was ten years old. Today he runs a successful business, called “Green Thumb at Your Service” based in Palatine, Il. Mark travels around the country to deliver dynamic presentations on vegetable and mushroom gardening, harvest preservation, and home cheesemaking and is dedicated to inspiring and coaching people on growing their own food.
*The public is invited to attend this free event - registration is required through the ELA Library website.
October 7th - Mark Lyons - Topic: “Making the Most of Your Herbal Harvest"
Mark Lyons, “The Garden Troubadour”, is a master gardener, consultant and educator. He has been gardening since he was ten years old. Today he runs a successful business, called “Green Thumb at Your Service” based in Palatine, Il. Mark travels around the country to deliver dynamic presentations on vegetable and mushroom gardening, harvest preservation, and home cheesemaking and is dedicated to inspiring and coaching people on growing their own food.
*The public is invited to attend this free event - registration is required through the ELA Library website.
November 4th - April Vaos - Topic: "How Glaciers Shaped Lake County"
On the banks of the Fox River in the southwestern corner of Lake County you can look back through time and try to imagine over 4.5 billion years ago, a wall of ice 700-2,000 feet tall covering everything in view today. There was no wide, shallow river; no trees or flowers; only ice. Starting 2.58 million years ago during the last Ice Age, a massive continental glacier called the Laurentide ice sheet formed near the Arctic Circle. It enveloped millions of square miles, blanketing most of what would become Canada and the northern U.S. Over time, the ice sheet grew and retreated over the land in cycles lasting tens of thousands of years. As Laurentide advanced, it pulverized rock, silt, gravel, sand and sediment, carrying it for miles and depositing it across Chicagoland. The glacier’s departure from Illinois between 10,000–12,000 years ago leveled off many of the state’s former bluffs, valleys and hills into today’s largely flat landscape. April Vaos is the Public Program Specialist at Lake County Forest Preserves.
December 2nd - Brock and Ruth Seney – Topic: “Adding Public Gardens to Your Travel Plans
Both Brock and Ruth enjoy traveling and seek out unique gardens as they travel. Ruth is a master gardener with the University of Illinois. Brock enjoys photography and has taken classes at the Chicago Botanical garden. During this program, you will crisscross the United States as you view the beautiful possibilities each of the featured public gardens has to offer.
December 2nd - Brock and Ruth Seney – Topic: “Adding Public Gardens to Your Travel Plans
Both Brock and Ruth enjoy traveling and seek out unique gardens as they travel. Ruth is a master gardener with the University of Illinois. Brock enjoys photography and has taken classes at the Chicago Botanical garden. During this program, you will crisscross the United States as you view the beautiful possibilities each of the featured public gardens has to offer.
January 6th - 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 6th - 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 3rd - Rolfe Jaremus – Topic: "Reducing Climate Change Through Composting"
Rolfe has been gardening for over 60 years and composting for 45 of those years. Rolfe and his wife have a family farm in Iroquois County which features a large, organic vegetable garden along with fruit and nut trees. Rolfe will discuss how backyard composting and recycling organic waste can not only create some great gardening material but can also reduce CO2 and methane emissions, and in turn, help to reduce climate change. By expending a little bit of personal energy, we can reduce the cost of garden and kitchen waste management and reduce the amount of material that ends up in landfills. Rolfe will discuss how to build a compost bin and review his recommended bi-annual composting cycle.
February 3rd - Rolfe Jaremus – Topic: "Reducing Climate Change Through Composting"
Rolfe has been gardening for over 60 years and composting for 45 of those years. Rolfe and his wife have a family farm in Iroquois County which features a large, organic vegetable garden along with fruit and nut trees. Rolfe will discuss how backyard composting and recycling organic waste can not only create some great gardening material but can also reduce CO2 and methane emissions, and in turn, help to reduce climate change. By expending a little bit of personal energy, we can reduce the cost of garden and kitchen waste management and reduce the amount of material that ends up in landfills. Rolfe will discuss how to build a compost bin and review his recommended bi-annual composting cycle.
March 3rd - Cindy Crosby – Topic: “Art, Music and Words About Birds”
Join prairie steward and natural history writer Cindy Crosby for a fun talk on birds and their place in cultural history. Birds have influenced classical and pop music, and are the focus of films, books, and works of art in textiles, painting, sculpture and more! Gardeners, conservationists, and those who love feeding birds and planting bird-friendly gardens will all warm to this “something different” type of program.
*The public is invited to attend this free event - registration is required through the ELA Library website.
March 3rd - Cindy Crosby – Topic: “Art, Music and Words About Birds”
Join prairie steward and natural history writer Cindy Crosby for a fun talk on birds and their place in cultural history. Birds have influenced classical and pop music, and are the focus of films, books, and works of art in textiles, painting, sculpture and more! Gardeners, conservationists, and those who love feeding birds and planting bird-friendly gardens will all warm to this “something different” type of program.
*The public is invited to attend this free event - registration is required through the ELA Library website.
April 7th - Krina Koenen- Topic: "Floral Design Demonstration"
Krina Koenen, a designer with the Flower Studio, will provide a floral design program showcasing her artistic experience and the ease of creating floral arrangements. She has participated in numerous presentations and has won the “Award of Design Excellence” for multiple arrangements.
*The public is invited to attend this free event - registration is required through the ELA Library website.
April 7th - Krina Koenen- Topic: "Floral Design Demonstration"
Krina Koenen, a designer with the Flower Studio, will provide a floral design program showcasing her artistic experience and the ease of creating floral arrangements. She has participated in numerous presentations and has won the “Award of Design Excellence” for multiple arrangements.
*The public is invited to attend this free event - registration is required through the ELA Library website.
May 5th - Tamara Block - Topic: "Piet Oudolf Designer"
Tamara Block will present a program on Piet Oudolf, a leader of the New Perennial Movement in naturalistic garden design. He is the designer behind Lurie Gardens in Chicago as well as the Battery and High Line Gardens in New York City. His 5-season garden philosophy and the design techniques used to create the naturalistic gardens for which he is known will be presented. Tamara has taught graduate-level courses at Northwestern University and since began creating programs as a longtime member of the Garden Guild of Highland Park. Her programs offer a bit of history and fun.
May 16th - 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 16th, 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 16th - 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 16th, 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 2nd - Deb Graham - Topic: “Building Edible Fruit in Landscaping"
Deb Graham is a member of the Midwest Fruit Explorers which is a backyard orchard society that was founded in the late 1970’s in the Chicagoland area. Members grow almost every variety of fruit that will survive in our growing zone, as well as many varieties that require winter protection. During this presentation you will hear about the fruit trees that are grown in Deb’s home orchard and she will conduct a demonstration of tree grafting, a method of propagation used for most fruit trees.