Upcoming Visiting Gardens Events

Please contact the Committee Chair, Julia Sagraves to learn more about What's in Bloom locally and about hosting a "pop up garden"

CHICAGOLAND Summer 2025 GARDEN EVENTS

Note for Garden Conservancy Open Days: Tickets are necessary and must be purchased in advance at the Garden Conservancy website (see links below). $10 for non-members.

JULY

Saturday July 12: Garden Conservancy Open Day - Lake Forest, Illinois

Saturday July 12, 10-4, Garden Conservancy Open Day: Glore House Garden, Lake Forest,Illinois

Two-acre native, prairie garden surrounding only Frank Lloyd Wright home in Lake Forest. Tickets must be reserved at link above and are $10 for those not a member of the Garden Conservancy.

Saturday July 12, 10-4, Garden Conservancy Open Day: Pond Ridge, Lake Forest, Illinois

French-style boxwood jardin at the Howard Van Doren Shaw gardeners’ cottage.

Saturday July 12, 1 pm, Tour of Ragdale Estate including gardens, Lake Forest, Illinois.

$15 ticket (register in advance at link above). Tour includes the house, artists' studios and gardens of this Arts and Crafts estate of architect Howard Van Doren Shaw and poet and playwright Francis Well Shaw. Other tours on 8/9; 9/27; and 10/18.

Thursday July 16, 5:30-7:30 pm, Happy in the Garden Hour (Evanston Grows), Ward Farm (at Ward Manufacturing in Evanston). Tickets required.

Saturday July 19, 10-10:45 am, Farm Tour of Elawa Farm, Lake Forest, Illinois

Learn about the Elawa Farm Foundation in a 45 minute tour of the farm. Then visit the Garden Market which is open until 1 pm. Tours also on 8/16 and 9/20. $11 ticket required and you must register at the link above.

Saturday July 19 and Sunday July 20: Garden Conservancy Open Days in Milwaukee area (Wauwatosa)

Saturday July 19 and Sunday July 20, Garden Conservancy Open Day: Walking Tour of Washington Highlands, Milwaukee, WI

Washington Highlands is a carefully planned “Garden City” started by the Pabst family in the 1920s with unique landscape and residential architecture.Tours are 90 minutes and are $40 for nonmembers. Registration required at link above.

See this link for gardens that are open in the Washington Highlands community - book separately from the walking tour.

Sunday July 27, 10-4, Garden Conservancy Open Day: Mettawa Manor and Kurtis Conservation Foundation, Libertyville, Illinois

65 acre property owned by local Chicago journalist and broadcaster Bill Kurtis. Centerpiece is a walled English-style garden, but the vast property features a variety of other types of gardens.

AUGUST

Saturday August 2: Garden Conservancy Open Days in Glen Ellyn and West Chicago, Illinois

Saturday August 2, 10-4: Garden Conservancy Open Day: A Work in Progress, Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

Three acre garden featuring perennial and vegetable garden and “Bridge to Nowhere” walking paths.

Saturday August 2, 10-4, Garden Conservancy Open Day: The Kowalczyk Friendship Garden, Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

Native plant and tomato garden with whimsical touches (gnomes!).

Saturday August 2, 9-11:30 or 11:30-2, Garden Conservancy Open Day: The Gardens at Ball Horticultural Company , West Chicago, Illinois

Annual public opening of this world leader in breeding, production, distribution and marketing of horticultural products. 15 acres of gardens. Guides on site to give tours.

Saturday August 9, 10am and 1 pm, Tours of Ragdale Estate, Lake Forest, Illinois (see July 12 above)

Saturday August 16, 10-10:45 am, Farm Tour of Elawa Farm (see description 7/19)