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(April 14, 2020) — With customer and employee safety in mind due to COVID-19, the Native Plant Sale is moving to a preorder-only event with limited-contact curbside pickup times on June 5 & 6 at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St. in Oak Brook. There will be no tent sale.
Gardeners must submit orders by email or phone by May 17. They will receive an invoice via email by May 31 with steps on how to securely pay online for plants by credit card. There’s a five-plant minimum on orders, and all orders are subject to supplier availability.
Customers will be assigned a time slot between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on June 5 or 6 when they’ll be able to pick up their plant order curbside at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St. in Oak Brook, with limited person-to-person contact.
The plant sale catalog — with photos, descriptions, prices and order information — is posted at dupageforest.org/native-plant-sale. The page also includes links to helpful blogs on landscaping with native plants written by Forest Preserve District native plant experts.
All proceeds from the sale support educational programming at the Forest Preserve District.
“Native plants provide better nectar sources for butterflies and other insects compared to many traditional ornamental plants,” said Scott Meister, manager of Natural Resources. “And once established, native plants don’t need to be fertilized or watered.”
Most plants at this year’s sale originate from seed collected within 100 miles of DuPage County and are not treated with insecticides containing neonicotinoids, which are harmful to bees and other insect pollinators. Gardeners who landscape with native plants help wildlife by providing additional habitat and food sources for them.
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has been connecting people to nature for more than 100 years. More than 4 million people visit its 60+ forest preserves, 166 miles of trails, six education centers and scores of programs each year. For information, call 630-933-7200 or visit dupageforest.org, where you can also link to the District’s e-newsletter, blog, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.