The group took home the award, along with three first-place awards from the Garden Clubs of Illinois, earlier this month. Miyawaki forests are a relatively new idea in America, with only a handful found in Illinois, Algonquin Garden Club President Cindy Germata said. The group has made presentations to the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County and garden clubs in Kankakee, Elgin and Countryside. The Algonquin Garden Club is a nonprofit that has been around since 1929. Here is where you can find more information on the Algonquin Garden Club: algonquingardenclub.org.