The West Chicago Garden Club

Has the spring cleanup in the Kruse Garden ever been complete by April 4? 

We set the bar pretty high by getting it done that early this year!  Maybe back in the day when the Kruse family lovingly tended the garden it got that kind of attention but in recent times it has often not been top on the mile high stack of the spring  ‘to do’ list.  Angie and Tom spent several mornings over there snipping and raking and the grand finale featured the Votava’s lawn crew with blowers, lots of energy and strength, and a truck to haul away loads of junk…and there was a lot!  We couldn’t have done it without them!  

The gardens look terrific!  A smattering of blue and yellow (grape hyacinths and daffodils) dot the back garden while eye-popping green creeps to cover the ground everywhere.  It is so fresh, clean and neat!  The numerous shrubs installed last year are swelled with buds and the Dawn Redwood tree donated by Meyer Landscaping is ready to pop out as well! We put in 50 alliums ‘Purple Sensation’ last fall and their distinct strappy foliage is rising high, proclaiming, ‘we’re glad to be here’! No doubt, the awakening of a garden is a salve for the soul.  The wonder is unrivaled!   Continue Reading »

Spring is here! Happy New Year! Signs of spring are everywhere! The Kruse Garden daffodils are peeking out and the clumps are expanding. It’s always rewarding to see plants return year after year, and when there’s an even bigger plant than last year….whoopee…that’s a good thing! The grape hyacinths, original to the Kruse Garden, are also popping out everywhere! We can tell you from experience that you can’t dig anywhere in that back garden without encountering those precious little bulbs. They don’t mind being shifted around to make room for new plants throughout the year but come spring they step forth with a presence that commands attention. It’s their time for showing off! The tulips in the back garden are also originals!  They are unique souls.  Not well color coordinated but hey they aren’t the ‘run of the mill’ tulips.  There are a few pictures of them on the GC website, photo tab, “Kruse Garden”. The species tulips donated by Jeff Handel will soon grace the west hillside garden. We can here Jeff snickering in disbelief that some survived, since they were planted in heavy clay. Now that the soil has been improved in that area, how about a few more bulbs Jeff?

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The time away from ‘News From Kruse’ slipped by quickly and another year in the garden begins! But before the past is forgotten let us tell of the lovely recognition bestowed by the Historical Society at their annual meeting last November. Angie, Billie, and Tom received certificates of appreciation and luscious toffees for their part in maintaining and growing the 2008 Kruse House Garden. Of course, we are only representatives of the Garden Club and want to pass the appreciation along to all of you for your support of the Kruse Garden efforts! The addition to the big sign in front of the Kruse house is also great recognition for Garden Club’s role in the gardens. Thanks to Dick Darrah for installing that addition to the sign! Thank you all for a great year past and ‘tally ho, away we go’ to a fantastic year to come!

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