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 2303 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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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