Events
Speaking Engagements & Conferences
Homewood Izaak Walton Preserve
Feb 27th 7:00pm-9:00pm
Our very own Tristan Shaw will discuss the propagation of native plants and the business and philosophy of our native plant nursery. Possibility Place provides the plants for Thorn Creek Audubon plant sale at Izaak Walton and plantings for the Preserve. Following a short talk, Tristan and select members of the board will help attendees design a native garden for their property, taking into account individual soil, moisture and sun conditions.
For more info: https://www.homewoodizaakwalton.com/events/general-meeting-all-about-native-plants-and-gardens
Feb. 28th 1:00pm-2:00pm
Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District
240 Whitson Street
Manhattan, IL 60442
The Garden Club at the Manhattan-Elwood Public Library is hosting Kelsay Shaw to get his take on the best ways to incorporate native plantings into your home garden. Learn strategies on how to get started, choosing the plants that are best for your site, and designing to build habitat and aesthetic appeal.
To register: https://manhattanelwood.librarycalendar.com/event/gardening-club-953
The Wild Things conference is a celebration of nature, wildlife, ecosystem restoration, birding, botanizing, networking, and discovery – from the lowly mushroom to the high-flying falcon. The conservation community comes together to learn from each other and the best experts, and enjoys a day jam-packed with handpicked panels that run the spectrum in causes, complexity, and creativity. Spend a day with other people who care for the ecosystems of Illinois, and the planet, and find ways to help. We are stewards, advocates, and educators – volunteers and professionals – coming together with urgent hope to appreciate and protect prairies, woodlands, wetlands, wild yards, and wilder hearts.
This high-spirited biennial conference is one of the largest conservation gatherings in the Midwest, regularly drawing nearly 2,000 attendees for the single-day event. The 2025 Conference will take place on Saturday, March 1. Join us!
Wild Things is an educational program of Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves.
Get tickets here!
Location: Mayslake Peabody Estate 1717 31st St Oak Brook, IL 60523
Time: 10am- 4pm
Join us for an inspiring one-day conference open to all and dedicated to celebrating the incredible importance of pollinators. This event will explore practical ways we can all support pollinators by planting native plants in our own gardens, yards, and green spaces. Throughout the day, enjoy a series of engaging talks by expert speakers on a wide range of pollinator-related topics, and leave with actionable steps to help protect these vital creatures. Explore the exhibit hall featuring local organizations dedicated to pollinator conservation, construct your own pollinator garden seed bombs, and shop with local talented vendors offering nature-inspired art, crafts, and wares. Plus, enjoy coffee and food trucks on-site! Bring conservation home and help save our pollinators!
Be sure to check out PPN’s owner Tristan Shaw and his presentation on using native trees and shrubs in your landscaping projects!
For more info: https://theconservationfoundation.org/event/2025-pollinator-blitz/
2025 Plant Sales
Order form will be available for download in late February!
Proceeds from this native plant sale sponsor continued educational and recreational opportunities at the priceless Indiana Dunes. Support the volunteer work of the Friends while visiting the beautiful National and State Parks!
Join Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest for our annual native plant sale! Proceeds from the plant sale help support the arboretum.
Our staff carefully selected favorite native plants that we also have growing at Gabis. Beyond beautifying your landscape, native plants attract native pollinators and are adapted to thrive in our region.
Sale Information:
- This sale is online only.
- Sale ends on May 1 (or when plants are sold out).
- Plant pick-up is May 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the arboretum. Arrangements can be made to pick up at a later date or time by contacting us.
For more info: https://www.pnw.edu/gabis-arboretum/events-and-programs/native-plant-sale/
May 4, 2025 9am-1pm
The Prairie Crossing Farm
550 Harris Road
Grayslake, IL 60030
This year’s Spring Plant Sale and Farm Festival include a wide variety of plants and garden supplies. We’re thrilled to bring the community together for a day at the farm.
- All annuals are collaboratively grown by Grayslake High School District 127 students, teachers, administrators and our farmers.
- All natives are grown by Possibility Place Nursery in Monee, IL.
- Vermont Compost and DK Organics leaf mulch will be available as well.
Please bring your own containers to take products home.
Let’s get outside and enjoy a day at the farm!
For more info: https://libertyprairie.org/event/spring-plant-sale/
May 17th & May 18th 10am-2pm
Spring Valley Nature Center
1111 E. Schaumburg Rd
Schaumburg, IL 60193
SAVE THE DATES
Schaumburg Community Garden Club and Spring Valley Nature Center will host the upcoming Native Plant Sale. Native wildflowers, woodland plants, native shrubs, and trees will be available on-line and at the tent sale. Our website will open to accept pre-orders early March so that you can have best selection and availability. Pick up your pre-orders/tent sale on Saturday, May 17th and Sunday, May 18th from 10 am to 2 pm both days at Spring Valley, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg.
For more info: https://schaumburggardenclub.org/native-plant-sale/
Pre-orders due March 1, 2025!
Order pick-up is Saturday, May 17, 9am – 12pm & Sunday, May 18, 9am-12pm at Homewood Izaak Walton Preserve.
https://www.thorncreekaudubonsociety.org/native-plant-sale
Each spring, Thorn Creek Audubon and Homewood Izaak Walton Preserve partner on a native plant sale to raise funds for educational & conservation projects and to increase native plantings in our area. The plants offered are all native to Illinois. The selections are chosen to thrive in this area and support pollinators and butterflies. Choices include a variety of plant types, colors, textures, and bloom times.
When: Pre-Orders through Feb. 28th, 2025
Pick-up and in-person sale Sat. May 10th 10am-1pm
Where: Chute Middle School
1400 Oakton Ave
Evanston, IL
The annual District 65 plant sale will benefit all schools in District 65 through the PTA Equity Project One Fund. Our plant sale features native flowers, shrubs, and trees that are suited to our local ecosystem and especially selected for their ability to support pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. We want to empower and encourage everyone to plant native plants to support a healthy environment where all living things can thrive, including our children!
We are accepting pre-orders through 28 February 2025. Our plant pick up and in-person sale will be on Saturday 10 May 10am-1pm. Location is Chute Middle School 1400 Oakton Ave. Evanston, IL 60202 all buyers will be reminded by email of the pick up location and time. Very limited quantities of plants will be available for purchase on the day of so please be sure to pre-order. Your purchase will go far to support our schools. Thank you!
The City of Wheaton, Wheaton Environmental Improvement Commission, and the Wheaton Park District encourage residents to plant native species in future landscape projects. Native plants are adapted to the soils and climate of our area and provide a habitat for a wide variety of native wildlife while providing an attractive, low-maintenance landscape. Native plants do not require irrigation or fertilizer, are resistant to drought and insects and will not harm or degrade native ecosystems.
Each year in early May, CFC hosts one of the largest native plant, tree, & shrub sales in the region, featuring more than 200 species of native forbs, grasses, trees, and shrubs. All plants are acquired from high-quality local nurseries and are grown without the use of neonicotinoid pesticides, which are toxic to pollinators.
2025 Sale Dates:
- Online ordering: March 9-April 12 (or until our order capacity is full)
- Pre-order pick up: May 2 from 11 am to 5 pm; and May 3 from 9 am to 3 pm
- Members only sale: May 2 from 11 am to 5 pm
- Public sale: May 3 & 4 from 9 am to 3 pm
Sale Location:
The 2025 sale will be held at Hill ‘N Dale Preserve in Barrington Hills in our new permanent home, the CFC Plant Sale Barn.
For more info: https://citizensforconservation.org/cfc-events/spring-native-plant-sale/
When: May 16-17, 2025
Where: Mayslake Peabody Estate
Mayslake Peabody Estate
1717 W. 31st St. in Oak Brook
https://www.dupageforest.org/things-to-do/calendar-of-events/native-plant-sale
Libertyville High School is offering competitive pricing on over 100 native species to meet their mission of expanding native habitats in our region. Proceeds from their native plant sales are re-invested into sustainability projects on their campus. With grant money and sale proceeds, they have planted thousands of native plants across 700 feet of the shoreline of Butler Lake, adjacent to their campus.
To order: LHS Order Form
