Craig's Summer Letter

Dear Fellow Garden Friends,

With the onset of our gardens myriad of verdant shades of green, grey and burgundy foliage, I am reminded of how much foliage effect is key to almost every garden design.

Along with this expansion we have added new faces in our design, garden care, nursery, and administrative departments. Our Nora Kennedy has advanced to assist Russ Buvala, our head gardener, with our ever-growing Garden Care department needs. Like a good garden, we keep on growing and refining our mission.

The spring light in combination with the new growth from the boxwood and yews just adds a whole new color spectrum, though fleeting in the effect. I’m so happy we have had a real spring to enjoy this with lower than normal temperatures and overcast skies until June.

With the canopy trees fully leafed out now, our new greenhouse (just finished in June) is nestled in a mysterious, ever-changing shadow pattern taking me to a place inspired by a tropical rainforest canopy. Our Australian tree ferns, orchids, bromeliads, and begonias are nestled around and in this secret sanctuary. I can tell the greenhouse is doing its job because I find myself drawn to it throughout the day and in my daydreams – a great getaway without leaving town!

We now have 2 good months since our merger with VanLanduyt Landscaping under our belts. It has been exciting and rewarding to expand our installation department and we are more than busy this year – Thank God!

Along with this expansion we have added new faces in our design, garden care, nursery, and administrative departments. Our Nora Kennedy has advanced to assist Russ Buvala, our head gardener, with our ever-growing Garden Care department needs. Like a good garden, we keep on growing and refining our mission.

We are expanding our heritage rose collection in the Gardens at 900 of over 30 varieties on the property now. We have always (and continue to be indebted to) had our dear rosarian consultant, Gregg Lowery from Sebastopol, California of Vintage Gardens’ fame. Gregg has been with us since the early 1990’s, guiding our collective and propagating of strong hardy and worthy, heritage varieties for our challenging climate. These old varieties continually remind us that new isn’t necessarily better, far from it. When one thinks of what a rose should provide in a garden beyond the obvious flush of flower.

We hosted a wonderful event at our Gardens at 900 with the Lake Forest Garden Club and The Garden Clubs of America in mid-June. With old roses ablaze, we met with Andrew Wilson, the Founding Director of the London College of Garden Design, to preserve a conversation with me for the GCA’s website for all to view. Later that day, Andrew and I sat on a panel discussion with Meredith Simpson, of Oudolf Garden Detroit and Laura Ekasetya, North American agent for the Piet Oudolf Collection, moderated by Fred Spicer, EVP and Director of the Chicago Botanic Garden. We conversed about many garden and life passions, quite colorfully I must say. This, followed by cocktails and an intimate dinner in the garden, was a perfect way to start our summer garden events season. We look forward to many such an evening with new and old friends!

May your early Summer days in the garden be fragrant, floral, and frequent with those you know and need to know. Remember all good gardeners share what they have, share what they know and always will tell you the garden was “almost perfect” a week ago before your visit.

Wish you all, good green thoughts!

Always,
Craig