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

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)

Autumn is Great for Landscaping

Along with the milder temperatures and beauty of fall comes an excellent opportunity for landscaping for your yard. The cooler weather is a signal for plants to stop growing new shoots and leaves above ground, but not below. Trees and shubs continue to extend their root systems, making fall an ideal time to plant. The cool weather reduces the risk of ‘transplant shock’, or dieback, giving newly installed plants the time to acclimate themselves to their new home and set out new feeder roots before winter arrives. As the soil temperature cools and seasonal rain adds moisture, plants continue to establish themselves. This means that new plantings are less reliant on you (or your irrigation system) for their watering needs when next summer rolls around.

Trees, shrubs, and perennials planted in fall have plenty of time to develop before the wintry weather sets in. When the long, cold winter ends, you will have a new look in your garden and your plants will be ready to embark on a new season of growth.

The fall season is also great for landscaping with spring flowering plants. Because they set their buds the season prior to the flower, fall-planted trees and shrubs will display their glory in the spring season in your garden. A few of our spring-flowering favorites are Crabapples, Redbuds, Serviceberry, Azalea and Viburnum. Or, add to your garden’s fall display by choosing Maples, Cherries, Burning Bush or Sweetspire.

Autumn is also a terrific time to install the new patio or walkway you’ve been thinking about. With the addition of a new patio or sitting area, you can expand your outdoor living space and enjoy the wonderful fall season the Midwest has to offer, as well as having the use of your new space when spring arrives.

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.

Try Something New

Every so often, every gardener gets the urge to try something new and very different. Lavishly illustrated nursery catalogs and garden books as well as trips to the Chicago Botanic Garden feed our hunger to grow the most beautiful plants we can find.

As in all aspects of life, we can’t have everything we see and want. The trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals that we see in books and catalogs are stunningly beautiful because they are growing in the right place, in the right climate and the right soil conditions. Plants that will knock your eyes out in Cape Cod, South Carolina or Oregon may be very disappointing or impossible to grow in the Chicago area.

Good gardeners and professional landscapers are very knowledgeable about which plants do best in a particular location. The ideal plant grown in an ideal environment will give maximum performance, which is what we all want. On the other hand, an overly cautious approach may restrict new plantings to a very short list.

Happily, you don’t have to feel confined. It is possible to select trees and shrubs that are both unusual and will do well in our area’s gardens. These plants are not bizarre oddities. They really deserve to be much more popular, but have been overlooked in favor of more well-known types.

One of the challenges of good garden design is to provide a setting where in such special plants can be noticed and appreciated. These unfamiliar beauties are likely to become your favorites:

White Fringetree Chionanthus virginicus flowers beautifully for about two weeks in late May or early June. The word “fringe” describes the unusual, long, fine, fleecy and fragrant flowers that hang profusely in clusters called panicles. Its somewhat lustrous green leaves turn yellow in the fall. During September, dark blue berries that attract birds appear amidst the foliage. 12-15′

Kousa Dogwood Cornus kousa x florida is another exceptionally beautiful tree in late spring. We think the Rutgers hybrids called ‘Aurora’, ‘Constellation’ and ‘Milky Way’ are some of the best hybrids. The actual flower the Kousa Dogwood bears is small, but the beauty is in the four 1 ½”-2″ creamy white bracts that surround it. The flowers appear in June and last for up to six weeks, rising over the foliage to display their full beauty. The flowering effect can be so dense that very little foliage shows through. Its dark green leaves give a prolonged display of scarlet color in the fall, together with red fruit resembling raspberries. When the tree matures, its bark shows varied colors of gray, tan, and brown as it exfoliates. These hybrids are resistant to the diseases that affect traditional dogwoods. 20-25′

Lavender Twist Redbud Cercis Canadensis ‘Covey’ is an unusual small tree with a weeping habit, contorted branches, bright lavender-pink blooms in early spring that give way to large heart shaped leaves. Small in stature but substantial in impact, it’s the perfect focal point near an entry or by a patio, offering four seasons of interest. 8-10′

Sullivan Falsecypress Chamaecyparis nootkanensis ‘Sullivan’ is a beautiful pyramidal evergreen that has the special characteristic of shade tolerance. Full but narrow, its leaves are soft to the touch, similar to an Arborvitae, and when in bloom, miniscule seeds on its tips turn a striking red. An excellent alternative to Eastern Hemlock, which often loses foliage and looks leggy with age. 15-20′

Seven Son Flower Tree Heptacodium planatoides is a tough, exotic beauty, a fast-growing, salt-tolerant ornamental tree offering a long bloom period and winter interest. In late summer, its tiered branches bloom with long-lasting white flowers that fade to reveal bright orange-pink calyxes that persist well into fall. Beautiful exfolitating bark offers added interest in winter as well. It can be trained as a tree or a shrub. 15-30′

Three-flowered Maple Acer triflorum is another exceptional specimen tree with multi-season interest, especially during the fall, when leaves turn brilliant orange red. When planted in full sun it keeps a compact habit; in shade, a spreading one. 20-25′

Paperbark Maple Acer Griseum is a slow-growing, small ornamental tree with a lovely round habit. It is noted for its cinnamon colored bark, which exfoliates in thin strips. In fall, leaves turn a beautiful crimson red. Excellent winter interest. 20′

Columnar Hornbeam Carpinus columnaris ‘Frans Fontaine’ is a long-lived, handsome tree with small, glossy, serrated leaves, a strong vertical trunk and a narrow habit (only 5′ wide), making it ideal for screening in tight spaces or acting as a single specimen in a small space. It can be sheared into a hedge or topiary as it is slow-growing. Leaves turn gold in the fall. Full sun to part shade. 20′

Columnar White Pine Pinus strobus ‘Fastigiata’ is a hardy pine native to the eastern part of the country. Its long, delicate, evergreen needles and narrow habit lend a soft yet stately air to any landscape. Great for screening or as a specimen in tight spaces. Full sun. 20-30′

Contorted Filbert Corylus avellana is far from your average garden variety shrub, with its twisting branches and crispy, curly dark green leaves. In early spring it bears weeping yellow flower clusters. In the summer, covered with leaves, it appears shapeless and moplike, but in the fall it sheds its leaves to reveal a dramatic silhouette through winter. 12-15′

If you’d like to see these and other plant possibilities, it’s a great time to walk through our nursery at 2000 Greenleaf Street, Evanston. Our knowledgeable staff can answer any questions you may have about selecting something new and different for your garden.

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

Hardy Hollies

If you have a partly shady area in a sheltered location that could use some medium-sized, interesting evergreens, why not break away from commonly used Yews. Try using Hollies instead. With glossy green leaves providing  foliage and textural interest, plus colorful berries for a festive winter show, Holly makes for a great choice.

In the Holly family there are many species, both evergreen and deciduous.
Being monoecious (plants being either male or female), both sexes need to be
planted together to bear fruit. Usually one male holly will pollinate 4 to 6 female hollies. 

Evergreen hollies do best in partial shade and in a sheltered site away from
drying winds. Hollies prefer moist, well-drained, acid soil rich in organic matter.
A 3” layer of shredded hardwood bark will help maintain soil temperature and
moisture. Make sure your Hollies receive at least an inch of water per week until frost as they will not tolerate drought.

Blue Princess w/ berries

Blue Holly (Ilex x meserve) is the best evergreen holly we have found for this area, with glossy, dark green foliage tinted with a bluish overcast. Bark on young twigs is a colorful purplish brown. Blue Hollies are great for along the foundation, around a patio or in a shrub border. ‘Blue Prince’ and ‘Blue Princess’ mature at 4’.