The West Chicago Garden Club

These ideas may not be new to you, but practicing them can make a real difference!

• Water less frequently, but more deeply. This is not only better for the plants, but a more efficient use of our water resources.
• Incorporating native plants into at least part of the landscape is advantageous because they’re less disease-prone, less likely to have insect problems, are more drought-tolerant due to deep root systems.
• Use “rain garden” type plants near downspouts to solve runoff problems.
• Recycling yard waste by composting provides a steady supply of nature’s fertilizer which mitigates PH problems as well as feeding the soil.
• Planting deciduous trees on the west and south sides of buildings can produce as much as a 10% difference in the energy used for heating and cooling.

Great Open Garden Party! A crowd of nearly 200 were delighted by the numerous attractions the event offered! It was a huge success and we want to say thanks to those who contributed to make our celebration in the garden fun! Heartfelt thanks to:

• Rosemary & Krista from the City’s Administrative Services for getting the ‘word out’
• Stan the ‘sign man’ for the great signs….gratis
• Tom, Angie, & Billie for prepping the gardens and demonstrating the crafts
• The Historical Society for setting up tables/chairs and providing house tours
• Garden club members for the baked goodies
• Carole & Linda for greeting guests
• Bonnie, Shirley, & Chris for serving
• To all our guests for showing up and having fun

If we have inadvertently failed to mention your contribution, our sincere apologies! And please give us a nudge to let us know. Continue Reading »

This year’s trip was attended by a small but select group of eight WCGC members. Our first stop was in Elwood (south of Joliet). We visited the delightful garden of Betty Nahas. Betty’s garden is divided into a number of “rooms” that supply delightful surprises as one enters each. Betty’s one acre property supplies the opportunity to display a large variety of sun and shade perennials in optimal conditions. While the garden contained beautiful specimens of many species, a Japanese ornamental Willow of extraordinary size and beauty stands out in my mind.

Our next stop was in Monee at the Possibility Place nursery. The nusery specializes in native perennials, woodies, and trees; many of their offerings are difficult to find at most conventional nurseries. We had our lunch on their patio and then were treated to a tour of their facilities by one of the sons of owner Conner Shaw. We were treated to an overview of a number of natives and were surprised by a number of facts supplied by our host including his observation that most of the half dozen Oak species that Possibility Place sells grow at the rate of two feet or more per year if sited and cared for correctly. The nursery employs innovative growing techniques that allow the trees and woodies to be transplanted with minimal transplant shock.

Our last stop was in Lemont at the home of John and Karen Grigas. Their two acre garden beautifully integrates native plants, sun perennials, a large vegetable garden and one of the largest and most impressive water features I have seen.