A Nearby, Noteworthy Garden Gem

The Shakespeare Garden in the 1930s.

Are you aware of a hidden garden gem located on the Northwestern University campus in Evanston, or of its historical significance?

This garden, a project of The Garden Club of Evanston, was established in 1915 to celebrate the ties between England and America. It also commemorated the 300^th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death.

The Shakespeare Garden was designed by Jens Jensen, the renowned Danish-American landscape architect and conservationist who had an office in Ravinia. It is one of only two formal gardens that he designed. All of the trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and herbs in it were plants mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays. The 70- by 100-foot space contains flowers, shrubs, trees and herbs well-suited to our Midwestern climate, such as old roses, hollies, daffodils, nasturtiums and rosemary. 

The garden is maintained to this day by The Garden Club of Evanston.

The garden features plants mentioned in Shakespeare's plays.

Use this link to find out more about this urban oasis.

www.northwestern.edu/observer/issues/2004-10-07/garden.html

It’s time to Plant Spring-Flowering Bulbs

Celebrate this coming spring with a fall installation of flowering bulbs.

Nature’s Perspective offers a distinctive assortment of quality Tulips, Daffodils, Alliums and minor bulbs, professionally installed for natural appearance and visual impact. You may choose from our updated 2009 Bulb Selection Form, viewable online at www.naturesperspective.com. Or, your salesperson can also recommend a bulb arrangement that would compliment your existing plantings and home’s architecture.

Substitutions are made based on availability, so place your order before October 1 for the best selection.

 Call us at 847-475-7917 and we can send you an order form or print one directly form our website by clicking here. 

Plant Minor Bulbs for Spring Color, Deer/Rabbit Resistance

The most commonly used spring flowering bulbs are the ‘major bulbs’ such as daffodils, tulips and hyacinths. However, there is a whole group of ‘minor bulbs’ that provide such reliable color that most gardens would benefit from including them when planning for early spring color. The bulbs are tiny and the plants are small, rarely more than six inches in height, so a large number of bulbs are needed in order to make a visual impact.

The term ‘bulb’ includes a variety of plants with a large storage root (or stem) from which the plant grows every year. These little wonders of nature require only moisture and rising temperatures to end their dormancy and begin to grow. This means that bulbs are generally an easy and fool-proof garden plant. Minor bulbs also tend to be very resistant to deer and rabbit damage.

Minor bulbs should be planted during the fall, in drifts or masses, about 3”-4” deep. They can be planted in flower beds or shrub beds where they’ll emerge and bloom before the perennials get started and before deciduous plants leaf out.

Some of the prettiest minor bulbs, listed in order of the appearance in a garden, are:

Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) Snowdrops do well in our area and emerge very early. The small three-segmented, drooping white flowers are 5” tall and stand out dramatically above their silver-green foliage. (March)

Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) is another early bloomer. The solitary, yellow buttercup-shaped flowers grow 6” tall and are surrounded by bright green bracts that look like a collar around the blossom. (March)

Glory of the Snow (Chionodoxas) are low growing plants, reaching 4-6” high with grass-like leaves that appear the same time as the flowers. The blue star shaped flowers face upwards and has a central white eye, lasting two weeks or more. (March/April)

Crocus (Crocus) naturalize exceptionally well, creating an expanding carpet of bright colors as the years go by. Their purples, lavenders, whites and yellows are a clear signal that spring in on its way. These are the only minor bulbs that we’ve listed that the rabbits eat. (March/April)

Scilla (Scilla siberica), also called ‘Squill’, this vivid blue flower is about 5” tall. You can see some strikingly beautiful and very large drifts in many North Shore gardens where they have been naturalizing for many years. Some varieties are available in pink and white, but the blues are spring time knock-outs. (April)

Windflower (Anemone) is a charming border plant with daisy-like flowers that comes in a variety of blues, pinks, violets and white. The foliage resembles parsley and the plant stands about 6” tall. (April)

Grape Hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum) is the largest of the minor bulbs with tiny deep blue flowers densely clustered like miniature grapes on a firm stalk. The flower cluster is about 5” long and the plant grows to 7” or 8”. They are long lasting and produce a striking effect when planted in drifts. (April-May)

Hooray For Hydrangeas!

It’s Hydrangea season! Almost everywhere you look at this time of year you’ll see one kind or another of the Hydrangea family in glorious bloom. Hydrangea is an old fashioned plant with many new and improved cultivars. Some do well in shade, some prefer sun, but all of them bloom during the summer months, bringing pleasure to us at a time when we are likely to be relaxing in our own garden.

These are the ones we recommend:

An Endless Summer and an Annabelle.

Annabelle Hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ bears white snowball flowers that open white, fade to green, then pink, then brown. Best in shade. 3-5′

Endless Summer Hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Endless Summer’ bears mounded, mophead clusters that are blue in acidic soil or pink in alkaline soil from July thru October. An annual addition of sulfur or chelated iron brings out the blue color. Best in some shade. 3′

A young Oakleaf in the fall.

Oakleaf Hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia is native to the US, and bears white cone shaped flowers, with gorgeous foliage shaped like–you guessed it– oak leaves (the photo at right shows a young Oakleaf; the oak leaf shape takes form after about two years). An added bonus: leaves turn a fantastic purplish red in the fall. Best in part to full shade. 3-5′

A hedge of Limelights.

Limelight Hydrangea Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’ bears green cone shaped flowers that open white, turn green, then fade to pink-but all colors may be on the plant at the same time. Very showy! Best in full sun. 4-7′

Tardiva Hydrangea needs room to grow.

The “hydra” in the word hydrangea gives you an idea of what kind of care this plant requires. Water often. If the leaves are looking wilted, it’s become very thirsty. A hydrangea that receives lots of water in the spring (a crucial time when the buds are setting) will reward you with more flowers in the summer.

Look around your garden… sunny or shady, there is a special place for at least one of these summer beauties.

Moon Gardens

Early Risers and Sleepy Heads

Early Risers

Some perennials grow best in the cooler temperatures of spring and fall. They are called cool season perennials. They are starting to show up and will be blooming soon! Some came through the winter with attractive foliage. Helleborus and Bergenia are good examples of this. Pulmonaria (Lungwort), Dianthus (Pinks), Dicentra (Bleeding Heart) and Aquilegia (Columbine) are all early to emerge and flower.

Some ornamental grasses are early risers and have started to grow. Cool season grasses begin to grow as winter starts to slip away and have bright green foliage by early spring. Festuca (Fescue), Carex (Sedge), Calamagrostis (Feather Reed Grass) are in this early group.

As for annuals, Pansies, Stock, Snapdragons and Nemisa are cool season annuals that can be planted now for early color displays. All of these are especially great for containers.

Sleepy Heads

Some perennials take their time coming out of winter dormancy. Give these plants time to emerge before you declare them dead and dig them up for replacement.

Warm season grasses are late to emerge in the spring. They begin to grow actively when temperatures are consistently warm. Miscanthus (Chinese Silver Grass), Pennisetum (Fountain Grass) and Panicum (Switch Grass) are all warm season grasses.

First Impressions Are Important

A Clemson University investigation discovered that landscaping achieves more than a 100% return on investment. This return is of course contingent upon the quality of the work done. Landscapes that are installed competently and professionally distinguish themselves. A well-designed landscape increases in value over time.

‘Landscaping is one of the few improvements that adds more value to real estate property than it costs to install’. (Landscape-America.com)

Landscaping improves that crucial first impression a buyer gets when viewing your home. Creating an attractive, inviting appearance is a great way to reach out to potential buyers.

To enhance curb appeal:

Add a 3” – 4” layer of natural, shredded hardwood bark mulch to define and beautify planting beds, condition soil, minimize weeds and reduce the need for watering. Avoid the bargain cypress mulches readily found at discount stores, which tend to give an unnatural, garish look, or the spray-painted mulches, which are not good for the environment.

Add cheer and color to your home by installing pockets of annual flowers and bulbs to flank front entry walks. Fill urns near the front door with seasonal interest plantings. Tulips and Pansies are reliable choices for spring, Petunias and Begonias are just a few of many summer annuals available, Kale and Mums look great in fall, and evergreen boughs, redtwig dogwood branches, winterberry holly and eucalyptus pods bring much-needed color to the starkness of winter.

Concentrate your efforts in the front of your property. It’s the first impression prospective buyers get. A neglected, unattractive landscape can give the impression the home is also neglected.

Paint with a varied plant palette, using suitably-sized trees and shrubs in excellent condition.  A combination of evergreens and flowering plants give a dynamic look in all seasons. Using one or two of the same kind of plants won’t do much to bring attention to your home, and using landscape plants that are too small in relation to the scale of the house tend to emphasize a sparseness in your landscaping.

Consider landscape lighting to accentuate your home’s architecture, to direct views and illuminate walkways. Professionally installed landscape lighting brings attention to the best parts of your home at night and accentuates your garden in the evening hours.

Planning to sell your house this year? Landscaping is a practical and cost-effective way to prepare for the prime selling season ahead.

A beautiful landscape can express your personality and enhance the architecture of your home. Updating your landscaping is a home improvement that will bring  you joy and increase the value of your home.

Visit our on-line portfolio of landscape photos at naturesperspective.com