~ October 1, 2026
October is one of our favorite times of year at the Nursery! Fall has arrived and we are in full swing with tree tagging appointments, digging, shipping, and planting. Much like Spring, Fall is its own special kind of chaos; our heads are on a swivel and there are so many moving parts, but we wouldn’t have it any other way!
September wrapped up our comprehensive inventory, juggling fresh Fall orders, and seeding our grass strips. This month, we’re also celebrating Oak-tober! Oaks are a keystone species in Illinois, supporting more wildlife than nearly any other tree. Their ecological importance reminds us why diversity in our nursery rows and in our landscapes is so vital! You can read more on our blog about how Oaks are our latest Tree of the Month.
In the middle of this month on Tuesday, October 13th at 4pm, SGN and iTrees.com are co-hosting the 100+ Women Who Care of Grundy County, a giving circle of women who support our community by contributing to local charities as a group. No committees, no event planning, and no volunteering. Women in Grundy County can join as an individual or team for $100 per gathering and each $100 gets one charity nomination. Three nominations are chosen at random to give a 2 minute talk on their charity. After all three pitches, each $100 gets one vote for which charity should receive the collected funds! For more information or to RSVP, please contact Devan Gagliardo at 815-941-0852 or devan@cfgrundycounty.com. We have enjoyed attending these past giving circles and are excited to host the Fall gathering!
That week we are also hosting a few more events! On Thursday, October 15th we are hosting the Illinois Arborist Association Urban and Community Forestry Forum. The Urban and Community Forestry Forums are a peer group of seasoned and new arborists, educators, and professionals in the industry. They hold monthly meetings across the state and cover a wide variety of topics that affect the tree care and urban forestry industry. Please RSVP on the IAA website by October 9th for a lunch count!
On Friday, October 16th our Leaf by Leaf Book Club is meeting to discuss The Unsettling of America by Wendell Berry. The works of Wendell Berry speak to the core of what we embrace here on our farm – local community, sustainability, and simplicity. Originally published in 1977, The Unsettling of America examines the modern agriculture system in the United States and it’s effects on local rural communities. The book has been widely recognized as a seminal text in agrarian thought and environmental ethics. Berry believes that good farming is a deeply human and spiritual practice. It requires intimate knowledge of the land you care for. The 50th-anniversary release in 2027 highlights just how relevant these warnings remain in the modern world today. Rest in Grace and Peace Wendell Berry 8/5/34 – 8/31/26.
Finally, we are hosting a Fall Color Yoga in the Trees Fundraiser on Sunday, October 18th! We are thrilled to partner with Illinois Valley Industries and Maureen Keegan to bring you a fall yoga experience in the trees among the beauty of fall colors. Illinois Valley Industries provides support and guidance to adults with intellectual, developmental, emotional, sensory, and physical barriers. IVI helps people participate in their community, live independently, contribute to society and enhance the quality of their lives. All proceeds collected from the event support IVI Wellness Programming.
As the leaves turn and the days grow shorter, October brings both a rush of activity and a moment to pause and appreciate the season’s beauty. Whether you’re planting trees, walking through a park, or just enjoying the colors outside your window, we hope you find the same joy in fall that we do here on the farm. Fall is a beautiful time to visit the nursery – reach out if you would like to Gather at the Grove with us, we would love to have you!
~ Maggie Thomas Harper
