Cantigny Poinsettia Display Open to Public on December 1
WHEATON, IL, November 10, 2009
The Cantigny Park greenhouse will host the
Shades of Crimson poinsettia display on Tuesday, December 1. Hours for the free event are 10 am to 2:30 pm.
Visitors will see more than 3,000 poinsettia plants all in one place—a flowery sea of red, white and pink. The plants, a floral icon of Christmas, are purchased by Cantigny as three-inch cuttings from outside sources. Then it’s up to park’s expert horticulture staff to make them thrive, carefully regulating water, fertilizer, light and temperature.
“It’s a long and meticulous process,” said Bob Waterman, Cantigny director of horticulture. “The plants displayed on December 1st will be about 5 months old and in full bloom. The color and variety will make quite a spectacle, and we’re happy to share it with the community.”
Nearly half of the Cantigny poinsettias will go to the Rotary Club of Central DuPage for its annual fundraiser. Another 1,500 plants are for holiday decorating throughout the 500-acre Cantigny estate.
Remaining plants are available for sale to the public, at the Cantigny Visitors Center Gift Shop and the Cantigny Golf Shop. Poinsettias also will be sold at
Shades of Crimson, a first-time event that represents a rare public opening of the Cantigny greenhouse.
The event will include self-guided tours and light refreshments. It is available for Park District, garden club and senior groups, as well as individuals. There is no fee to attend but advance registration is requested. Forms may be downloaded at
Cantigny.org or guests may call 630 260 8162. Parking will be at the greenhouse, so visitors should enter Cantigny at Shaffner Road.
Cantigny Park is open every day through December from 9 am to sunset. More information is online at
Cantigny.org.
About the McCormick Foundation
The McCormick Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to strengthening our free, democratic society by investing in children, communities and country. Through its grantmaking programs, Cantigny Park and Golf, museums and civic outreach program the Foundation helps build a more active and engaged citizenry. It was established as a charitable trust in 1955, upon the death of Colonel Robert R. McCormick, the longtime editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. The McCormick Foundation is one of the nation’s largest charities, with more than $1 billion in assets. For more information, please visit
McCormickFoundation.org.