Geneva Garden Club offers more than just a walk
For some people in Geneva, gardening is more than just dirt and flowers.
The Geneva Garden Club hosts its biennial Garden Walk from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 10-11. It is a self-guided tour through five gardens chosen by the Garden Walk Committee. Each garden has a unique style and personality, to ensure it is different from the one before.
“We started this over a year ago; we take suggestions from our members,” said Susan Vander Veen, who is on the selection committee.
“We go and preview them and we try to pick a selection of range small, large, fun and formal. We like a nice mix of gardens to have the patrons to walk through.”
The gardens chosen do not have to be from members of the club, but can be anyone from the Geneva area. This year there are three gardens from club members.
The walk gives people a chance to ask questions about the garden but also anything that deals with horticulture. A master gardener — a certified title that requires training and community service hours — is available to answer any questions.
“It’s a really great event as far as viewing private gardens,” said Julie Maturo, president of the Geneva Garden Club. “It’s really great cause we’re raising funds for all the things we support,”
All the proceeds from the event are given to the different organizations they support, including the Japanese Garden at Fabyan Forest Preserve, the Geneva History Center and scholarships for higher education.
The Geneva History Center will contribute to the walk, as four guest speakers express their knowledge over various subjects at the center. Each day has two speakers starting at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., addressing topics such as miniature gardening, arranging garden flowers, container gardening and different herbs and vegetables to garden.
Craig MacLean, owner of the Pure Gardener on West State Street in Geneva, will be a speaker on both days. MacLean has also talked at the clubs meetings, which host many guest speakers and field trips.
The event also offers anyone who buys a ticket a chance to win a one-year membership to Morton Arboretum or the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Tickets are $15 ahead of time and $17 on the day of the walk. Call (630) 232-4268 or visit genevagardenclub.com.
If you go
What: The biennial Geneva Garden Walk, featuring five private gardens in the Geneva area.
Where: Throughout the Geneva area; a map is available upon purchase of tickets.
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, June 10, and Saturday, June 11. Speakers will be at the Geneva History Center at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. both days.
Tickets: $15 in advance and $17 the day of the walk.
Details: (630) 232-4268; genevagardenclub.com.