Things to Do

March
Visitors to Cantigny in March will spy the first blooms of the year as well as slowly greening lawns. Among the earliest blossoms to enjoy are winter aconite, snowdrops, daffodils, hellebores, willows and alders. The first daffodils open in March across the grounds and pasqueflowers bloom in Rock Garden crevices.

March weather is fickle. Be prepared for chilling winds or ephemeral snows during a visit.

April
April is when spring accelerates in flowers and leaves unfurling on trees and shrubs. Expect to see daffodils in the first half of the month alongside magnolias. Tulips throughout the formal gardens are Cantigny’s signature spring display late in the month. Spring woodland flowers from windflowers, Virginia bluebells, and red trillium becoming increasingly visible as April progresses. Native redbuds and whitebuds bloom late in the month.

The height of spring flowering splendor is traditionally from mid-April to mid-May. The peak of tulip season is typically the third week of April to the first week of May.

April can be delightful on sunny days, but has a tendency to be cloudy or rainy, so light jackets and an extra check of the weather forecast are recommended.

May
Depending on the weather, Cantigny’s tulip displays are likely to remain in bloom, but not past Mother’s Day. Viburnum, crabapples, globe allium, peonies, wild false indigo, horse chestnuts, and blue camassia are among the best blossoms to seek out on a visit this month. Perennials flush vigorous bright green foliage.

Enjoy the awakening of the gardens as the days grow warmer and longer. Don’t forget an umbrella, as scattered showers are common throughout May.

June
The gardens become lush in June. Our Rose Garden features 50 varieties, and our Hosta Garden contains 300 selections, all that are looking their finest in flower and leaf. Anticipate the peak floral display of roses around the second week of June. Yarrow, salvia, beardstongue, astilbe, and smooth hydrangea also bring floral wonder this month.

A morning visit is recommended in June, as the afternoons can get quite hot. Cool down in the shadier garden areas or stop by the Visitors Center or First Division Museum to cool down and hydrate.

July
By July, Cantigny’s gardens are teaming with flowering shrubs, perennials and annuals. Annual beds throughout the gardens, and container displays around the McCormick House, Visitors Center, and Prairie View will be filling out. Featured blooms include Shasta daisy, coneflower, black-eye Susan, bottlebrush buckeye, and panicle hydrangea.

A morning visit is recommended in July, as the afternoons can get quite hot. Cool down in the shadier garden areas or stop by the Visitors Center or First Division Museum to cool down and hydrate.

August
Summer annual displays look their most exuberant from mid-July to August. Russian sage and ornamental onion will be in bloom throughout the park, especially along the Hawthorn Path and in the Keyhole Garden. Enjoy cooling shade under the magnificent shade trees across the grounds, especially the oaks, beeches, horse chestnuts and maples.

A morning visit is recommended in August, as the afternoons can get quite hot. Cool down in the shadier garden areas or stop by the Visitors Center or First Division Museum to cool down and hydrate.

September
As summer draws to a close, Cantigny’s garden beds feature late-season blossoms from bluebeard, seven-son flower, aster, autumn crocus and Asian beautyberry. As the month progresses, more and more chrysanthemum displays are planted throughout the gardens.

Milder weather returns in September as summer crowds decline. Dress in layers and enjoy the comfort of late summer and early fall.

October
Peak fall foliage typically occurs in the second half of October, but is dependent on the weather. Sugar maples, Japanese maples, blackgums, viburnums and magnolias all combine to provide an array of reds, oranges and yellows. Late in the month, and even into early November, the russet reds and rusty oranges of baldcypresses and oak trees bring a subdued colorful majesty across the property.

Keep an eye on the weather forecast in October. Fall foliage is at its best before a strong rain or windstorm brings the leaves down.

November
As the last leaves fall from Cantigny’s trees and shrubs, look for the plump fruits and berries in their finest shape and color. Crabapples, Asian beautyberry, winterberry holly and snowberry contrast the brown and gray hues across the gardens. Ornamental grasses rustle in the autumn winds and provide a wispy texture.

Fall foliage is at its best before a strong rain or windstorm brings the leaves down. Once a hard freeze occurs, fall foliage color tends to quickly turn to brown. November mornings tend to cool down by this time of year, so afternoon visits are recommended.

December through February
Winter is sublime and quiet in the gardens at Cantigny. Look for the wide array of bark textures and forms. Evergreens are also especially noticeable in winter, and capture newly fallen snow in their branches for a fantastic photograph. Weeping Alaska cedar, spruces, white fir, Swiss stone pine are among the best to see. Look for the picturesque branches of weeping beeches, too.

The Chicago area begins to see snowfall and colder temperatures in December. Heavier clothing is recommended. The Visitors Center and First Division Museum are typically open during the same hours as the gardens and offer convenient locations to warm up.