Herb Garden Event - Chicago Botanic Gardens

Coming up in a few days at the Chicago Botanic Garden is

   Herb Weekend - June 28 & 29!

The mission of the Chicago Botanic Garden is to promote the enjoyment, understanding, and conservation of plants and the natural world and herbs as scent and edible plants fits so nicely into that mission that it is not hard to understand why they have a nice focus on herbs in the vegetable garden island.  I recently enjoyed my membership to tour the grounds of the Regenstein Fruit and Vegetable Garden where the event will be held this weekend.  I wanted to see how the herbs were faring combared to mine. I must say they have been well cared for.

Calendula

Tarragon (and thyme)

dill

During the Herb Weekend Event they will have “Herb Discovery Carts” for extra inforamtion about growing as well as vendors and some extra special Herb-theme items in the Wheelbarrow Shop. 

chives

You will have to wander around to find the herbs, but they will have volunteers to help you find your way.  Be sure to explore the wall garden and the kitchen garden as well as the round shaped main vegetable and herb area.

They hid the chives behind this bench, but they don't look real happy there!  They did have purple basil in the kitchen garden (along with several other basils, including a lime basil I had never seen before.)

purple basil and purple sage

corner garden filled with lime thyme

I found this cute corner garden in a small square of bricks along the main pathway, but I missed it on the way in and found it on my way out.  Those are the wonderful sorts of experiences you will find while touring the Regenstien Garden.

During the event they will have take-home herb resource sheets with plant/seed sources and recommendations.  They also will have some focusing on Old-fashioned herbs, kitchen herbs and those you can grow in containers.

They have a number of  herbs and edible flowers and demonstrate ways of interplant them so you can add herbs to your home garden easily.

So looking sor something herby to do with your weekend, get outside and have some fun at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

raised beds of vegetables and herbs

The Final Details:

The Chicago Botanic Garden is easy to find and easy to reach, approximately 20 miles north of Chicago. 

The Garden is located at 1000 Lake Cook Road in Glencoe, Illinois. For maps and driving directions I  recommend http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?cat=chicago botanic garden&formtype=address&addtohistory=&address=1000 Lake Cook Rd&city=Glencoe&state=IL&zipcode=60022-1168&country=US&geodiff=1, which also has traffic updates.



The Schedule:

Herb Weekend will be in the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden
July 28 and 29, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.



1:30 and 2:30 p.m.
Garden Chef Series, Kitchen Amphitheater

Nice shady seating!

11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Ongoing Activities 

• 11:30 a.m.  Companion Planting with Herbs: Folklore or Fact?
• Noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Growing Herbs in Containers
• 3 p.m. Herbal Soap Making