Welcome to the Fall Bulb Festival A very warm welcome to visitors attending the Woman’s Board of the Chicago Horticultural Society’s 2013 Fall Bulb Festival, from October 4 to 6 at the Chicago Botanic Garden. In our 14th year, we will offer more than 200 varieties of bulbs and also feature an exciting array of vendors displaying their wares. As the centerpiece of the festival, our collection of tulip, narcissus, amaryllis, and other specialty bulbs has been carefully selected by our Woman’s Board committee in collaboration with Garden horticultural experts and the best Dutch bulb suppliers. We stock the finest and freshest top-size bulbs, which arrive by air from the Netherlands just prior to our sale and are chosen for both exceptional beauty and hardiness. Knowledgeable staff and volunteers will be available with advice on bulb selection, sequence of bloom, and color harmony. All proceeds from our sale support the restoration of the English Walled Garden and replacement of trees damaged by the emerald ash borer. Special in 2013 will be an area with collections of tulips featured in the Rose Garden and the Crescent, and on the Learning Campus. We will have several special blends available, such as Tommy crocus and pink daffodils. We will also feature amaryllis and paperwhite bulbs for the indoor gardener; they may be planted during the winter months and are especially lovely during the holiday season. Select bulbs for online preordering will be available from September 3 to 27. Our festival is designed for families, with something interesting for all ages and with a full spectrum of activities. Vendors will be on site to sell honey, baked goods, fresh produce, hand-thrown pottery, and much more. Visitors can enjoy a straw bale maze and a gourd display. We are most grateful to Bulb Festival chair Anne Healy and vice chair Michelle McCarthy for their capable leadership. Stephanie Lindemann, manager of horticultural events, guides us with grace, efficiency, and expertise. The Woman’s Board is always thankful for Judy Cashen, director of volunteer services, and her volunteers for their hours of assistance, and to Jodi Zombolo, director of visitor events and programs, and her staff for their creativity and organizational skills. And we are most appreciative of the support and interest of Sophia Siskel, the president and CEO of the Chicago Botanic Garden, who reflected on the joy next spring will bring when the bulbs we are selling this fall begin to bloom. Finally, we sincerely thank you, our valued customers, for visiting the Fall Bulb Festival. Barbara Metzler, President, Woman’s Board
Tulipa clusiana ‘Lady Jane’
2013 Bulb Sale Administration Anne Healy Woman’s Board Chair Michelle McCarthy Woman’s Board Vice Chair Jill Delaney, Mary Hill, Beth Jernigan. Joani Lowry, Ann Merritt, Holly Rothschild Woman’s Board Committee Members Chicago Botanic Garden Staff Stephanie Lindemann Manager of Horticultural Events Sarah Paar Coordinator of Flower Shows Jill Selinger Manager of Continuing Education
Cover: Leucojum aestivum‘ Gravetye Giant’
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