Aug
15
2024
By Ruth Kyme
Our August speaker is Cindy Crosby. Cindy is a Master Gardener, a steward for the Schulenberg Prairie at Morton Arboretum and at Nachusa Grasslands in Franklin Grove, Illinois. She is also an author. Her most recent book is Chasing Dragonflies: A Natural and Personal History. Through Cindy’s presentation, Dragonflies and Damselflies: The Garden’s Frequent Fliers, we will discover the fascinating and bizarre lives of these jeweled garden fliers with plenty of group fun and lively interaction. There is so much to discover and marvel about! Be amazed at their natural history through close up photography of Illinois dragonflies. Find out how dragonflies tell us about the health of our waterways and the world. Discover how you can garden to attract these remarkable flying creatures.
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
Jul
18
2024
Note: Our July meeting is for Members Only. If you would like to visit our club, please come to our August meeting which is open to all.
This month’s meeting is our traditional annual President’s Picnic. The first picnic was hosted in July
1999 by one of our early club presidents, Carole Bates. She provided some basics and everyone was asked to bring a dish to share and your own food to grill. We all had a such a wonderful time and we continue to hold our President’s Picnic every July. Our venue has changed over the years and members only have to bring themselves for a fun evening of food and lively discussions with fellow gardeners.
If you submitted your RSVP for the Picnic, you should receive an email with all the details on Tuesday, July 23rd. If you do not receive an email, please contact us at WestChicagoGardenClub@gmail.com so we can figure out what happened and get the information sent to you.
Jun
20
2024
By Ruth Kyme
Our June speaker Thom Skibble, will introduce us to the concept of permaculture.
Thom tells us:
I used to work as an event planner and that industry, along with many others, shut down during the pandemic. I took advantage of that time off of work to return to college. I started with a Sustainable Urban Agriculture class at the College of DuPage. That opened my eyes to many things and I was hooked.
The Permaculture Research Institute defines permaculture as a system that integrates land, resources, people and the environment through mutually beneficial synergies – imitating the no waste, closed loop systems seen in diverse natural systems. Basically it is a way to grow food by creating healthy ecosystems that solve problems like pest control, fertilizing, and more. It combines my passion for growing healthy foods, integrating native plants, and helps to sequester carbon to fight global climate change. I love sharing what I know and helping people grow healthy foods for themselves. I have also been a member of the Northern Illinois Iris Society for over a decade and have several award winning Irises in my yard. I am continuing my education and looking forward to continuing to develop a wholistic design style that provides food and looks beautiful.
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
- Membership