Garden Ramble
SATURDAY, MAY 16 9am-12pm
at
The Whiteside Garden
Come out to The Whiteside Garden anytime from 9am-12pm on Saturday, May 16th, to experience an assortment of garden-themed activities and shopping! The Whiteside Garden is a beautiful, five-acre certified botanical garden and arboretum. This event is hosted by the Douglas-Hart Foundation, a non-profit, and is requesting a free will donation admission for the event,
Tours:
Docents:
Activities:
Food:
Vendors:
- Guided tours leave the front lawn at 9am, 10am, and 11am
- Guided tours last over an hour
- A shortened, accessible guided tour of the front lawn only will occur at 9:30am
- Guided tour guides are able to identify many of the plants in the garden
- Guests may also elect to explore the garden on their own! Be sure to grab a booklet guide from the welcome table to learn about the featured plants, with identification, fun facts, growing conditions, and more. At the self-guided pace, you are free to roam the garden on your own and explore any areas of the garden!
Docents:
- Volunteers and staff are stationed throughout the garden along the tour (guided and self-guided) paths to answer questions about that particular garden area or assist with any other questions you may have.
- Docent Areas for 2026 Include:
- New Daylily Cultivar Beds
- Bogs & Cactus Beds
- Bathtub Bogs
- Historic Daylily Bed
- Food Forest Area
- Lower Terrace
- Rose Garden
- Vendors Q & A
Activities:
- Live Music in the Lower Terrance 10-11am
- Kids Activity Tables in the Front Lawn 9am-12pm
- Raffle 9am-12pm ($1/ticket or 6/$5) Cash, Check, and Credit Accepted
- Welcome Center Open 9am-12pm (Gift Shop, Restrooms, Exhibits)
Food:
- Sips in Motion by Casey Coffee Company near the Parking Lot
- Snacks and Lemonade for purchase near the Circle Drive
Vendors:
Food Vendors:
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Plant Vendors:
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Garden Craft Vendors:
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Historically, the Garden Ramble was hosted by Dr. Wesley Whiteside, the Coles County Historical Society, and friends of Dr. Whiteside. The Douglas-Hart Foundation would like to extend a most appreciated thank you to the Coles County Historical Society for granting permission to the Foundation to continue the event under its original name, "Garden Ramble." This gesture shows the depth of community support for organizations in Coles County.