Friends of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is holding a ticketed in-person Native Plant Presale from 4 to 7 p.m. May 12, one day prior to the actual sale, which is free and open to the public.
Both the presale event and the two-day sale are being held at Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook.
Presale tickets cost $15 and go on sale online at 8 a.m. April 11 at dupageforest.org/native-plant-sale. Ticketholders will receive a one-hour time slot to shop and get gardening advice from district plant experts.
Only 300 tickets will be sold.
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Tickets are not required for the regular two-day Native Plant Sale, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, May 13, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 31st St.
All proceeds from the sale go to support educational programming at the Forest Preserve District.
Plants and merchandise can be purchased using cash, check or credit card, and shoppers are encouraged to bring their own boxes or containers to transport plants home, a news release said.
This year’s sale will feature 13 new plant species. A list of native flowers, grasses, trees, and shrubs that may be available are posted at dupageforest.org/native-plant-sale.
All plants at the sale originate from seed collected within 100 miles of DuPage County and are not treated with insecticides containing neonictinoids, which are harmful to bees and other pollinators.
Gardeners can get free wood chips for their gardens from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 14 and 21 at the Forest Preserve District’s native plant nursery at Blackwell Forest Preserve, 29W220 Mack Road in West Chicago. Vehicles no larger than a pickup truck can be used to pick up mulch; contractors are not allowed.
A district employee will be on hand with a tractor to help fill trailers or truck beds. People who want smaller amounts should bring their own hand tools and containers.
“The Native Plant Sale is intended to raise public awareness, spark interest and deepen knowledge about the many benefits of gardening with native plants — from healthy habitat for wildlife and people to resource conservation and climate benefits to simple beauty,” said Anamari Dorgan, District director of Community Engagement Services.
Gardeners can learn about landscaping with native plants and attracting pollinators at several Forest Preserve District programs.