Our clients, a busy couple who reside in a unique historic home, wished to reclaim their garden, which had become overgrown. They envisioned a private outdoor space with beautiful views for relaxing and dining outdoors, gathering around a fire, raising vegetables and potting flowers. The home was originally built in 1894 as a gardener's [...]
With summer in full swing, everything is lush and green outside. How is your garden growing? If it's in need of something that's bolder and more interesting than the ubiquitous hosta or daylily, consider adding a large perennial with presence. These summer beauties stand out not only for their height and their flowers or [...]
Summer vacation is quickly approaching, and for many, it’s already here! We love creating lush landscapes that beckon everyone outside, but we also love helping our clients create outdoor living rooms. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite features of an outdoor living room to inspire you. Fire Feature On a [...]
The freezing temperatures over the holidays have kept many indoors, but as the temperatures rise a bit, we encourage you to step outside and spot some plants with winter interest. If your garden could use some, consider the following selections with plenty to offer. ORNAMENTAL TREES Renaissance Reflection Paper Birch. Image credit: Rotary Botanic [...]
Drainage issues in the backyard created problems for our clients. A rainstorm would leave the backyard flooded for days, meaning their children couldn’t play outside without getting completely muddy. The soggy backyard, paired with the family’s small deck, didn’t offer much opportunity for the family to enjoy their outdoor space. Our clients wanted a play [...]
Living in the Northern Chicago suburbs means abundant parks and forest preserves along with various critters ready to snack on our gardens. Here are six deer- and rabbit-resistant shrubs that will discourage them from feasting on your plants. Deer and rabbits dislike Butterflies Diervilla (Diervilla sessilifolia ‘Butterfly’), although butterflies and hummingbirds enjoy its sweet-tasting yellow flowers [...]
Our clients were renovating the exterior of their charming 1894 Victorian home situated on a corner lot, located in the historic district of Evanston. They wished to reclaim their private space, which was a long and narrow, sloped side yard with a worn, three-terraced patio. One had to step outside and walk around the house [...]
Tulips are available in a wide variety of colors. This past spring, if you noticed some areas in your garden that could have used some color and cheerfulness, now is the time to do something about it. Fall is the best time to plan and plant for spring-flowering bulbs. Our convenient bulb service delivers, arranges [...]
A bird-friendly garden can be beautiful as well as functional. These visitors add another living dimension to the garden. It is possible to attract a variety of species to the garden throughout the year in the Chicago region. Birds have four major habitat needs: water, food, cover, and a place to raise their young. Water Birds require [...]
Is there an area in your yard that lacks interest? Is there an area in your yard that just won’t grow healthy grass? Is your parkway uninspiring? This spring, instead of spending another year dissatisfied with it, consider filling this space with grass alternatives. By using lesser known groundcovers and ornamental grasses, these spaces can be [...]