The West Chicago Garden Club

The West Chicago Garden Club is sponsoring the first Wonderful Gardens of West Chicago contest. Do you love gardening? Have you spent your spare time recreating the Garden of Eden in your own back yard? Enter our contest to be recognized for your efforts. Gardens will be judged in the areas of small residential (1/2 acre or less), larger residential (more than 1/2 acre), special garden feature (i.e. pond garden, entryway garden, deck, etc.), and commercial property.

Gardens with a West Chicago postal address are eligible to enter. Judging will be on Friday, June 19th, 2009. Residential and commercial entry forms with contest rules will be available at the West Chicago City Hall, the West Chicago Public Library, the West Chicago Park District office, the West Chicago City Museum, and from Carole Bates at (630) 293-4953. Prizes will be awarded in each category. Entries must be received by June 1st, 2009.

– Click to Download the Residential Entry Form

– Click to Download the Commercial Entry Form

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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There was “joy in Whoville” and there was also much joy in the club meeting room at Faith Community Church on October 23rd while our members, led by Karen Caldwell, highly renowned and talented historian/artist of THE GOURD, were making their very own birdhouse treasures.

This Gourd Lady, as I will affectionately call her, came all the way from Worth, IL to visit us. As a member of the Illinois Gourd Society, she competes regularly with fellow artists in that venue. Karen is an artist, first and foremost by nature. Through her world travels and life journey though, she has come to revere the history and longevity of the lowly gourd. The Lagenaria type of gourd forms a hard shell similar to wood when it dries – only harder – thus the longevity. This knowledge sparked another avenue for the artist – that of carving and creating works of art from these gourds. Thus, forming her own business: LaDeDa Gourds. Continue Reading »