The West Chicago Garden Club

Happy Returns : The title is not referring to the splendid yellow day lily with that name nor is it a salutation to offer hope that a happy day will recur many more times. It is to say we are awaiting the happy returns of the Kruse Garden plants. The third worst ever Chicago winter is likely to delay Spring blossoms somewhat but the daffodils and grape hyacinths will be back! As will the short purple iris with those wowie blue fuzzy things and this gorgeous orange and rose streaked tulip will not be far behind. It’s amazing how much better it feels when you conjure up those plants in anticipation of Spring. Tom Angie and Billie will be back in the garden too and this year we will have a new partner to work with. Kerry Perry has agreed to join us on our Monday morning forays and we are all very excited with our new partnership. Thank you Kerry for volunteering! There is always room for more so don’t be discouraged if you haven’t made it known that you too will be a Monday faithful in the Kruse Garden. We welcome all comers. I need to mention at least one plant that will not be a happy return…Lady Bells.  We have been trying to get rid of this plant for years! It does have a nice bloom but it is mighty invasive. Any little root left behind  grows a new plant. Often its roots are entwined with a ‘good’ plant and it is impossible to eradicate. It works best to spray it but that is risky business. We will keep up the fight though! We are ready to garden whenever the weather cooperates!

– Angie, Billie, Kerry, & Tom