Summer

The Summer lull seemed to come early, along with rising temperatures and a lack of any meaningful rain.  August will soon be upon us, and contrary to popular belief, she would bestow a dynamic landscape of possibility and change.  And opportunity is a knocking. Late Summer provides ideal conditions to…

The clouds gave chase and rushed overhead as the wind swirled and roiled, ratting each leaf and limb.  Petals littered the ground like confetti while immature acorns tumbled freely. The landscape seemed almost celebratory in the wake of much needed rain. Nature is dynamic and adept at change.  Plants come…

Weighted down with the heavily perfumed blooms of early Summer, the Linden’s boughs, like a Southern Belle’s hoop skirt, seemed in full curtsy.  She was decadent and lavish, but it wasn’t long before she began to slump and shed her regalia in an effort to conserve her beauty and vigor….

Every flower awaited its turn, like an eager dance partner, as the bees flitted and twirled amongst them. Summer’s arrival finds our gardens and landscapes in full bloom.  It’s no coincidence that Summer’s arrival coincides with National Pollinator Week.  A wonderful time to revisit the importance of pollinators and how…

The Coreopsis bloomed above the garden as if they were floating, like tiny orbs of sunlight sprung out of the soil.  They were proud, boastful, lovely, and happy, yet below them in the grassy expanses lurked an invader.  Welcome the grub worm. Grub worms are the larvae, children, if you…

The delicate, silvery strand caught a splinter of light, momentarily shimmering and glistening in the early summer sun.  As the wind began to roil and swirl, the spider’s silk became untethered, taking flight upon the breeze.  An almost invisible moment became apparent.  A shared secret to keep. What surely is…

Spring finally seemed to settle in, yet the promise of rain has gone almost entirely unfulfilled.  Her once dewy, fresh face began to grow sallow and somber under the lack of meaningful moisture. It’s not even Summer yet, and we find ourselves in the early stages of drought. As season’s…

  The bee floated amongst the flowers, hovering and bouncing between the blooms, landing and lingering upon only the most appealing.  He made several passes, returning to some, while ignoring others.  He seemed discerning in his quest, much like today’s home buyer. Landscaping, or the lack thereof, can help or…

The sun dappled and danced upon the lawn as it beamed through the lush canopy.  Although temperatures have been mostly mild, the sun is still a major factor in our yards and gardens, even if we don’t always feel her warmth.  In fact, it is the most essential element in…

  With Mother’s Day fast approaching, our “safe” planting date has finally arrived!  This generally marks the beginning of warming temperatures, which in turn means my outside exposure gradually begins to decrease as temperatures and humidity rise.  When I do find myself outside, I tend to seek out the cool,…

The landscape lay beleaguered, drunk on the sun’s rays and summer heat.  She was beginning to blush and mature in the ripened light of August’s sun, and there was a palpable shift in the air. The winds of change are upon us as our attention begins to turn from Summer…

Sweet, tender Summer was becoming a bit more brazen and fierce as desiccated leaves scraped and scratched their way along the ground.  Although not technically in a drought, DuPage County and much of Illinois are experiencing abnormally dry conditions.  Granted, we haven’t had much measurable rain since early Summer/late Spring,…