The 33rd Heirloom Garden Show will take place Sunday, Aug. 24, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the 33rd Heirloom Garden Show will be held at Garfield Farm & Tavern Museum, 3N016 Garfield Road, Campton Hills.
The show features the gardens and prairie of the museum and growers of historic varieties of produce. Rolling Prairie Acres of Sigourney, Iowa managed to harvest their historic garlics just before heavy rains visited Iowa in July that drowned out many a garden. The cool late spring impacted germination rates for the museum’s garden, yet seeds from previous years plants in the antique flower garden sprang forth as the heat returned.
Last year, Love-lies-bleeding thrived planted by Master Gardener volunteers (above) whereas this year, kiss me over the garden gate and spider flower are especially vigorous.
A favorite of attendees to the show, Jimmy’s Chilis will return from Tinely Park. His home-grown chili peppers have been a key ingredient of his Flames of the Holy Spirit Hot Sauce. Indiana weather was not much better for the Saberniaks who come to the show with their favorite heirloom varieties. Any heirloom garden enthusiast is welcome to come and exhibit, sell or talk about their favorites by contacting the museum in advance.
Last year, Mitch Adamus was the visiting prairie expert that explained the importance of native plants to museum visitors.
Tours of the 1846 restored brick inn will be offered from noon to 4 p.m. led by interpreters in period clothing. The prairie plot just west of the museum gardens will also be interpreted by museum volunteers.
There is an $8 donation for adults and $3 for children under 13 years of age.
Please email info@garfieldfarm.org, call 630 584-8485, or visit www.garfieldfarm.org if you have questions.
—Garfield Farm Museum