Garden walks give visitors — whether they are gardeners or not — a chance to find inspiration and beauty. For gardeners, of course, these treks can bring a bounty of new ideas, as well as an opportunity to talk shop with fellow enthusiasts. Our listing here includes a great variety of walks throughout the Chicago area, and even beyond. Unless otherwise noted, these walks typically are held rain or shine.
If your organization has a garden walk you would like included in this listing, please e-mail the pertinent information to:
; please include “Garden Walk” in the subject line.
Ongoing:
Lurie Garden walks are planned throughout the summer; information on all walks can be found at luriegarden.org.
Fridays and Sundays:
Free tours of Lurie Garden offered 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 18.
6 p.m. July 26 and Aug. 30:
Summer Stroll in Lurie Garden: casual, informative walks led by Lurie Garden staff and volunteers. Meet at south end of the boardwalk, overlooking Monroe Street. Free; pre-registration is not required.
11 a.m. Aug. 20:
Bee Walk and Talk, free adult workshop and garden stroll. Meet in first floor Garland Room, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. to learn about the importance of bees in the garden, their amazing adaptations and characteristics and some of the challenges they face. Workshop will include a walk in Lurie Garden to spot and identify bees as well as wasps. Free, but space limited and pre-registration is required; call 312-742-8497.
Ongoing:
Open Days events, sponsored by the Garden Conservancy: Notable private gardens in Chicago area are open to the public on specific dates. Upcoming dates include July July 24; July 31 and Sept. 9. Directions to each garden can be found on www.opendaysprogram.org. Admission is $5 per garden (cash or check) and will be collected at each location; a book of six tickets is $25 and is available at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe; 847-835-0972. Tickets can be used at any of the participating gardens.
July 23-24:
43rd Annual Sheffield Garden Walk and Festival. Self-guided tour of more than 100 private gardens in historic Sheffield neighborhood. Noon to 5 p.m. (Walk is held in conjunction with the neighborhood festival, open until 10 p.m., which will include entertainment, food booths, guided architectural tours and activities for youngsters at the Kids’ Corner (also noon to 5 p.m.). Guidebooks, which contain map and textual descriptions of the gardens, will be available at the Garden Center on the lawn in front of St. Vincent de Paul Church, 1010 W. Webster St. Admission: $7 before 3 p.m.; $10 after 3 p.m. Proceeds benefit charitable organizations and community projects. Information, 773-929-9255 or
.
July 24:
Arlington Heights Garden Club Garden Walk and Unique Boutique. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. View five residential gardens of varying styles. Proceeds benefit scholarships and conservation programs. Tickets, $10 in advance; $15 day of the walk. Garden walk tickets are available at the Arlington Heights Historical Museum, 110 W. Fremont. Free admission to Unique Boutique, to be held at the museum, which will feature garden ornaments and crafts. Information, sites.google.com/site/arlingtonheightsgardenclub/ or Kathy, 847-514-0414 or email, kshend@aol.com.
July 24:
Gardeners of the North Shore Garden Walk. Noon to 5 p.m. Six gardens (Lake Forest, Deerfield, Northbrook and Lincolnwood). Free. Information, Marty Winn – 847-945-2837,
, or go to the club’s Web site
www.gardenersofthenorthshore.com
.
July 31:
Garden Club Galewood Montclare presents Garden Walk 2011. Self-guided tour of 10 gardens of a wide variety, in a neighborhood of romantic revival and bungalow homes. Noon to 5 p.m. Tickets, $10; $8 for seniors, will be sold day of the event at Rutherford Sayre Park fieldhouse, 6851 W. Belden Ave., Chicago, where the walk begins. Information, www.GMCgardenclub.org, garden_club_gm@sbcglobal.net, or Tom, 773-909-0899.
Aug. 14:
Blue Island garden walk is a self-guided tour of several area gardens, including the Blue Island Park District Community Garden. Noon to 4 p.m. Walk begins at Carr Gardens-Home-Holiday, 2357 York St., Blue Island, 708-824-9171. Tickets, $10 advance; $12 day of event; tickets can be purchased at Carr Gardens. Event is sponsored by Blue Island FORUM / Blue Island Development Corp., which also will host an afternoon tea. Information, 708-597-6492 or email TheBIForum@sbcglobal.net.
