The Kankakee Kultivators Garden Club celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. At each meeting, garden clubs of Illinois recite a pledge to beautify the state and keep it void of litter, protect wildlife, and preserve natural resources for future generations.
With these goals in mind, members plan programs that are open to the public and serve the community with topics such as: Arborists, bee experts, old and new annuals and perennials, preparing the garden for planting, what and when to trim, winterizing the garden, flower arranging, and growing and harvesting herbs.
The Rhubarb Festival, hosted by the Kankakee Historical Society, will be held May 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. At the festival, the Kultivators will supply a few Master Gardeners from the University of Illinois program to answer gardening questions. Items, with a gardening theme, will be raffled that day. Tickets for the group’s Garden Walk also will be available. In addition, the Kultivators will host a plant sale, in addition to free vegetable packets distributed in the Column Garden.
On Thursday, June 22, the Kultivators are hosting their 29th annual Garden Walk, featuring six gardens, including a special community garden. This year, three of the homes are in Manteno, one in Bonfield, one near Limestone, while the special garden is in Bourbonnais. Tickets now are available for $20 each and must be presented at each of the homes. Garden Walk tickets may be purchased at: Benoit’s Greenhouse, Busse and Rieck, Joy’s Hallmark, and Glazik Top Line Feeds, all in Kankakee; Bargains and Treasures, Bradley; Ryan’s Pier, Aroma Park; Tholens’ Garden Center, Bourbonnais; and Sunrise Greenhouse, Grant Park. Tickets may be purchased until 2 p.m. on June 22 at the various places of business.