Learn About Edible Plants.

We are once again so pleased to host the well-known local naturalist and forager Shane Alden Edwards, (@The_Wild_Dryad on instagram). Shane will be teaching a free botany class focused on edible plants at our Coach House. It's FREE and a great way to build your own knowledge and resilience. Hope to see you at 2603 N. Sheridan Road  Friday January 30 5p-8p. SIGN UP HERE.

 

Stop to Mulch the Roses! 
The nature stewards at JJGE are teaming up with the City of Evanston and Chalet to revitalize the Merrick Rose Garden at Lake and Oak. Roses will be cleaned and pruned, and (with volunteer help) mulch will be placed around each plant to protect from harsh winter conditions. This will require people power! Bring gloves and dress for the weather! Read more about this initiative here in the Evanston Roundtable. Tuesday November 18 1p-4p at Merrick Rose Garden, Lake St. and Oak Ave. in Evanston.

​

Happy Birthday Charles! 

On November 15, at the Evanston Ecology Center, a building he helped to bring into being, Charles Smith, the founder of Jens Jensen Gardens in Evanston, was celebrated on the occasion of his 80th Birthday. Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss and Parks & Recreation Director Audrey Thompson were on hand to honor Charles by applying his name to the main function room at the Ecology Center. Read more in the Evanston Roundtable. 

​

Journal in Nature 
Join us for a workshop in the Gardens! Shane Alden Edwards (@The_Wild_Dryad on instagram) will guide us in botanical sketching techniques, and we'll share some of the future plans for Jens Jensen Gardens. The event will be at 2603 N. Sheridan Road  Sunday November 16 12n-2p. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. SIGN UP HERE.

 

Support our Monarchs. Plant Milkweed!
We have a few thousand milkweed seeds about to germinate and ready to plant this week. To pick some up for your favorite patch of native habitat, come by 2603 N. Sheridan Road, the Harley Clarke Coach House, (AKA Lighthouse Center for Native Habitat). Seeds are FREE!  Wed. May 7 12n-4p; Thu. May 8, 10a-12n & 3p-5p;  Fri. May 9, 10a-12n and 3p-5p; Sat. May 10, 10a-2p.
 

Earth Month Screenings of "The Living Green"

Please join us for one of two free screenings of the excellent documentary “Jens Jensen: The Living Green” by filmmaker Carey Lundin. These will be held on Wednesday April 23 at Humboldt Park, and Thursday April 24 at Douglass Park. Click on dates for information and registration through the Chicago Park District.

​

Harley Clarke: Saved!

On March 11, 2025, our long crusade to save the Garden and its accompanying mansion come to a successful conclusion. Developer and philanthropist Scott Henry and his Celadon group were approved by council on a 7-1 vote. Many of our JJGE supporters spoke in favor of the motion at the Council meeting. And as Spring 2025 emerge, so too does the hard work and joy of our mission and vision.  View the Evanston Roundtable article about the vote here

​

Saturday Open Houses

Every Saturday at 10am we welcome all community members and supporters to an open house at the coach house and greenhouse, located at 2603 Sheridan Road in Evanston. There will be speakers and program activities that support our mission. Anyone can come and learn, hang out or work in the greenhouse or gardens. If you are truly interested and invested in being a leader in the urban habitat restoration movement, be a presenter, be a contributor, be a learner, be a doer. If you are interested in being a presenter, please send an email to Charles Smith.

​

A New Path Forward for Lighthouse Landing and the Jens Jensen Gardens

In October, 2024, the Evanston City Council voted to proceed with a development agreement for the Mansion and grounds with Celadon. The Celadon proposal featured support for Jens Jensen Gardens in Evanston, our stewardship of the grounds, and our vision for the Coach House as The Lighthouse Center for Native Habitat.  View the Evanston Roundtable article about the Celadon and JJGE proposal here.

​

An Expanded Vision: The Lighthouse Center for Native HabitatI

The Jens Jensen Landscape and the Coach House and attached greenhouse at Lighthouse Park will become the Lighthouse Center for Native Habitat—dedicated to the propagation of natural landscapes and the natural knowledge required to maintain them. Volunteers trained in the Center’s Stewardship Development Program will help churches, schools, and other private institutions throughout Evanston to establish ecological landscapes on their properties with ongoing support from the Stewardship Development Program. The Center will leverage the resources of organizations and institutions to create and fund ecological landscapes on their grounds by helping some of their members become stewards, and by serving as a repository for shared tools, materials, and technical support as needed.  
Read more about this vision here.

​​