May
19
2018
![](https://westchicagogardenclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_0797-e1526580000459-225x300.jpg)
Kruse Garden May 2018
When T. S. Eliot wrote that “April is the cruelest month” he was voicing someone who, unlike our fellow gardeners, didn’t want to break out of the doldrums of winter. However, this year his words certainly applied to us as we suffered through a cold, snowy, rainy month that offered little hope of spring. Nevertheless, the Kruse crew turned out to start bringing the garden out of its winter sleep. I was able to join them at the beginning of May to find everything in excellent shape. Since I am only able to be there occasionally, I concentrated on weeding while the regulars worked on other chores as well.
While pulling up creeping Charlie, my mind wandered back to the early days in the Kruse garden. We started out with the intention of restoring it to its original state. We divided the garden into its separate historic areas and asked members to choose one to restore and maintain. Dick and I chose the iris bed to the side of the path behind the garden shed. We brought bearded iris from home, planted them and weeded throughout the summers. Alas, they kept dying out because of the heavy shade from the pear tree. We started replacing them with Siberian iris, but they weren’t holding up either. Finally, we started putting in daylilies where we could and bought and planted some Azalea bushes. About that time, everyone agreed that we weren’t going to be able to actually restore the garden unless the Kruse House board decided to cut down some of the trees.
Having given up on that idea and realizing that those of us still working were getting burned out, the club decided that we needed to concentrate on planting things that were more easily sustainable and I am amazed at what a great job the new crew of volunteers have done. They came along at a time when they were needed and saved a project that many of us feared might be doomed to failure. I’ve enjoyed being able to join them occasionally and suggest that some of you might enjoy doing so as well. Just show up on a Wednesday morning for a few hours and the crew will find something for you to do.
In the meantime, I encourage you to come to our May meeting and see what a wonderful garden we have created.
— Barbara Darrah
Tags: Kruse Garden
Apr
27
2018
It’s that time of year again! The West Chicago Garden Club Plant Sale will once again be at the center of the Blooming Fest festival here in West Chicago. Our sale helps to fund our club and our annual donation to the Tuberous Sclerosis Foundation.
We are located on Galena Street right by Main Street. Click here for a Google Map. Main Street is closed for the festival (between Chicago Street & Washington Street), but there will be directions to city parking lots that are nearby.
![](https://westchicagogardenclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/PlantSale2018.jpg)
We would like to thank the wonderful local companies who helped sponsor our tent for the sale: Ball Horticultural, NorthStar Credit Union, Jell-Sert, and Bond-Dickson. The cost for the tent vastly increased this year and we are very grateful for the help these companies provided. About 2/3 of the tent cost has been covered so far!
Tags: Blooming Fest
Apr
19
2018
The Latest and Greatest: The Lure of New Plant Varieties
Meeting Location: Faith Community Church, 910 Main Street, West Chicago
Meeting Time: 6:45PM Refreshments, 7:00PM Business Meeting, 7:15PM Program
Speaker: Jim Nau, Ball Horticultural Company
Every year the world’s breeders introduce a wide range of new plant introductions and this year is no exception. This presentation will cover a number of the latest including; annuals, perennials, vegetables, plus a few surprises. Information will include heights and sun/shade tolerance.
This program will be presented by Jim Nau, Corporate Archivist and Cultural Advisor for Ball Horticultural Company.
For 34 years, Jim Nau managed the greenhouses and gardens of the Ball Horticultural Company in West Chicago, Illinois. He is celebrating his 36th year during 2018. His current role is Curator of the Ball Horticultural Archives and Cultural Advisor to the Ball Horticultural Company.
Jim graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in horticulture and business. He is a Past President and judge for All America Selections as well the Past President of the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG). Jim is the recipient of the Perennial Plant Association’s Garden Media Award winner and has been a keynote speaker for Cultivate as well as several other Greenhouse Conferences. In addition, Jim received the Medallion of Honor award from All America Selections for Outstanding Achievement in Horticulture.
Growing and gardening are a passion with Jim. Cooking is also a passion. Besides his own cooking, he is a chili judge in the western suburbs of Chicago, tasting 16-20 chili’s at a time and evaluating cooks all over the Midwest.
Tags: Ball Seed, Jim Nau