Bowmanville Garden Walk

The Bowmanville Garden Walk

July 13, 2019

For over 20 years, our signature event, the Bowmanville Garden Walk, has drawn thousands of people from across the city

During the spring, summer, and fall, our neighborhood becomes a lush oasis in the middle of Chicago, earning its nickname, Beautiful Bowmanville. For over 20 years, our signature event, the Bowmanville Garden Walk, has drawn thousands of people from across the city to see our neighborhood in full bloom. Hospitable neighbors open their properties to visitors to show off the results of their hard work, and a team of dedicated volunteers makes sure that everyone feels welcome and can find their way around.

Hosted Gardens

The Bowmanville Garden Walk features hosted gardens, where the garden owners are there to welcome you into their garden and talk about their efforts.

Ask the Master Gardener

This Garden Walk hosts an Ask the Master Gardener table at the Welcome table on Bowmanville Avenue, where University of IL Master Gardeners are there to talk to you about gardening and look at any cutting or photo you bring and help solve problems and plot your next steps.

Amateur Photography Competition

Neighbors are encouraged to submit their best photo of Bowmanville to the Amateur Photography Competition. The winning photograph is featured in the next year’s Garden Walk posters, signage and promotional materials.

Garden Party

A Garden Party is hosted the evening of the event where all participating gardeners, volunteers and judges come together as well as members of the BCO Board of Directors to celebrate gardening in Bowmanville.

And remember, the Bowmanville Garden Walk happens rain or shine!

Exhibitor Sign Up

Plan Your Visit

Amateur Photography Competition

Exhibitor Sign Up

The Bowmanville Garden Walk features over 20 neighborhood gardens each year, but we are hoping to increase that number! Please consider opening up your yard this year! It doesn’t have to be perfect; in fact, all participants receive a visit from the group of University of Illinois Master Gardeners, who are happy to offer lots of tips on how to take your landscaping to the next level!

A link will be provided here for the next Garden Walk in 2020.

If you have any questions about what being an exhibitor involves, please email: events@bcochicago.org
email the Events Committee

Plan Your Visit

Welcome to Bowmanville!! Whether you’re a local neighbor or visiting from elsewhere in the city, we hope you enjoy the Garden Walk.

Getting Started

Neighbors and visitors to Bowmanville are encouraged to visit one of the two Welcome Centers: One in the neighborhood Green Space at the intersection of Bowmanville Avenue and N Bell Avenue, and the other next to the Gateway Gardens at the intersection of W Balmoral Ave and N Ravenswood Ave. There you can get a map and tips for enjoying the day.

Donation

The BCO suggests a $5 donation for each Garden Walk visitor. These nominal fees help to cover the cost of materials and advertising and support the work of the community volunteers who help to make the event a success. To get the word out, the BCO leverages social media, as well as places ads in various publications.

There is ample, permit-free parking throughout the neighborhood.

Amateur Photography Competition

Whether it’s using your iPhone or a professional camera, take to the streets this spring and snap your best picture of Beautiful Bowmanville. You’re invited to enter the amateur photography competition, where your photograph will be prominently displayed in a gallery that’s open to all Garden Walk visitors, who will then vote for their favorite.

If you win, your picture will serve as the poster for next year’s Garden Walk!

A link will be provided here in 2020 for the next contest.

Keep scrolling down to check out past Garden Walk event details and poster winners!

Past Garden Walks

Posters from past garden walks celebrate the history of the event and feature winning photo entries from the previous year. Enjoy some of the past posters below. For details on any past years garden walk outcomes, check out the Summer Bowmanville Bee Newsletter from that year which includes highlights from the event.