Johnny Appleseed Project and Great Tree Women Group to offer thousands of trees to area gardeners

Gardening season is ramping up in Cook County and area residents will have the opportunity to pick up a variety of trees and shrubs in the coming days.

Through her Johnny Appleseed Project, Carolyn Dry aims to give away over a hundred apple trees this year. With the support of the Great Tree Women Group, about 2,500 seedlings of other pollinator trees and shrubs seedlings will also be available.

Dry told WTIP that on May 9 beginning at 8 a.m., people can stop by Bethlehem Lutheran Church for the seedlings. She said those plants will include some fruit-bearing varieties, like service berry, elderberry, and wild plum. That event will also offer trees like river birch, poplar, and white oak, among others. All of these plants will be roughly one foot tall.

On May 12, Dry will have apple trees available for pickup at her home in Grand Marais, at 406 Second Avenue East. She said she would have two varieties, Honey Crisp and Macoun. These two trees are compatible for cross-pollination, according to Dry. She added that they also produce apples with contrasting textures. These trees will be larger than the saplings available on May 9.

WTIP’s CJ Heithoff spoke with Carolyn Dry on North Shore Morning. Audio of that interview is below.

Kirsten Wisniewski May 7, 2025