The West Chicago Garden Club

By Ruth Kyme

If you are interested in making more plants for free, Dolly Foster’s program, Plant Propagation From Stem Cuttings, Layering, and Divisions, is for you. Propagating plants is one of the best garden practices to do, but propagating at home can be tricky.

This program will cover the procedures and pitfalls of propagating your own plants.

Dolly Foster, has been a Horticulturist for 25 years, and a Certified Arborist since 2008, she holds a Masters in Agriculture from U of I. For the past 25 years, Dolly has been presenting lectures on many gardening topics. She has been butterfly gardening from the very beginning of her gardening career. Her garden at home has been a Monarch Waystation since 2011. Dolly also runs a micro plant nursery at her home selling plants exclusively for pollinators June-October.

By Ruth Kyme

Our February speaker, Amy Powers, is a Garden Coach based near Chicago with a lifelong passion for gardening and nature. With a background in chemistry, IT consulting, and competitive sports, she combines science and coaching to help clients create thriving, sustainable gardens through in-person and virtual sessions. Amy is on a mission to teach everyone to get in touch with nature and learn how to manage their own landscape, from vegetables and herbs to trees and perennials.

Pruning can feel intimidating and downright scary. When should I prune? How much should I prune? What if I make a mistake? But Amy’s presentation, ‘Pruning: Don’t be Scared,’ breaks it down into clear, confidence-building guidance. Amy explains when, why, and how to prune trees, shrubs, and perennials to promote plant health, structure, and flowering.

Meeting Location: St Andrew Lutheran Church (NE Corner of Prince Crossing & Geneva Road.)

Meeting Time:

• 6:45PM Arrive & Mingle
• 7:00PM Business Meeting
• 7:15PM Program

By Ruth Kyme

Mel Zaloudek will be our January speaker. Mel graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in Taxonomic Botany. He served on the horticulture faculty of Triton College in River Grove for 20 years and is currently working as an independent landscaping consultant. He has been presenting programs regularly to groups large and small across the greater Chicago metropolitan area for many years.

Many gardeners (and even some industry professionals) have trouble recognizing trees during their six months of dormancy, but it’s easier than you think. During Mel’s program, Identifying Trees in Wintertime, we will focus on honing that skill. We’ll look at photos, as well as actual twigs, for simple and reliable clues to identification. Naming tree species in the off season is a valuable and enjoyable skill. Bring a small
magnifying glass and leave with a big new understanding of our wondrous, woody friends throughout the four seasons.

Meeting Location: St Andrew Lutheran Church (NE Corner of Prince Crossing & Geneva Road.)

Meeting Time:

• 6:45PM Arrive & Mingle
• 7:00PM Business Meeting
• 7:15PM Program