Gardening Fri Jun 11 2010

June Chicagoland Garden Walks

Editor's Note: This story was submitted by Patrick Boylan, editor of The Welles Park Bulldog.

The cool summer rains of the last few weeks have created a lush palette for the June garden walks.

The Lurie Garden guided walks continue throughout the summer, allowing visitors a fresh guided tour of Millennium Park. The Northtown Garden Walk, which starts in Indian Boundary Park, is the only evening garden walk in either the city or the suburbs that includes residential gardens. It is also one of the few garden walks to happen mid-week.

On the far South Side, the Historic Pullman Garden Club is holding a garden walk, but with just 10 days to go they have no details to help us, except the date and the place. At least we know the date and place.

In Oak Park and River Forest the garden walk starts at the Oak Park Conservatory. Like many suburban walks, this walk is probably not appropriate for people without cars. That sort of defeats the purpose, don't you think? Still, I'm sure the gardens are lovely.

A Jens Jensen garden design is promised for those who walk the Beverly Hills/ Morgan Park tour (yowzah!), while my own neighborhood will be showing hidden places and gems in North Center. Can you handle two more garden walks the same day? Park Ridge has another of those garden walks you do from a car, and the quiet little neighborhood of the Manor is trying to quietly have a garden walk and not tell anyone! But your intrepid writer knows and tells all.

The Manor isn't the only neighborhood to hide its beauty. Perhaps you know details of the Midway Garden Walk and would like to share them?

We are seeking to update the calendar with city and near suburban garden walks. If you'd like to include your garden walk in future updates, please write Patrick Boylan at Patrick@wellesparkbulldog.com.

Lurie Garden Guided Walks
June 13, 20 & 27, 10am to 1:30pm
June 22, 6pm
FREE

A 20 minute guided tour of the Lurie Garden in Millennium Park 
Evening strolls offered at 6pm May 18, June 22, July 13, Aug. 24 and Sept. 21; meet at the south end of the garden on the wooden walkway overlooking Monroe Street.

Annual Spring Evening Garden Walk: The Gardens of West Coyle and Morse
June 17, 6pm to 8:30
Northtown Garden Society
Registration at Indian Boundary Park lawn, 2500 W. Lunt Ave., from 6:00pm to 7:15pm. The walk is free to NGS members and $5 for non-members.

Historic Pullman Garden Walk
June 19, expected time 10am to 4pm
The Historic Pullman Garden Club
Hotel Florence, 11111 S. Forestville

Gardeners cannot be blamed for refusing to return the phone calls of writers calling, inquiring about the updated details of a garden walk. Afterall, there are flowers to smell and sunshine and warmth out of doors. So, fellow gardeners, all the details of this year's Pullman District Garden Walk are based on 2009, except the date. The gardeners in the HPGC did not return calls. The date is confirmed on the web page of the Pullman Garden Club -- June 19 -- but that is the only detail listed. Last year the garden walk cost $15 on the day of the event, $12 purchased in advance. There were six gardens presented last season. The HPGC maintains six gardens and I suppose they are the same gardens that will be on the tour. One of the gardens won a 2002 award for community gardens. Another garden won an award in 2004.

Oak Park and River Forest Garden Walk
June 26, 9:30am to 3:30pm
The Garden Club of Oak Park and River Forest and the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory
Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield St. in Oak Park
$15-$18 day of walk. (Go to the website for places to purchase in advance)

The 17th annual garden walk will showcase nine private gardens will be open for viewing. There was an adjudication determination on which gardens to exhibit.

Beverly Hills/ Morgan Park Garden Walk
June 27, noon to 5pm
East Beverly Association
Beverly Bank & Trust, 1908 W. 103rd St., in bank parking lot
$10, $12 day of event

A native garden designed by Jens Jenson will be the key feature of this tour. Musical entertainment and a raffle of $200 garden center gift certificate. Eleven private gardens

Northcenter Neighborhood Garden Walk
June 27, noon to 6pm
Northcenter Neighborhood Association
Bell School; 3730 N Oakley (at Grace)
$3 donation. Proceeds benefit the Common Pantry

The fourth Northcenter Neighborhood Garden Walk (formerly the St. Bens Neighborhood Garden Walk) will feature more than 40 gardens this year.

Park Ridge Garden Club Garden Walk
June 27, 2pm to 6pm
Park Ridge Garden Club
400 South Block of South Greenwood, look for the balloons (Touhy and Greenwood)
$10, $15 day of walk; children free

The 16th annual garden walk. Older community with mature plants. Varied housing stock, self-created to designed gardens. All the gardens are in unusual settings, and some gardens have progress notebooks, too. Six private gardens on the tour. The tour is not appropriate for walking.

Manor Garden Walk
June 27, time TBD
Ravenswood Manor Improvement Association
Manor Park, 4626 N Manor Ave.

The Manor Neighborhood Improvement Association is being very tight-lipped, even to nosy writers, about the details of the annual garden walk. What is known is that there will be about 15 to 20 gardens chosen from nominations on the tour.