Annual West Cook Wild Ones Garden Walk Celebrates Native Plants

The West Cook Wild Ones’ (WCWO) annual garden walk—Birds, Bees and Butterflies: A Native Garden Tour—will return from 1 to 5 p.m., July 27 in Oak Park and Berwyn. Attendees can explore nine vibrant gardens that highlight the beauty and functionality of native plants.

“We love the variety of sizes, the creative landscaping styles—from tidy to wild—and the fact that some incorporate food gardening, chickens or artistic flourishes. There is even a dye garden this year,” says Laura Hartwell Berlin, president of WCWO and chair of the garden walk committee.

The event educates home gardeners on the aesthetic and practical benefits of plants that have been integral to Northern Illinois ecosystems for millennia. Rural land development is one of the biggest reasons for population declines of important local and migratory species.

Each new native plant garden in suburban areas—no matter how small—can help support essential insects, birds and other wildlife.

Cost: $10 for members; $15 for nonmembers; kids attend for free. Ticketholders will receive a tour map two days before the event. Biking or driving is recommended. For more information or to register, visit WestCook.WildOnes.org.