Grow Native! 25th Anniversary Event: Public Garden Walking Tour in Alton, IL

Native plant enthusiasts, friends, neighbors, and gardeners of all kinds are invited to attend a variety of free garden tours held across the lower Midwest this summer in honor of Grow Native!’s 25th Anniversary.

This specific tour is a multi-stop, walkable tour of public garden beds in Alton, Illinois by Grow Native! Professional Member Sierra Club – Piasa Palisades Group, the Hayner Library District, and Alton Main Street. The tour route covers a three-block area from 3rd Street between State Street and Piasa Street, the 300 Block of Belle Street, and the sitting area adjacent to the Library’s Belle Street parking lot. The stops, in green on the map below, may be visited in any order.

As an extra-special treat, BossaNova will offer tour-goers a Riverbend Bloom Spritz, consisting of house-made native wildflower simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, sparkling water, and your choice of gin or vodka. Additionally, Flourish will offer a variety of their Sparkling Herbal Teas made with real ingredients. Stop by the Sierra Club booth to find out how to get your drink coupon. Limited to one drink per tourist, while supplies last.

Christine Favilla, Three Rivers Project Coordinator of the Sierra Club, has helped plan, plant, and maintain the Downtown Alton Native Plant beds; the Hayner Library’s Belle Street flower beds; the Hellrung Park Certified Monarch Waystation in Alton; the Alton YWCA’s butterfly garden and Summer Camp vegetable garden; the Wadlow Town Center’s native trees and pollinator plants project; and the Discovery Prairie at La Vista Park in Godfrey — as well as her own diverse native plant yard. Special thanks to Christine for coordinating the special local treats and for hosting this incredible tour!

Registration is required for the tour. Registrants may arrive any time during the visit window listed below. Specific details will be sent to registrants the day before the tour. This tour provides 1 GNPCP CEU.

City: Alton, IL

When: Friday, July 18, 2025; walking tour is open 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Cost: Free