Community Corner

It's Time, Once Again, For An Afternoon in the Garden

Join your neighbors for the 18th annual Elmhurst Garden Walk and Faire today, Sunday, July 14.

The 18th annual Elmhurst Garden Walk and Faire is finally here.

Seven spectacular and lush gardens, aided by this year’s rainfall, offer something to please every gardening palate. The gardens will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, Sunday, July 14. 

Visitors can explore private gardens in every corner of Elmhurst, from an established garden more than five decades old, to 80-year-old peonies, a peaceful oasis in the center of town and two gardens in a seldom explored region of the city. 

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With the purchase of a $20 ticket, participants will receive a guide to the gardens.

Not only do the gardens display one-of-a-kind statuary and artistic flair, but the Faire, held at Wilder Park in the heart of Elmhurst, will host more than 50 vendors with garden-related items. 

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The ever-popular Red Barn Greenhouse will once again edge the park on Cottage Hill Avenue, with its quality plants and attractive display. For the first time, Hornbaker Gardens of Princeton will also be selling plants and gardening items. Advisors from the Northern Illinois Iris Society, and master gardeners from the University of Illinois Extension service, will be on hand to answer questions. The Faire is free and open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Once again, the historic Wilder Mansion will be open during the event for visitors to rest and refresh, have a bite to eat, tour the Mansion and be inspired by the gallery of botanicals on display by local artists. Many will be available for purchase. The Mansion will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the day of the Walk. Refreshments will be available for purchase from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Elmhurst Garden Club members will be present in the gardens to answer questions and direct visitors. The gardens are hosted by local civic groups.

Proceeds from the Garden Walk and Faire support the Mildred Hartney College Scholarship Fund, named in honor of a long-time Garden Club member who wanted to encourage students to study horticulture. Proceeds from last year’s Walk exceeded $11,000 in scholarship money to college students studying horticulture and science-related fields, including students attending the College of Du Page, Elmhurst College, Northwestern, Northern, and Benedictine universities,  as well as the Councilor in Training program at Morton Arboretum. 

For the first time last year, a $925 scholarship was granted to a York High School student to attend a marine biology program at Roger Williams University this summer. Since the inception of the Garden Walk, more than $185,000 has been donated to students and other worthy causes. 

Local endeavors designated for funding from this year’s Walk include the Elmhurst YMCA, the proposed sensory garden at Madison School and summer programs for children through the Elmhurst Park District. Proceeds have also been designated for the creation of an Illinois Blue Star Memorial marker honoring Elmhurst veterans of past, current and future military service. 

The Garden Walk and Faire is sponsored by the Elmhurst Garden Club, in cooperation with Elmhurst Park District. For more information, visit the Garden Walk website. 


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