About our Meetings

Approximate Meeting Breakdown:   

• Social Time - 7 pm

• Business Meeting - 7:30 pm

• Program - 8 pm

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Meeting Locations

• For the 2019/2020 year from September through May, general meetings will be in the Buechner Room of the Arlington Heights Village Hall, on the 4th Monday of the month at 7:00 pm.  The December meeting is a Holiday celebration.

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• June and July meetings are held in members' gardens.  August is the annual picnic at the Arlington Heights Historical Museum.

[Free parking located in the Municipal Garage, the Parking Ramp, and the Sigwalt parking lot]

Visit One of Our Meetings

We have monthly presentations by informed guest speakers who cover a wide variety of topics and  experiences.  The public is welcome to visit a meeting as our guest, but please let us know by sending a message to ahgcrequests@gmail.com.

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​Our program chair is constantly seeking new programs and presenters that are of interest to club members.  If you have seen or heard of a presentation that you feel others would enjoy, please let us know.  Please send an email with your information by clicking here ahgcrequests@gmail.com.

September 28, 2020 

Dress Up Your Home in Autumn 

Kim Hartmann 

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Kim Hartmann is a farm girl and a University of Illinois graduate. She’s been a Communications consultant for 20 years and a Landscape Designer and Horticulture Educator for 15 years. Kim is a mother of 3 and a recent grandmother of one.  She is passionate about nature, plants and travel and is intrigued by exploring, learning and growing.

Want to extend your garden's season deep into fall? This program will highlight plants and combinations for the landscape and containers that have striking fall color, fruit and form for the autumn months. It will also highlight the best practices for keeping our landscapes looking good in the fall months while getting them ready for winter. 

October 26, 2020

Biomimicry: Looking to Nature

to Solve Today’s Problems

Kim White

Kim White spent 19 years associated with Brookfield Zoo’s Education Department as both a volunteer and employee.  She is a Master Naturalist, a co-steward for the DuPage County Forest Preserve, education coordinator for the DuPage Monarch Project and an avid gardener for both food production and habitat creation.

Join us this evening to learn what a Bur has in common with NASA or a Kingfischer with a high-speed train.  In this fascinating talk, Kim will show us many examples where science and technology looked to nature to solve complex problems.  Animal ambassadors will accompany Kim in this presentation.

November 23, 2020 

Indoor Gardening

Mel Zaloudek

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Mel graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in Taxonomic Botany and has served on the horticulture faculty of Triton College in River Grove for 20 years.   He is currently an independent landscaping consultant and has been presenting programs to groups across the greater Chicago metropolitan area for many years.

 Northern Illinois gardeners are under home confinement for nearly five months of the year (it’s called Winter!), so why not cheer up your living space with happy and healthy houseplants?  You can enjoy watching them grow and even flower,  all while replenishing vital indoor humidity for your own health benefit.  The presentation will include photographic identification, tips on optimal care and pest and disease problem management.  Bring your questions and quandaries about your houseplants!

December 14, 2020

Garden Club Holiday Party  

(Members and guests only)

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Please Note:

This is the 2nd Monday of December with a 5:00 pm starting time

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Arlington Heights Historical Society

110 West Fremont

Bring an Appetizer, Salad or Dessert to share

Please rsvp to Joe or Marilyn Weber

at the November 25th General Meeting or

Joe: weber_mphotogcr@yahoo.com

Marilyn: weber.marilyn@gmail.com

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January 25, 2021 

Everything You Wanted to

Know About Hydrangeas

Olga DeSio

Olga DeSio is a North Suburban Cook County Master Gardener and takes part in maintaining community gardens in Maywood and Des Plaines along with volunteering at the Friendship Park Conservatory

“I can't get my hydrangeas to bloom?” This presentation will answer all your questions about the most popular Mopheads to the petite ever blooming BoBo (PW) and provide practical tips for choosing and caring for these gorgeous, long blooming shrubs! 

February 22, 2021 

Healthy Soil, Healthy Harvest

Scott Witte

Scott Witte is the Director of Horticulture at Cantigny Park.  Scott was previously the Director of Agronomy for Cantigny Golf.  He has a BS in Crop and Soil Sciences, with an emphasis in Turfgrass Management, from Michigan State University.  Scott is also a past President of the Midwest Association of Golf Course Superintendents and has a passion for all things green and growing!

Healthy soil is the starting point for healthy plant growth.  Learn what soil is, how it is formed and best management practices.  The presentation will cover soil textures and properties, how to modify them and how to promote soil organisms.  Scott will also share an update on the progress of Cantigny’s Project New Leaf, their major garden renovation project.

March 22, 2021  

Getting Your Garden Prepared After Winter and Early Blooming Perennials

Erin McHugh

Erin McHugh was born and raised in Southern California and is a third-generation gardener.  She has been gardening for 25 years, with a special interest in heirloom vegetables and perennials.  Erin has an AA in Liberal Arts from Ventura Community College and studied Horticulture for 2 years at Harper College. Before coming to Platt Hill, she worked as the Staff Horticulturist at the Cary Country Club, was in Nursery Sales at Goebbert’s and was the Assistant Manager and Tree and Shrub Manager at City Escape in Garfield Park.  Erin is currently the Perennial Manager and Education and Activities Director at Platt Hill Nursery in Bloomingdale.

Ready, set, spring into action and learn how to prepare your garden after another Chicago winter!  This presentation will cover what you need to do now to set up your garden for the upcoming growing season.  It will also provide an overview of Spring and early blooming perennials that you may want to consider adding to your home landscape to beautify next spring.

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April 26, 2021

Rain Gardens and Rain Barrels

Meredith Schnelle

Meredith Schnelle earned her BFA from the University of Wisconsin.  She is a Master Gardener, Nature Photographer, Webmaster and Citizen Scientist for Plants of Concern  at the Chicago Botanic Garden.   She has participated in the Antioch Garden Club as President, Vice President, Newsletter Editor, Webmaster and Photographer.

Rain barrels and rain gardens are an effective device to enhance a sustainable landscape.  Rain gardens reduce erosion, filter storm water and are easy to install in a home landscape.  Rain barrels harvest water for later use while moderating runoff.  Find out how to plan and install a rain garden using specifically adapted native plants to harness your water runoff while supporting wildlife and adding beauty to your property.

May 24, 2021 

Growing Edibles in Containers

Lisa Hilgenberg

Lisa Hilgenberg has vegetable gardening in her blood; her family’s Century Farm Heritage dates to 1881.  As the horticulturist at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s 4-acre Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden since 2010, Lisa manages a crew of 4 and a team of 25 volunteers in curating, interpreting and caring for a collection of 500 types of edible plants.  She also is a mentor for interns from the Chicago Botanic Garden’s urban agriculture program, Windy City Harvest, students from the College/Science First program and students from the Potager du Roi in Versailles, France.

Learn how to grow edibles in containers and bring fresh produce to your family right from the back patio!  Lisa will create several containers in the presentation to demonstrate tips and techniques. 

2021 Garden Walk & Unique Boutique

Sunday, June 27th, 10 am – 4 pm

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Summer Meeting

Monday, June 28, 2021    7 pm

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If it rains, the meeting is cancelled for the month.

Summer Meetings meet in a member's garden

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A picnic signup list will be passed at this meeting

Please bring your lawn chair and mosquito spray!

Location:  TBD

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Driving directions from:

Arlington Heights Village Hall

33 S Arlington Heights Rd

Arlington Heights, IL  60005

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Summer Meeting

Monday, July 26, 2021   7 pm

If it rains, the meeting is cancelled for the month.

Summer Meetings meet in a member's garden

A picnic signup list will be passed at this meeting

Please bring your lawn chair and mosquito spray!

Location:  TBD

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Driving directions from:

Arlington Heights Village Hall

33 S Arlington Heights Rd

Arlington Heights, IL  60005

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Annual Club Picnic

[Members and guests only]

Monday, August 23, 2021    6 pm

If it rains, the picnic will be held inside the museum

​Location:
Arlington Heights Historical Society
110 W Fremont St
Arlington Heights, IL 60004

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Please bring your lawn chair and a salad or dessert to pass around.  Everything else will be provided.

A signup list will be passed at the June and July meetings.

Driving directions from:

Arlington Heights Village Hall

33 S Arlington Heights Rd

Arlington Heights, IL  60005

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1. Depart Village Hall and drive north 0.2 miles on Arlington Heights Rd toward US-14 / E Northwest Hwy.

2. Cross the railroad tracks and bear left onto US-14 / E Northwest Hwy.

3. Drive 0.2 miles and turn right onto N Vail Ave.

4. Drive 0.2 miles and turn left onto W Fremont St.  The Arlington Heights Historical Society is on the right.

5. Free parking is available in the village lot or on Fremont St.