The West Chicago Garden Club

In an article entitled “Interesting Shrubs” published in the May 1939 Bulletin, publication of The Garden Clubs of America, the witch hazel and fothergilla are extolled for their hardiness and ornamental value. That opinion is echoed by gardeners and horticultural experts today. The American Gardener magazine, official publication of the American Horticultural Society, Nov/Dec 2012 issue, has an extensive article on “Enchanting Witch Hazels”. The author says “few shrubs pack more punch in the winter landscape than witch hazels, which bear delicate fragrant flowers on a sculptural frame of bare branches”. Large, low maintenance shrubs are valuable structural additions to any garden. This time of year the value of garden bones (trees & shrubs) are evident and the Kruse Garden could use a few more bones to fill out the skeleton. A fothergilla shrub was added to the back garden a few years ago and it is doing well, but we don’t have any witch hazels.  Both of these shrubs have 3 season interest with early spring flowers to fabulous fall color. It’s apparent that a shrub recommendation that endures for 75 years is solid bet. We’re convinced that a witch hazel would be a grand addition to the back garden! Continue Reading »

Our Garden Club will once again be supporting garden maintenance at the Kruse House Museum Garden. We started this project back in 1998 when this club was resurrected from dormant status by some ingenious Historical Society members. The Garden C lub has invested many hours and dollars over the years and the garden has evolved into a very fine garden. We are confident that the Kruse family would be proud that it is still a garden enjoyed by the community. Their intent was to preserve a snippet of their lives; thus the property was donated to the Historical Society in the 1960s. The gardens were always important to them. It was only in their later years they were unable to maintain the grounds in the fine style they were accustomed to. The revived garden has matured to where it currently ‘gives back’. We are able to dig quite a number of plants for our annual plant sale. Continue Reading »

Last November I bought my first amaryllis bulb, not knowing how easy it would be to grow and how much I’d enjoy it, all the way through April when it rebloomed! Here are some tips (courtesy of U of I Extension Service) if you’ve never tried it:

“When buying a bulb, select one that is at least 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Smaller bulbs will not bloom. Larger bulbs (4 inches) produce better, often developing two flower stalks instead of one. Make sure the bulbs are firm and free of soft spots and discoloration.

Plant the bulbs in a container that has drainage holes. The container should be about two inches bigger in diameter than the bulb. The planting mix should drain well; an equal mix of peat and perlite would be suitable. Plant so that about one third of the bulb shows above the soil level. After planting, the planting mix should be thoroughly watered. Keep the mix consistently moist. The mix should not be saturated. Do not water over the nose of the bulb. If water seeps into the bulb, it may cause it to rot. Continue Reading »