Gallery of Gardens
DATE/TIME TBD
Visit various community gardens in Coles County with unique plantings, designs, and features that are sure to grow your love of gardening! Experts of various types will be available at each site for questions, advice, or other valuable information. Each site will also offer a unique experience during your visit. From raffle baskets to garden supply sales, we are pulling out all the garden stakes for this community event!
Admission: Free will donation
Due to our generous sponsors, admission to this this event is free will donations, and donations will support projects at the Douglas-Hart Foundation's gardens: Friendship Garden and The Whiteside Garden. To further support other participating gardens, there will be donation buckets or garden sales available the day of the event.
Admission includes:
The event welcome begins at 8:30am at The Whiteside Garden (Charleston) OR Friendship Garden (Mattoon). You MUST start at one of these 2 locations! Participants must provide own transportation, but we encourage carpooling. Gardens can be visited in any order between 8:30am-12:30pm. We will give recommendations for restrooms stops, but there will be limited-to-no restroom access at gardens.
Pre-registered attendees are GUARANTEED a Garden Grab Bag!
Visit various community gardens in Coles County with unique plantings, designs, and features that are sure to grow your love of gardening! Experts of various types will be available at each site for questions, advice, or other valuable information. Each site will also offer a unique experience during your visit. From raffle baskets to garden supply sales, we are pulling out all the garden stakes for this community event!
Admission: Free will donation
Due to our generous sponsors, admission to this this event is free will donations, and donations will support projects at the Douglas-Hart Foundation's gardens: Friendship Garden and The Whiteside Garden. To further support other participating gardens, there will be donation buckets or garden sales available the day of the event.
Admission includes:
- Garden Guidebook
- Garden Grab Bag (while supplies last)
- Light Refreshments
- Garden Access to garden experts, vendors, food trucks, raffles, and more!
The event welcome begins at 8:30am at The Whiteside Garden (Charleston) OR Friendship Garden (Mattoon). You MUST start at one of these 2 locations! Participants must provide own transportation, but we encourage carpooling. Gardens can be visited in any order between 8:30am-12:30pm. We will give recommendations for restrooms stops, but there will be limited-to-no restroom access at gardens.
Pre-registered attendees are GUARANTEED a Garden Grab Bag!
2023 Gallery of Gardens Participants
We are grateful to have several community gardens volunteer their time and space to make this event possible. This is the list of participating gardens from our 2023 Gallery of Gardens event!
The Whiteside Garden (Charleston)
Botanical Garden
Tentative Experiences at this Site:
|
8422 N County Rd 1820e
Charleston, IL 61920 Parking lot on west side of 1820E, across from The Whiteside Garden. Please pull in driveway for handicap drop-off/parking. Restroom available. |
Friendship Garden (Mattoon)
Urban Flower Garden
Tentative Experiences at this Site:
|
1698 Lafayette Avenue
Mattoon, IL 61938 Street parking or a parking lot to the North of Friendship Garden. Porta potty available. Special thank you to Harrelson's Plumbing and Heating for being a sponsor of this event. |
Vendors Booked So Far:
Fit-2-Serve First Presbyterian Church Garden (Mattoon)
Edible Garden
Tentative Experiences at this Site:
|
Corner of 1st and Broadway Avenue (West side of the church)
Mattoon, IL 61938 Parking on street, across the street at St. John's School, or on the East side of the church. Porta potty available. |
University of Illinois Extension Idea Garden (Mattoon)
Educational Garden
EIU Thut Greenhouse and Secret Garden (Charleston)
Floral and foliage garden
Tentative Experiences at this Site:
|
EIU Campus located between the Life Science Building and Annex
Charleston, IL Parking available. Use visitor or metered parking. |
Also, a big thank you to the following for donating items for the event!
UPDATED: 06/29/2023
- Mattoon Chamber of Commerce
- Castle & Cottage
- Walmart
- Half Moon
- Home Again
- Lakeland Floral
- La Luna
- U of I Extension
- Harrelson's Plumbing and Heating
- Coles Moultrie Electric Cooperative
- Bike and Hike
- Home Grown