Moonlight garden

The influence of others can help us in many ways. A glimmer of hope can be seen when before we only saw despair. Encouragement in the form of a smile can change the trajectory of one’s day. Others can help us see things from a different perspective. Annie, my puppy, has helped me see the beauty in darkness. We spend time each evening, well after the sun has set, outside. While in the past, I would have spent that time staring at a screen, I now stare at the beauty nature has to offer under the stars.

Gardening myths explained

For the past few days big black ants have been crawling on the floor of my office. I have been putting up with the presence of the ants because I thought they were needed to open the beautiful peony buds right outside my office window. It turns out though that it is a myth that ants are needed to open the flower buds on peonies. Ants, while can often be found on peonies, are not needed for the buds to open. Peonies buds can open on their own. This and several other gardening myths will be busted in today’s column.

#Plantsdothat

Sometimes it seems that negativity surrounds us. News outlets consistently report on the number of shootings the previous 24 hours, online posts glorify what in the past would have been considered by some inappropriate behavior and forecasters doom and gloom with respect to the weather and inflation. As humans our behavior tends to lead us to complain more than we express our gratitude. With all of this pessimism it is immensely gratifying to know that there is a group that works incredibly hard to support creativity and innovation as it relates to environmental, social and economic issues.

An interview with the Huntley Park District

For almost 60 years, the Huntley Park District has been a true community treasure. The 28 acres donated by Mr. Edwin Deicke in the 1960’s has grown to 175 acres that currently make up 15 parks. Tens of thousands of people of all ages have enjoyed spending time in the parks as well as facilities such as Cosman Cultural Center and Stingray Bay. Wesley Peete, the Director of Parks and Facilities, has graciously agreed to share some of his knowledge about the parks with our readers.

Birds play a substantial part in keeping our ecosystem healthy. They pollinate plants, disperse seeds, control pests, act as an early warning system for the spread of disease, distribute nutrients, protect wetlands and much more. So much more that they are considered crucial for people and the planet to thrive. Preserving bird diversity helps everyone.

Secret garden: how tiny plants can reinvent your indoors

Caring for houseplants has always been a bit of a struggle for me. This winter, I have tried to educate myself as to how to care for them properly. Thankfully I found the book Tiny Plants: Discover the joys of growing and collecting itty-bitty houseplants by Leslie Halleck. It is a mix of beautiful pictures, funny observations and wonderful advice. For this column, I am interviewing the author.

Let’s do ‘Plants’ for $400

For this column, I thought it might be fun to have a gardening themed trivia game.

Tree of life: remembering loved ones through nature

Recently the world stopped, or at least slowed down, to mourn the loss of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Her death, and indeed her life, was a tribute to those around the globe whom she served. It is estimated that 11.4 million people in the United States alone watched her funeral on television. It was the single most watched event in television history.

It’s not easy being green

As a business owner, mom, and wife, my days can be quite busy. Each day is filled with errands, meeting with homeowners, consulting with employees, working in the office and working around the home. One business that I frequently stop in has an ‘easy’ button very close to the counter. It is so tempting to grab the button and just for a moment pretend that by pressing that button, my day would suddenly become less stressful and less hectic.

Room with a view: gardening to give your window a glow-up

On Monday, March 23, 2020, Barbara Duriau started a Facebook group. Our world was quickly becoming very narrow because of the pandemic related lockdowns. Barbara took a picture of the view from her apartment in Amsterdam, Netherlands and posted it on the ‘View from my window’ Facebook group. Within 23 days, over 1 million people were posting pictures that were taken from their own windows. By day 34, 2 million people were able to virtually travel to France, Italy, Australia, Spain, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, Monaco, and Vatican City because they were part of the Facebook Group ‘View from my window.’ As is frequently the case, I was a bit late to the party.

Interview with Meredith Simpson: Oudulf Garden

As the 10th largest state in the United States, Michigan possesses a large amount of natural resources. From wetlands to sand dunes, from forests to lakes and rivers all are just waiting for us to explore and enjoy. One of the state’s natural resources is called Oudolf Garden.

To bee or not to bee?

Tonight, like most nights, Chris, my husband, made us a delicious dinner. A fresh salad and chicken quesadillas were enjoyed by my daughter, my son and me. Strawberry Baked Alaska, compliments of my daughter, Sarah were served for dessert. This morning we enjoyed coffee and fresh baked blueberry muffins for breakfast. While we all appreciate each other’s time and talents in the kitchen, none of it would be possible if not for the bees and other pollinators. The tomatoes, blueberries, strawberries, cucumbers, green peppers, jalapeños and even the coffee that nourish our bodies were only harvested after pollinating insects helped to produce them.

Weeding between the lines: How to cultivate your lawn

After the drought last year, the rain this year has been a welcome relief. With the rain, though, has come a proliferation of weeds throughout planting beds and lawns. Although I don’t abide by the belief that a lawn has to be completely free of weeds, a well-kept lawn and maintained planting beds do enhance the look of a property and lead to more enjoyment from its owners.

There are no strict guidelines of what is a weed or what is an acceptable plant. A plant that is growing where it is not wanted is considered a weed. Weeds, when given the opportunity, multiply, often stealing nutrients and moisture from the soil, from other more desirable plants. They can crowd out good plants resulting in the stunted growth of the good plants.

Reducing your utilities bills naturally

Natural gas prices are at an all-time high. In May of 2021, the average price of natural gas in Northern Illinois was 53 cents per therm. By May 2022, that price had risen to 111 cents per therm. This is a 109% increase. ComEd recently proposed a 199-million-dollar rate increase for 2023. We depend upon natural gas to heat our homes, electricity to run our appliances, and our utility bills continue to escalate.

What’s new in 2022

New, for many, represents exciting, different, a chance to try again. A new haircut just waiting to be admired, a new page in the calendar ready to be filled in or even simply a bright new day just waiting to be enjoyed.

Each year brings a whole new set of plants that are introduced to gardeners across the United States. Hybridizers devote years and indeed sometimes their entire lives developing new plants.