CLC Grows

06/17/2026

Farm looking cute on a rainy day, thanks for the drone shot Vytas!

No market tomorrow, CLC has a long weekend for Juneteenth, see you next week.

06/09/2026

Our first market is this Thursday, June 11th from 3-5:30 at the Horticulture Building! Please note that we will not have a market on June 18th since CLC is closed for the Juneteenth holiday, but will be out there every Thursday after that until we run out of veggies in October. See you Thursday!

05/27/2026

It's almost market time! Due to annoying spring weather, Melanie getting old, and student workers graduating, we are going to have the first market on the second Thursday of June, not the first week as we usually do. So mark your calendars for Thursday, June 11th from 3-5:30 at the H Building and get ready to feast on some salad greens 🥬🧅🫜

05/15/2026

If you missed our Plant Sale (or even if you didn't, because they have a ton of things we didn't have)... head to the Master Gardener's Plant Sale this weekend! The Master Gardeners volunteer so much of their time to CLC's Plant Sale, we love them, go support another awesome sale. Don't worry, you do actually need more plants 🐞🐝🦋

Calling all gardeners: Save the date of Saturday, May 16, 2026, for the Lake County Extension Master Gardeners Spring Plant Sale at the University of Illinois Extension

05/11/2026

Calling all future gardeners! 🌱 Students entering grades 6-8 can spend four mornings at CLC’s campus farm planting, tending and harvesting crops from tomatoes to berries. Campers will learn how to grow their own home garden, make fresh garden snacks and take home goodies at the end of the week! 🍅🫐

Monday-Thursday, June 8-11
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Register now for a fresh summer experience: https://bit.ly/clc-garden-camp

05/05/2026

🌾✨ Tired of a "flat" garden? These three native perennials will add serious drama, texture, and wow-factor!

Sometimes it's not just about the flowers — it's about shape, movement, and that "designer touch" that makes your garden look like it belongs in a magazine. These three Illinois natives deliver all of that and more!

🌾 Fringed Brome Grass (Bromus ciliatus) — Graceful, arching seed heads that catch every breeze and shimmer in the sunlight. This beautiful native grass adds effortless movement and a soft, flowing quality that anchors a garden bed without overpowering it. Stunning from midsummer all the way into fall!

⚪ Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium) — This one stops people in their tracks! Striking globe-shaped, silvery-white flower heads rise on tall, architectural stems and look almost otherworldly. Bold, spiky, and utterly unforgettable — it's the exclamation point your garden has been waiting for.

🌸 Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum) — One of the most whimsical plants in the native garden. Nodding pink flowers give way to feathery, smoke-like plumes that seem to drift above the foliage in a dreamy pink haze. Absolutely magical in morning light!

Together, these three create layers of texture, height, and interest that keep your garden looking dynamic from spring through fall. And they're tough, drought-tolerant Midwest natives that thrive right here in northern Illinois. 🌱

🛒 Find them at the College of Lake County Annual Spring Plant Sale! 📅 May 7th & 8th, 2026 📍 Grayslake, IL

Don't miss out — come see us and take your garden from ordinary to extraordinary! 🌿

04/28/2026

Have you seen the construction on campus? If you are coming to the Plant Sale next week, please note that the Washington Street entrance is closed, you have to come through the Brae Loch entrances. There are signs, you'll be able to figure it out, but just an FYI!

04/24/2026

🌿✨ Ready to take your perennial garden to the next level? Go native this spring!

Native plants aren't just good for the environment — they're absolutely stunning in the garden. These three Illinois natives look right at home alongside your favorite perennials, and once established, they practically take care of themselves!

💜 Wild Blue Indigo (Baptisia australis) — Tall, dramatic spikes of deep blue-purple blooms in late spring make this a real showstopper. It pairs beautifully with classic garden favorites and gets better every single year. Worth every bit of the wait!

🌸 Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) — Delicate lavender-pink flowers and lovely deeply-cut foliage make this woodland gem a perfect front-of-border plant. Low maintenance and surprisingly versatile — sun or part shade, it's happy either way.

🌾 Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) — Elegant, fine-textured grass that adds gorgeous movement and soft golden color in fall. A designer favorite for good reason — it gives any garden bed that effortless, polished look.

As you can see in the image, these natives blend seamlessly with garden classics like 'Stella de Oro' daylilies, 'May Night' sage, and 'Knock-Out' roses. The best of both worlds! 🌺

🛒 Pick them up at the College of Lake County Annual Spring Plant Sale! 📅 May 7th & 8th, 2026 📍 Grayslake, IL

Come early — these beauties won't last long! 🌱

04/16/2026

🌸🐝 Want more bees and butterflies visiting your vegetable garden this summer? Plant native!

These three beautiful native perennials are pollinator magnets — and when happy pollinators are nearby, your tomatoes, squash, and peppers will thank you!

🌿 Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) — A Monarch butterfly favorite that also draws in native bees by the dozens. Loves moist spots and blooms mid-summer right when your garden needs it most.

🌼 Spotted Beebalm (Monarda punctata) — Don't let the unusual blooms fool you — native bees absolutely go wild for this one! A real conversation starter in the garden.

💜 Ohio Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis) — One of the first natives to bloom in spring, giving early pollinators a much-needed food source. Those vivid purple flowers are stunning next to veggie beds!

Best of all? These are hardy Illinois natives — tough, low-maintenance, and perfectly adapted to our Midwest weather. 🌱

🛒 Find all three at the College of Lake County Annual Spring Plant Sale! 📅 May 7th & 8th, 2026 📍 Grayslake, IL

Come early for the best selection — these go FAST! 🌺

03/05/2026

See you Saturday!