Get Inspired at Some of McHenry County’s Best Gardens

With the arrival of summer and increasingly warmer weather, more and more people are taking time to enjoy the outdoors—and with good reason. Spending time outside can reduce stress, improve your overall mood, and provide the much-needed energy boost many of us are looking for.

And after staying at home for much of the past year, spending time outside has grown even more appealing. Many people have begun work on long-desired landscaping projects or have started vegetable gardens to produce small crops of their own.

This renewed interest in gardening has many horticultural novices and enthusiasts alike researching helpful tips and looking for ideas for their own projects.

Garden Walk 2021, hosted by the University of Illinois Extension McHenry County Master Gardeners and McHenry County College (MCC), is the perfect way to get garden inspiration and education. The annual event will be held on Saturday, July 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., starting at the outdoor Demonstration Garden at MCC.

“Attendees will experience some of the most unique, creative gardens across Algonquin, Lake in the Hills, and Crystal Lake,” said master gardener Michelle Walsh, Garden Walk co-chair. “Even if people have no intention of starting a garden of their own, simply exploring these local gardens and admiring their beauty is such a fun way to spend the day.”

From gardens overlooking a sparkling lake to those with magnificent trees, all nine gardens on the tour are a must-see. The Demonstration Garden at MCC, the Garden Walk’s starting point, includes a vine garden, cool shadowy corners full of shade-loving plants, various theme gardens, and extensive displays of perennials and annuals.

“Attendees are invited to tour the gardens at their own pace,” said Walsh. “Master Gardeners will be on-site at each garden to answer questions and offer educational materials.”

Tickets for the event can be purchased for $12 at www.mchenry.edu/gardenwalk, or through MCC by calling (815) 455-8588. The event will be held rain or shine. Masks are required while touring the gardens and social distancing will be enforced. No pets are allowed.