Events

29th Annual Garden Club of Oak Park and River Forest and Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory Garden Walk

Members ($15), Advance Tickets ($18), Day of Garden Walk, (after 5pm 6/24/23, $23) Garden Walk Ticket

Sunday June 25th 2023

Garden Walk Information Page for additional information gcnews@gcoprf.org Garden Walk Ticket

May 10, 2023 Luncheon

Luncheon Ticket $55 for additional information gcnews@gcoprf.org
Tickets available on the eStore

Members’ Gathering on September 13, 2023

Members’ Gathering

29th Annual Garden Club of Oak Park and River Forest and Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory Garden Walk

Members ($15), Advance Tickets ($18), Day of Garden Walk, (after 5pm 6/24/23, $23) Garden Walk Ticket

Sunday June 25th 2023

Garden Walk Information Page for additional information gcnews@gcoprf.org Garden Walk Ticket

May 10, 2023 Luncheon

Luncheon Ticket $55 for additional information gcnews@gcoprf.org
Tickets available on the eStore

Club Meeting Speaker Program

2023-2024 Speaker Program

The monthly club meetings are held on the second Wednesday at the Cheney Mansion (220 N. Euclid, Oak Park, Illinois). Refreshments and socializing begins at 12pm , followed by a short business meeting. The one hour speaker presentation starts at 1pm.  The Village of Oak Park allows parking on the streets near the Cheney Mansion during the club meetings. The club follows the Park District of Oak Park Covid 19 guidelines.

All are welcome to club meetings, membership is not required.

September 13, 2023 Welcome Garden Party Home of Barb Graham Join your fellow club members for a lovely afternoon at the home of Barbara Graham. A wide variety of appetizers and desserts plus beverages will be enjoyed in her spacious garden. Garden Art and floral designs by members will be featured. October 11, 2023 Curative Properties of Tea Marcy Lautenan-Raleigh Description: “Much has been touted recently about the benefits of a good cup of herbal or green tea. This lecture discusses the difference between black tea and herb tea as well as what herbs make a good tea, how to formulate your own teas and the various medicinal properties discovered throughout time of various native plants with pictures to help with identification.” If hot water is available, we can create our own blend to sample at the end of the program. November 8, 2023 The Women of Natural History Kim White Description: “Meet women pioneers that made significant contributions to our understanding of the natural world. From Queen Hatshepsut (1479-1458 B. C.) to today, learn how their passions in botany, entomology, ornithology, paleontology, art and literature advanced the field of Natural History.” December 13, 2023 Professional Floral Arranging Noel Luchinski Description: Holiday themed floral arrangements for the home. Minimum of 5 arrangements with commentary on the designs. Designs left for club to raffle off. January 10, 2024 Literary Gardens (Zoom) Cindy Crosby “Join master gardener and natural history writer, Cindy Crosby for a fun look at gardens in literature and poetry. From Agatha Christie’s mystery series to Brother Cadfael’s medieval herb garden, to Michael Pollan’s garden in Second Nature, to the Secret Garden” beloved of children’s literature, there are so many gardens that helped shape the books we love to read. Discover how gardens and garden imagery figure in the works of Mary Oliver, Henry Mitchell, Barbara Kingsolver, Lewis Carrol…and many more! See your garden with new eyes and come away with a list of books you can’t wait to explore!” February 14, 2024 What is a Flower Show? Diane Greenawalt et al Description: Experienced Flower Show judges will explain Flower Shows, Rules, Procedures etc. March 13, 2024 Birds in the Garden Pam Karlson Waiting for a description April 10, 2024 Gardening for a Lifetime Marilyn Joyner Description: The speaker will discuss the importance of warmup exercises before gardening, ergonomic tools, how to design your garden and how using proper body mechanics while gardening will help you continue gardening for life. The talk included examples of different types of raised beds and vertical gardening systems.” May 8, 2024 Floral Design with a Creative Flair Walter Fedyshyn Description: Step up every day floral arrangements by incorporating updated, intermediate level techniques to produce works of art. Discussion and demonstration will highlight popular design elements such as banding, binding, sheltering, terracing and framing. Learn how to turn the ordinary into something extraordinary!” Designs ( 5-7 )eft with club.

2022-2023 Speaker Program

LSeptember 14, 2022             Welcome Garden Party

Welcome to the start of autumn in Barbara Graham’s lovely garden. Friends, food and drink welcome the start of the Garden Clubs new program season.

October 12, 2023                 More Dirt from Bill, Improving Garden Soil

Fall is a great time to improve your soil for next year. Learn to choose the right amendments and fertilizers for your needs. Presenter Bill Karges goes through the options to help you decide which ones are the best. Learn about the differences between the different soils in the market.

November 9, 2022                  Wildlife in Our Neighborhoods

Concerned or just curious about the wildlife being reported in our towns? Snakes, rodents, coyotes and fox, raccoons or skunks? Not to mention deer, hawks and other birds. A Naturalist from Trailside Museum will provide facts and tips on how to peacefully coexist with these creatures.

December 14, 2022              Happy Holiday Designs

Julie Dolezal, A Senior Designer for Jewel/Osco will wow us with her floral creations for the winter holidays. Pick up an idea that you can use to decorate your space. We will raffle these items for you to take home. 

January 11, 2023                   Fighting Climate Change in Your Back (and Front) Yards

Zoom Presentation  Concerned about climate change but feeling like many others “what can 1 person do”? Learn that the decisions you make in your yards can make a huge difference in saving plant and animal species and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Mike Nowak, radio personality, walks us through the basics – native plants (especially oaks), harvesting rainwater, reducing lawn area, composting and other gardening decisions – all designed to help your yard conserve rather than deplete natural resources. Gain peace of mind knowing that you are helping in the fight.

February 8, 2023                   Succulents – Indoors and Out

Cindy Tyley owner of Carriage House Garden Design discusses the new trend of succulent plants for use indoors and out. She also give a short demonstration of propagation techniques.


March 8, 2023                          Growing Orchids Successfully

Don White, owner of Anything Orchids, wants people to be successful orchid growers. He will cover lighting conditions, watering, fertilizing and repotting. He’ll try to correct orchid growing fallacies. Whether you are new to growing orchids or and ‘old hand’, Don promises something for everyone.


April 12, 2023                  The Elegant Edible Garden

A potager is an elegant, productive kitchen garden-large or small- that provides seasonal vegetables, berries and cutting flowers. Discover the elements that make attractive, functional layouts for your home, provide a wonderful harvest and attract pollinators. Presenter is Nina Koziol who teaches at the Chicago Botanic Garden. The annual club meeting and election of new officers will be held.


May 10, 2023                  Garden Club Luncheon

Seasonal Floral Designs by Janet Gallagher, AIFD,CFD owner of Designs by Janet, Instructor at Kishwaukee College. Janet will wow us with her lovely designs. Floral designs are a tradition at our luncheons and Janet’s are sure to please. Be Inspired a perhaps win one of the arrangements to grace your home. Advanced registration and payment is required.




Members’ Gathering on September 13, 2023

Members’ Gathering

29th Annual Garden Club of Oak Park and River Forest and Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory Garden Walk

Members ($15), Advance Tickets ($18), Day of Garden Walk, (after 5pm 6/24/23, $23) Garden Walk Ticket

Sunday June 25th 2023

Garden Walk Information Page for additional information gcnews@gcoprf.org Garden Walk Ticket

May 10, 2023 Luncheon

Luncheon Ticket $55 for additional information gcnews@gcoprf.org
Tickets available on the eStore