The West Chicago Garden Club

Many compliments were paid to the lilies of the Kruse Garden this past month!  The warm pink L.A. (longiflorum-asiatic) hybrid named Algarve, located by the front door especially garnered a lot of attention. It could easily be seen from the street on drive by and was magnificently showcased by the brilliant yellow of the Mary Todd daylily in the foreground!  What a stunning display it was!  This L.A. lily is as sturdy as a young tree with abundant flowers that hold up well and have fragrance of raspberries and roses.  It is the second year for this rock star and we hope it keeps performing for many years to come. 

Cultivation of lilies in this country is recorded as early as 1654 by Governor William Bradford of Plymouth Massachusetts and the popularity of the genus never fades. From natives to cutting edge hybrids they provide breathtaking displays of color, form, and fragrance!  It’s not too early to prepare your shopping list for ‘must have’ lilies to plant this fall.  Anyone interested in a group order?  Let Billie know by the end of July if you are. Continue Reading »

The Kruzies have been crazy busy with the plant sale but somehow we still found time to tend the Kruse Garden.  Just a reminder, we are there routinely on Monday mornings and you are fondly invited to join us if you can.  If the weather is ‘iffy’ give one of us a call to make sure what our plans are.  There are always fun jobs to do and the satisfaction of results will guarantee you’ll leave with a smile on your face and a song in your heart! 

Have you heard the good news?  Kruse House Museum & Garden was featured in the May/June issue of Chicagoland Gardening Magazine!  You will find the article on page 14 as the first of the Regional Reports. If you don’t subscribe, stop by the library and check it out.  Author Betty Earl, writer, photographer, and lecturer from Naperville did a great job of informing readers about the extensive garden and West Chicago Garden Club’s role over the past 11 years tending this charming garden.  It’s an honor to have recognition for our project and the Kruzies are even more enthused about making a beautiful garden!  Continue Reading »

Notorious for varied weather conditions March marches forward with great fanfare.  Part winter, part spring, the changes are dramatic.  We enjoy the lengthening days, gawk at the ground for daffodil shoots and are delighted when we discover them.  We are joyful to see the first robins and hear the Sandhill cranes honking overhead as they migrate north.  March used to be the first month of the New Year. That makes a lot of sense, but back in 1752 the new style, Gregorian, calendar was introduced and January began the New Year. Whatever! 

The switch to daylight savings time changes the perspective altogether. The longer evenings are an outdoor gift!  Woweeee!  We better get out the rakes, oil the pruner and sharpen the spade.  We are going to be working in the garden.  But we want to be wise about our work.  We are all looking for balance in our lives.  Continue Reading »