OCT.25 Landscape Illinois Magazine DIGITAL EDITION
Photo Credits
Awards Committee 1, 8-9,
Rick Reuland 10, 12
Nina Koziol 22-23, 61
Maggie Thomas Harper 26-30
Heather Prince 36-40
Clarence Davids& Co. 42-50
Kevin Donnelly 56-57
Northstar JCB 5 8-59
Mark Dwyer
The official publication of Landscape Illinois, — Landscape Illinois —The Magazine is dedicated to educating, advising and informing members of this industry and furthering the goals of the Association. Landscape Illinois — The Magazine carries news and features relating to landscape contracting, maintenance, design and allied interests. Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited material and reserves the right to edit any article or advertisement submitted for publication. Publication reserves right to refuse advertising not in keeping with goals of Association. www. LandscapeIllinois.org.
Volume 66, Number 10. Landscape Illinois — The Magazine (ISSN # 0194-7257, USPS # 476-490) is published monthly for $75.00 per year by: the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, 2625 Butterfield Road, Ste. 104S, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Periodicals postage paid at Oak Brook, IL and additional mailing offices. Printed in USA.
Postmaster: Send address changes to Landscape Illinois — The Magazine, 2625 Butterfield Road, Ste 104S, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Display Advertising Sales: Association Publishing Partners, Inc., Ph. (630) 637-8632; email: rmgi@comcast.net. Classified ads, Circulation and Subscription: Landscape Illinois (630) 472-2851 Fax (630) 472-3150 Editorial office: Association Publishing Partners, Inc., Naperville, IL
Executive Director
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Statewide Director of Development
Kellie Schmidt kschmidt@landscapeillinois.org
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AnneMarie Drufke adrufke@landscapeillinois.org
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Melissa Custic mcustic@landscapeillinois.org
Office Manager
Alycia Nagy anagy@landscapeillinois.org
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Marissa Stubler mstubler@landscapeillinois.org v
Landscape Illinois
2625 Butterfield Road Ste. 104S Oak Brook, IL 60523 (630) 472-2851 • Fax (630) 472-3150 www.landscapeillinois.org
National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows Belleville, IL
“A customer is never out of warranty, even if his product is.”
- Seth Godin, American Author — Javier Pascual Salcedo
Landscape Illinois held the third of its Design Unplugged events in August. This popular event is redefining the genre of professional panels. Normally, a moderator asks carefully curated questions that the panelists have all received ahead of time. The panelists give well-rehearsed answers that were carefully trimmed to fit inside the response time. The other panelists listen intently and nod along with the insight. This goes on for 45 minutes and we leave 10 minutes for some friendly Q&A. Design Unplugged doesn’t do it that way. Design Unplugged is punk rock.
At Design Unplugged, there are zero prepared questions. The panelists, all landscape designers, face the crowd with no idea what the 135 other designers are going to ask over the course of the next 60 minutes. Questions bounce from design sales to natives to AI to travertine pavers. The panelists shoot from the hip and are armed with only their own wisdom and experiences. The answers are never formulaic or wooden. The panelists themselves play jazz and riff off each other’s perspectives. This year, the panel featured Meagan Provencher from Wasco Nursery, Seth Dreier, from JMR Landscaping, and John Algozinni who recently retired from Hursthouse.
Federal Trade Commission was born to ensure that product claims matched results. During the Great Depression, power swung back to the buyer and expressed warranties were put in place. Over the past 50 years, as corporations have regained their political footing, warranties have become a business model. They are now sold as “extended warranties” to consumers who dare question if and when a product will fail. In summary, history has shown that the wider the gap grows between buyers and sellers, the result is weaker buyer protections.
The 4,000 year history of product warranties was not top of mind at Design Unplugged. The topic came up innocently enough. Meagan Provencher from Wasco Nursery casually mentioned Wasco offers a three-year warranty for trees and plant material they install, which includes replacement plants and replanting at no additional charge. The second panelist John Algozzini from Hursthouse said they do the same. The room fell silent. There were audible gasps. I mean, in the lives of plants and goldfish, there are lots of things that can go wrong over 1,000 days.
You’re Being Unreasonable
This year, one topic in particular took hold of the room. That topic was plant warranties.
For the record, I used to think plant warranties were Krazy with a capital K. It requires a great deal of cognitive dissonance to hear the horror stories about neglectful clients and then hear landscape installers bend at the knee to replace plants lost in those clients’ landscapes. I mean, nobody ever returns to the carnival and says, “My son won this goldfish and he died. What’s the deal?” That goldfish spent most of his short life in a plastic bag, got dumped into a dirty, unfiltered fish bowl, got fed potato chip crumbs, and then went home to his merciful resting place one week later. Carnival fish teach us early in life what happens to living things when we don’t take care of them. Landscapes are just the adult version.
It may sound melodramatic, but the story of warranties tells the story of human civilization. Thousands of years ago, when societies were trade-based, the covenant between a buyer and seller was supreme. If a seller sold a sick goat to a buyer, it would disrupt the social fabric and punishment was severe; ranging from usury, humiliation, torture, or death. As society grew, merchants needed to ensure quality from faraway lands. Warranties and insurance raised prices, but set merchants apart. The Middle Ages laid religion on top of the buyer-seller relationship. The pious nature of Medieval Europe could not fathom a merchant choosing to defy God by selling substandard products. Medieval Europe walked back buyer protections because it was assumed that the seller was more concerned with sin and the afterlife than the town magistrate. The Industrial Revolution pushed all the power to corporations. Warranties favored the sellers. Guilds and trade groups colluded to only offer warranties that covered the bare minimum. In 1914, the
An audience member incredulously questioned the idea of a three-year warranty. Meagan, in the sweetest way possible, mic-dropped this killer line, “Well, Wasco turns 100-years old this year so I guess we must be doing something right.”
The room roared with laughter. Another audience member asked, with a show of hands, what warranties this room full of design professionals offered. 80% of the room offered 1-year warranties, 15% offered 2-year warranties, and five brave souls offered 3-year warranties.
John and Meagan were asked to elaborate on their reasons why. Afterall, this was a safe space for design-sales professionals. Everyone in that room has a non-zero amount of contempt for clients. Clients don’t follow the watering guidelines. Clients don’t pay for a maintenance plan. Clients don’t care for the beds and let mulch pile up into a thick layer of plywood. John and Meagan both explained that their generous plant warranties have nothing to do with plants, they are about people. Three-year warranties are unreasonable and that’s the entire point.
One of my favorite books is “Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect” by Will Guidara. It’s available in every airport and is breezy enough to read on one roundtrip flight with a short layover. Unreasonable Hospitality is a business book told through the experiences of extreme fine dining at the New York City restaurant Eleven Madison Park (EMP). Dinner with a wine pairing at Eleven Madison Park will cost patrons about $600...per person. When it opened, the reservation wait list was 15,000 people.
Guidara takes a unique approach in his approach to fine dining. He barely mentions the food in Unreasonable Hospitality. In fact, he says his favorite restaurant is Shake Shack and can anyone really blame him? Guidara understands that the world is littered with places to eat with food prepared by temperamental geniuses who have studied at the finest culinary schools. No one will leave Eleven Madison Park disappointed in the food, but neither will they leave Shake Shack disappointed in the food. Fine dining requires something else. Guidara found his answer in his approach to hospitality. As Guidara puts it, “I believe that whatever you choose to do for a living,
you can choose to be in the hospitality business - you have the privilege of joining people as they celebrate the most joyful moments in their lives and the chance to offer them a brief moment of consolation and relief in the midst of the most difficult ones. We have the responsibility to make magic in a world that desperately needs more of it.” 1-year plant warranties are practical. They are industry-standard and a balm to soothe upset clients. 2-year warranties are a signal to clients that you are in this for the long haul and stand behind your quality. 3-year warranties are about making magic.
Eleven Madison Park creates magic by connecting with their guests on a level unaccustomed in the restaurant industry. EMP scans the social media account of their diners. They take detailed notes. They know if the party is celebrating a birthday, graduation, anniversary, or a promotion. They know food allergies, likes, and dislikes. Once guests arrive, servers are taught to observe and be flexible. The servers ask about vibes, textures, and flavors the patrons may like or dislike. If a diner doesn’t like citrus, the immensely talented kitchen staff makes immediate changes and the server explains that to the diner. Famously, one party missed their Caribbean vacation so EMP brought sand, beach chairs, and Mai-Tais into their private dining room. Another instance, a dining party said they never had an authentic New York style street hot dog so Guidara bought a $2 hot dog from a street vendor and his chef deconstructed it on small plates with the traditional garnishes. EMP uses a 95/5 rule. They manage 95% of the business down to the penny and leave the last 5% to offering stupid, silly, egregious, expensive acts of unreasonable hospitality.
Both John and Hursthouse and Meagan and Wasco live in that 5% slot. To these businesses, the plant warranties are not a business decision any longer. It makes no more financial sense to replace a dead plant than to replace a dead goldfish. Upon reviewing their warranty claims, clients who had the chutzpah to ask for a replacement after 3-years felt a deeper connection to the business. The landscape was still top of mind. The client was observant. The plant mattered and how it connected to the rest of the landscape. This is a client that valued the original work and one who respects that a relationship was formed when the plant was installed. This is a client who will appreciate unreasonable hospitality and one who will evangelize that hospitality to other friends and neighbors. This client is making an unreasonable ask and should be provided an unreasonable answer - yes, of course we can fix that for you.
So that is the answer, right? We just all move to 3-year warranties and absolve every client of every landscape management mistake they’ve ever made. If it were only that simple. 3-year warranties are just the means to the end. They are the vehicle two companies have used to narrow the gap between the buyer and seller. Wasco understands their 100-year-old history and lineage in their community. Hursthouse follows its vision of taking high end landscape design out of the north shore and offering it to clients across the western suburbs. Both can’t run the risk of selling a sick goat or a dead goldfish. Both have found that generous warranties create unreasonable hospitality and unreasonable hospitality creates magic in a world “that desperately needs more of it.”
The answer for all isn’t an algorithmic calculation of warranties. The answer is buying and selling like your community depends on it. The further we drift, the harder it gets to spend that 5% on the stupid, silly, egregious, and expensive. The further we drift, the harder it is to create the magic. One thing is for certain, plants will continue to die and clients will continue to kill them. This fall, when a trusted client asks you to be reasonable, the only response to give them is, “no.” Then, blow their mind.
Becky Thomas Spring Grove Nursery, Inc. (815) 448-2097 bthomas@springrovenursery.com
Mark Utendorf Emerald Lawn Care, Inc. (847) 392-7097 marku@emeraldlawncare.com
Aaron Zych
ILT Vignocchi, Inc. (847) 487-5200 azych@iltvignocchi.com
www.landscapeillinois.org
As we continue our transformative first year as Landscape Illinois, I am struck by the incredible evolution of our industry and the people driving it forward. As our fall calendar of events continues to unfold, I am reminded of the importance of bringing multiple generations of landscape professionals to our industry, our association and our programs. Recently at TED (Turf Education Day), The Growers Tour, Crew Leader Training, and Women’s Networking Group events, I have been struck by how many people are attending a Landscape Illinois event for the first time and the energy and optimism they bring. We have a healthy respect for the past while including even more of those individuals that represent our industry’s future.
Across the state, we’re witnessing a powerful shift: milestone anniversaries for established companies and a new wave of next-generation leaders stepping up to take the reins. With Hinsdale Nurseries celebrating its 175th year and Kankakee Nursery celebrating its 100th year, its humbling and compelling to hear how these businesses were built and grown. As importantly, it is powerful to hear how traditions and values are established while still allowing room for change. Many other companies have recently hit milestones of 50 years or more as well with emerging leaders now taking the wheel. These companies are pioneers, mentors, and examples of what’s possible when values, innovation, and community come together. So much to celebrate!
Why do we celebrate anniversaries? It’s a time to reflect, express gratitude, and appreciate how far we’ve come and all we’ve accomplished. These milestones in our lives are also a time to pause, look ahead, and prioritize those things we still want to do. It is also a time to let go, to delegate, to give responsibility to others to build their own story.
While some landscape companies are celebrating milestone anniversaries, others are dealing with the business and culture shift that comes with a company being sold, acquired, or consolidated. As companies transition, it’s important to pause, look ahead, and embrace change with optimism. Sometimes that means letting go of old patterns and processes and embracing new opportunities. Resilience, relationships and knowledge continue to lead to success. Whether we continue under the same banner or evolve into something new, legacy lives on through the people, values, and the work we leave behind.
We know this to be true of all the associations and constituencies that have come to be part of Landscape Illinois. We see you, we hear you and our association is better for it. Here’s to honoring the past, and building our future.
Optimistically, Kim President, Landscape Illinois
Kim Hartmann
Scott Byron & Co., Inc. • Lake Bluff Sacred Canopy
This project skillfully integrates a new Sukkah with the surrounding architecture. It now blends seamlessly with the powerful presence of the nearby sanctuary and Crown Hall. A 4,500 sq. ft. garden terrace provides a serene, multi-use outdoor space, visible from both buildings. Thoughtfully designed paths
link new and existing areas. Seating is positioned in a naturalized setting along the perimeter. The design balances aesthetics and functionality. A harmonious and contemplative space was created for spiritual reflection and community gatherings.
Landscape Design Unplugged 25
An evening of education, camaraderie and beautiful outdoor spaces
by Ninal A. Koziol
Let’s just say this year’s Design Unplugged was electric! Informative, creative and fun—that’s how the afternoon rolled at Cantigny in Wheaton. A panel of seasoned pros fielded questions from some of the 140 people who registered for the event. Topics ranged from landscape design trends, software preferences, hardscape, and design qualifications to charging fees, project warranties and much more.
Christine Dressel is in sales and marketing at Doty Nurseries in Maple Park. “It’s my first Design Unplugged, and I came to learn more about the design aspects. We’re a wholesale grower, and I wanted to hear what they had to say,” she explained.
Matt Erickson, owner of Erickson Landscaping in Seneca, made a very long drive to hear the panel and to network. “I’ve been in the business more than 25 years, but it’s good to hear different perspectives,” he said.
tect with JMR Landscaping in Libertyville. Jason Lundberg from Chalet Nursery moderated the discussion.
Panelists included John Algozzini, senior design associate at Hursthouse in Bolingbrook; Meagan Provencher, senior landscape designer at Wasco Nursery & Garden Center in St. Charles, and Seth Dreier, landscape archi-
Ms. Kevin Barnes (yes, that’s her name) is the business development manager at Wave Outdoors Landscape + Design in Mount Prospect. “This was my first time attending, and with John Algozzini retiring—he’s been a huge mentor and I’ve loved and adored him,” she said. Colin Loew, Barnes’ husband, is the maintenance account manager at Doering Landscape in Barrington. “I came for John, and I hope to get inspired. We still do a lot in maintenance and design and hearing someone who has done it day in and day out is good,” Doering said.
Landscape Architect Jen Czaja of Sebert Landscape in Bartlett serves on Landscape Illinois’ Design Committee. “This is the first Design Unplugged event I’ve attended, and I wanted to hear what the panel had to say,” Czaja explained.
Here are a few highlights:
What’s a design trend you’d like to see?
Meagan: Homeowners are coming in every day
(continued on page 12)
(continued from page 10) asking about natives. They might say they want butterflies, but there are many ways to address that. We are seeing a fair amount of people requesting perennial gardens again.
John: Oh, yes — the native plant parade — when you have that dialog with a client (about native plants) it doesn’t always translate. We don’t have a lot of native soils, but you can produce a habitat garden. Outdoor kitchens and outdoor rooms will continue to be a trend.
Seth: It comes down to your personal aesthetic (rather than a trend). I tend to do more looser plantings, but I respond to the architecture of the house.
John: Respond to the client, the architecture and the space. If they want that contemporary landscape, you figure out how to make it work with the architecture.
Meagan: Sometimes they don’t know wat they don’t know. They may think contemporary means low maintenance. Get them to talk about their expectations for their space.
What suggestions do you have for inspiring designers?
Meagan: Learn the plants—that’s been the focus of my designs. I couldn’t design without knowing all the characteristics of the plants. Take advantage of Landscape Illinois events!
John: If you want to work at an elite level, you need to know the construction side.
Seth: Get out as much as you can. If you’re in school, there are internships that will make you a well-rounded designer.
Do you recommend pursuing a landscape architecture degree?
Seth: I went to college for five years. There was no way I was not going to take the (landscape architect) test. On the flip side, I think I’ve only stamped two drawings in 19 years.
Meagan: I’m just a designer. I tend to be more plant focused, and I know when to say something is out of my wheelhouse.
John: The landscape architect qualification is well earned. It’s more designbased. If you’re a horticulture grad, you might be limited. Being a registered landscape architect is meaningful.
How do you train designers and landscape architects in sales?
John: In January, we’d have a meeting, and I’d ask, ‘What’s the one thing I can do for you?’ If they wanted more sales training, I’d do a ride-along. Also, your colleagues and clients need to see you as genuine.
Seth: Sales was a four-letter word, so I went on a lot of ride-alongs.
Do you charge a design fee?
John: Yes, we charge fees but not for existing clients or for referrals. Prescreen clients and charge for it. South of I-80 it’s a little tougher to do.
Seth: We charge design fees 90 to 95 percent of the time. It can be structured in different ways.
Meagan: We charge design fees based on the size of the project. We used to refund it (when we did the project) but that cheapens it.
Do you guarantee your work?
Meagan: We warranty the client’s plants for three years. In the long run, we added it up and it doesn’t really affect us. We do have some plant killers, and they go into the “no-fly” zone. Anything we install is three years. If the customer installs it, it’s one year. The warranty includes the labor to replant.
John: It’s the same at Hursthouse. There’s a three-year warranty. There’s a final walkthrough and an establishment manual, and we stand behind it.
What’s your favorite plant?
Seth: Baptisia—it’s versatile and can be used in so many ways.
John: Symphoricarpos — one of my go-to plants.
Meagan: Seven son flower (Heptacodium). It’s an oddity, but a great small tree. It knocks it out of the park.
With the drought this year, how have you watered new trees?
Seth: Tree bags. Pretty much 100 percent use on any trees.
Meagan: We recommend they put the bags on. We put beneficial bacteria in the soil for every tree we plant.
Rave Reviews
“I loved it,” said landscape designer Lindsay Buchalski of Bruss Landscape in Wheaton. “I’m hearing the different opinions because there are so many sectors of the industry. One person’s tried and true is another’s trigger point.”
It was the first time attending for Marc Caifano, who works for Lurvey’s in outside sales. “The location was awesome. It was a good cross section, and defining the differences between landscape architects and designers was interesting,” Caifano said. I understand they aren’t salespeople by trade. The big takeaway—don’t worry so much about selling—be a designer, a landscape architect. Be genuine and passionate. Talk with your client about your design and why you did it that way.”
After the panel discussion ended, some attendees enjoyed a tour of the gardens while others grabbed a drink and networked with peers. There are dozens of upcoming Landscape Illinois events. Don’t miss them: https://landscapeillinois.org/il-events-page/
Palmisano Park: An
by Heather Prince
Drive down Halstead Street in Bridgeport on a summer day, and you might be surprised to find a prairie rising out of the heart of the cityscape. A 33-foot grassy knoll covered in grasses and wildflowers beckons. You might spot a runner doing laps or children chasing butterflies. Welcome to Palmisano Park.
From Quarry to Refuge
This unusual corner of Chicago has a deep industrial history. Before it was a lush green space with wetlands and a pond, this was Stearn’s Quarry. In the late 1830s, the land became a limestone quarry which operated until 1970 as the only limestone aggregate quarry within Chicago city limits. By the time it closed, the quarry was 380 feet deep and could not be extended. Then the site was used as a dumping ground for construction waste. “They had quarried it so far down that they couldn’t go any further,” commented Hana Ishikawa, design principal at site design group, ltd. “They asked the residents of Bridgeport if they could core underneath their homes, and they said no. The city took it over and it was a landfill for clean construction debris for about 30 years.”
Eventually, dumping was halted and plans for a park began to emerge as Bridgeport is lacking in significant green space. McGuane Park is immediately to the south and provides ball fields, sport courts, a pool, playgrounds, and more. “Part of the initial funding was tied to an Openlands grant, and so we did have to include ways to use the space,” remembered Ishikawa. “But Stearn’s Quarry was able to become an educational wetland park.” This creative adaptive reuse followed the EPA requirements of keeping all water onsite and built an extraordinary ecosystem for wildlife and residents.
Because the site is a former brownfield, site design group, ltd had to cap the construction waste with more than 40,000 square feet of clean topsoil, much of it going to build the hill now known as Mount Bridgeport. The bulk of the budget went to that aspect, so the site design group, ltd team had to get creative for additional funding and adaptive reuse of materials. “All of the trees were donated by Target,” commented Ishikawa. “The contractor was demoing a nearby streetscape, so they had these concrete sidewalks, and if you flip them upside down, they kind of looked like limestone or rocks. Those went into the terraces that lead to the fishing pond.”
(continued on page 16)
Urban Ecosystem
(continued from page 14)
Keeping Water Onsite
One of the most beloved aspects of Palmisano Park is its fishing hole. At the lowest level, the quarry walls were left exposed, and a sturdy deck was built out into the water. “One of the EPA requirements is that none of the water can leave the site, and so all of the water retained is captured and fed to the pond,” said Ishikawa. “If there is a major storm, it does connect to the storm sewer, but really the pond is designed to fluctuate with changing water levels.”
The pond water is pumped back up to the fountain at the northeast corner. “It’s meant to symbolize what it would mean for water to fall out of the sky onto the ground, travel through the wetland cells, get treated and cleaned as it goes down and ultimately into the pond. The goal is to inspire discussion about the water cycle. We’re not adding new water; it’s all recirculated.” The park was intentionally sculpted for all the water to travel through the wetland tiers to minimize the risk of any contamination leaving the property. There are designated catchment basins that are tested yearly as well.
The Chicago Park District stocks the pond with a variety of fish. “We also worked with a fish habitat designer to build fish habitats inside the pond,” said Ishikawa. “He created different types for different fish, using rocks or wood,
depending on what each species preferred. They are at different depths, according to their needs.” The park is named after Henry Palmisano, a fishing advocate and owner of a neighborhood bait shop who passed away during the construction.
Building an Ecosystem
Once the infrastructure was in place, the park was seeded with a huge variety of native plants. “We weren’t working from an existing native habitat, so we had to design the plant mix as we went,” remembered Ishikawa. “It was an opportunity to try a lot of different species and edit as the plants grew and thrived or didn’t.” The site is periodically burned as part of the management program.
Today, wetland reeds, sedges, and grasses sway in breezes off Lake Michigan and are loud with bird life. The small stream running down the tiered wetlands is held in place by the plants’ strong roots. The dark green foliage provides a dramatic foil for the lighter, brighter, prairie grasses that thrive in the well-drained soil mix.
One of Ishikawa’s favorite spots is the lowest tier where you can explore along a walkway. “I think it is quite (continued on page 18)
(continued from page 16)
beautiful. You can see the striking remnants of the quarry, the big rock structures that we left there as an artifact. There’s a certain dynamism in the transition between prairie and wetland species all weaving in and out of each other.”
Neighborhood Hot Spot
Today, Palmisano Park is beloved by residents and visitors. The Park District sponsors classes and activities. Neighborhood groups organize yoga, urban camping, martial arts and more. Trail runners like the topography for early morning runs. “It’s a great spot for Fourth of July fireworks,” observed Ishikawa. “And Mount Bridgeport becomes a sledding hill when we get enough snow.”
Birds, butterflies and bees abound in this small spot tucked in among homes and businesses. As part of the migration flyway along Lake Michigan, birders are delighted by the occasional rare species passing through. Palmisano Park is a thriving, resilient example of adaptive urban reuse where humans and wildlife find a beautiful oasis.
THE COOL CLIMATE WORKHORSE
HAPPY FACE ® ORANGE
Potentilla fruticosa ‘Minporoug01’ PP#36,116; CBRAF Native species | Long blooming | Cold hardy
1.5-2.5’ tall + 2-3’ wide
Danville Gardens
Danville, IL • 217-442-4944
Midwest Groundcovers St. Charles, IL • 847-742-1790
Could it be? An orange potentilla that holds its color, even in summer? Years of trials and observation say yes! Happy Face Orange potentilla is an outstanding plant with a nice, dense habit and handsome green foliage. It blooms continuously all season long in cool climates.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR LANDSCAPE PROGRAM
Platt Hill Nursery Carpentersville, IL • 847-428-6767
Platt Hill Nursery Bloomingdale, IL • 630-529-9394
Siwicki Evergreen Nursery Momence, IL • 815-472-4154
Woldhuis Farms Grant Park, IL • 815-465-6310
The State of Our Stately Oaks
The Slow Decline of the Forest King
by Nina A. Koziol
Death by a thousand cuts. That could be the future of the Midwest’s oak tree population. An ever-changing climate, old age, site and soil issues, diseases—this host of stressors is having an alarming impact on native oak species. Add invasive pests, years-long drought, fire suppression, herbicide drift and soil compaction, and you have weakened oaks that are more susceptible to secondary factors, such as fungal and bacterial infections.
Oak species have been an ecologically dominant species and a key component of forest ecosystems across the midwestern and eastern United States for the last 10 thousand years. In Illinois, the decline of white oak and other oak species has been attributed to invasive pests, such as oomycete pathogens, and other stress factors.
According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Fall 2023 Forest Highlights report, “Oak wilt is found in every Illinois county and has become a major urban and forest tree disease.” It’s become such an important issue that NASA is lending its technology for researching oak decline.
The oak wilt pathogen was first detected in Wisconsin in 1944, and oak trees are the only known host. At present there is no complete control or cure for oak wilt. Proper tree care and mechanical and chemical control measures can keep the disease from spreading to healthy trees nearby. The fungus that causes oak wilt invades the water conducting tissues (xylem) resulting in clogged vessels that prevent the normal flow of water. The foliage becomes discolored and dies. As the disease progresses, limbs die and eventually the entire tree can die.
pointed lobes on their leaves (red, black, Hill’s, pin and scarlet oaks), is more susceptible to oak wilt than the white oak group, species whose leaves have rounded lobes on the leaves (white, bur, English, swamp white and chinkapin). Those in the red oak group usually die quickly, often within weeks or months after infection. Trees in the white oak group typically develop symptoms more slowly, showing branch dieback for years before dying. In some cases, white and bur oaks recover after one year of infection.
Why Care?
Doug Tallamy, professor of entomology at Delaware University and author of Bringing Nature Home, noted that our native oak trees support more than 500 species of butterfly and moth caterpillars. These and other insects play a critical role in the food web, acting as a food source for birds and their young, as well as many other species of animals. As oaks decline, wildlife that depends on them will be negatively affected.
Where Are We?
According to The Morton Arboretum, all oaks are susceptible to oak wilt. The red oak group, species with sharp-
Restoration efforts have been on the increase within the 15,000 acres of Cap Sauers Holding Nature Preserve, much of which surrounds our small subdivision. The center of this preserve is the most remote place in all of Cook County. Despite prescribed burns, brush cutting and herbicides used to recreate oak savannas, the lack of young oak trees is evident when we hike those woods. The overall decline of oak trees is troubling, and there’s no single factor responsible. Early browning of foliage, thinning canopies and loss of branches can eventually lead to tree mortality. “A lot of these forest preserves, although we think of them as vast, are really limited,” said Tristan Shaw, owner and nursery manager of Possibility Place Nursery in Monee.
“Young oak trees need protection just from predation on little seedlings—the root systems and the crowns are tasty. You don’t see a young canopy coming up, even in our woodlands. And, in old savannas—you can drive around and see there are no young trees coming on in a meaningful way.”
Who is Buying Oaks?
“Oaks are a keystone species in our ecosystem providing habitat and food, dense shade, and the many other benefits like carbon sequestration and better air quality, absorbing water runoff, mitigating erosion, and improving soil health,” said Maggie Thomas Harper, grower and canopy curator at Spring Grove Nursery, in Mazon, Ill. “Unfortunately, oaks are not as popular as some of the other shade trees when it comes to sales. Our most popular shade trees are typically red maples given their beautiful fall color. While they are great trees and we understand the appeal, that’s when we find ourselves educating folks about the importance of tree canopy diversity and the ecological benefits of oaks.”
For Vice President and General Manager Tom Kadolph at Cedar Path Nurseries in Lockport, Ill., oak sales have maintained steam, but smaller lots in subdivisions have homeowners thinking twice about acquiring large shade trees. “There’s always something prestigious about an oak tree in the back yard,” Kadolph said. “But oaks, by design, don’t always fit in. The exception is the columnar ones—Regal Prince and Kindred Spirit. Another one coming on is Crimson Spire.” For now, the market is specific. “The real demand is swamp, red, and columnar types. Bur and shingle oaks still have some pizazz—they’re stately and parks will certainly use them.”
Spring Grove Nursery offers 15 oak cultivars and straight species. “Some of the most popular are swamp white oak, bur oak, and the new columnar varieties,” Harper said. “Sometimes we hear comments that people don’t want acorns dropping in their yards, but there are cultivars such as Urban Pinnacle that are bred to have smaller acorns. However, we also know that acorns are important for local wildlife, so we like to use that as an opportunity for some tree education.” She works closely with foresters and public works teams to assess their community’s existing tree canopy. “If there is flexibility, we always make sure to include oaks in the mix.”
At Possibility Place, “The best selling oak over time for us has been the bur oak,” Shaw said. “It’s definitely the most versatile—very adaptable to very tough conditions and performs very well.” The unfortunate ongoing mindset, Shaw notes, is that oak trees grow slow, or are too big, or they don’t have fall color, but that’s not the case. “Oak trees aren’t slow growing and some have great fall color.” The main reason that native trees are gaining popularity, he says, is that retail customers, municipalities, landscapers and others see the connection between caterpillars supported by oak trees and the birds and other wildlife that depend on them.
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Shaw has watched over the years as some municipalities and foresters decided to have no more than five to seven percent of any given tree species in their plantings. “The ultimate goal for them is to have diversity, but I think they kind of miss the boat a little bit,” Shaw said. “That’s hard to achieve because we live in a prairie state, an oak savanna state. For the community I live in, I want a long-lived organism and a long-lived sustainable tree canopy. They’re trying to get the diversity up, but the reality is a long drought, or a terrible winter is going to be devastating to certain species especially in a parkway environment.”
Growing Oaks
Cedar Path Nurseries purchases oaks grown as liners and offers 12 types, including straight species. “We’ll put them right into the ground,” Kadolph explained. “Some nurseries put them in a pot and [later] move them to the ground, but we buy big enough liners.” The process can take anywhere from three to seven years before the oaks are ready for sale. “You have to dig a big root ball on these because most have a big tap root.” The sweet spot, he said, is the oak that has a fourinch or smaller caliper trunk.
For Harper, “Planting oaks is an act of hope — hope for the future, hope for the betterment of our environment, and
hope that these majestic trees will long outlive us and grow for generations to come.
Cultural Management
The Morton Arboretum offers information on the disease cycle, symptoms and management:
In late 2024, NASA partnered with The Morton Arboretum, in Lisle, Ill., to study rapid white oak mortality. The Arboretum is conducting research to determine the main drivers of white oak decline and in turn, create plans to conserve oak woodlands across Illinois. Read it here:
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20250004216/ downloads/2024Fall_GSFC_IllinoisEco_TechPaper_FD-final. pdf
Celebrating the Serviceberry
by Maggie Thomas Harper
Each summer, when the sun is high, our family heads into the nursery to check on one of our favorite seasonal treats—the deep purple fruits of the serviceberry tree. Some years we harvest buckets of berries to make cobblers, jam, and ice cream–other years, like this one, the birds win the harvest. That’s the ephemeral nature of these berries and the realities of farm life. Still, we revel in the beauty of the serviceberry tree season after season, marveling in its year-round beauty on our farm and in the landscape.
During this period of late-summer transition, we are reminded of these seasonal changes and living in the “notquite-yet:” a time of anticipation for what’s to come while fondly remembering what’s come to pass. September ushers in these new rhythms and routines here on the farm at Spring Grove Nursery. The long, sun-soaked days of summer give way to cooler mornings, softer light, and the first hints of autumn color in the fields. While the berries of June are now a sweet memory, the serviceberry still stands out as a seasonal favorite. Its fiery redorange leaves signal fall’s arrival, while its smooth, silvery bark reminds us that beauty in the landscape is not limited to blooms alone. The Autumn Brilliance serviceberry lives up to its name in every season–from delicate spring flowers to abundant summer fruit, vibrant autumn foliage to striking winter form. As the seasons turn, this versatile Midwest native proves its worth yet again, a reminder that a well-chosen tree can offer year-round delight.
winter months. They needed to wait until the ground thawed to bury the dead, and it was with the thaw that the itinerant pastors and priests could travel to each settlement to perform their religious burial rites. By the time the serviceberry trees blossomed, the ground had thawed and the priests could make the trek out. Once they safely made it they performed Services of burial, marriage, and baptism to cover the winter months.
While this tale is charming, linguists point to a different origin entirely, one rooted in language rather than legend, likening serviceberry to a loanword.
“Loanwords are words borrowed from other languages, and many of these sound similar to words that already exist in the language. The name initially applied to another species in a different genus. Sorbus, which comes from the ProtoIndo-European stem ‘sor’ and means red, sounds similar to service, so that’s where we get ‘service.’ The red part of ‘sorbus’ refers to the brilliant red fruits of Rowan, or mountain ash, Sorbus aucuparia. So there you have it, the true meaning of the name: red berry!”
If you’re able to go out and harvest the berries during the summer, there’s plenty of delicious desserts and jams you can make to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Once ripe, serviceberry is reminiscent of the blueberry enhanced by an almond flavor found in the seeds, so you can substitute them into cobbler, crisps, muffins, and pies. We made a delicious fridge jam to eat with breakfast, warmed brie and crackers, and mixed it into ice cream to make a fruity homemade ice cream sandwich.
Beyond its beauty in the field and its gifts across the seasons, the serviceberry also carries a name steeped in history and human connection. Like many native trees, it holds stories that reach back generations, reminders that our relationship with the land is shaped not only by the changing seasons, but by the lives and traditions intertwined with them. In researching more about how the Serviceberry gets its name, I came across an interesting origin story. When Europeans were first colonizing North America they dealt with difficult and long winters, often leading to many people dying over the harsh
Aside from just eating the berries, serviceberry offers other uses and medicinal value. Different North American Indigenous tribes used serviceberries in a variety of ways.
“Tribes of the northern Great Plains, such as the Cree and the Ojibwa, gathered the berries drying them in the sun to make cakes for winter provisions. The Native American trail food pemmican, a concoction made from dried lean meat and animal fat, was typically flavored with Saskatoon (Service) berries.” Other uses for the tree include, “the wood [that] was crafted into a corset or heavy robe to use as body armor.
Serviceberry Through the Seasons
Young stems and branches were made into arrows, ropes and baskets.” Additionally, “in Canada, the fruits are used as juice for treating stomach ailments and as a laxative. Eyeand ear-drops are also prepared from ripe serviceberries. The boiled bark is used as a disinfectant, while the root infusion is used to prevent miscarriage after an injury. Native American communities prepare tea from the twigs and stem and administer it to women just after childbirth. Moreover, a tonic from the bark is given to women after delivery to hasten discharge of the placenta.” Research from the NIH demonstrated that serviceberry fruits present a rich profile of phytochemicals that promote health and protect against chronic diseases. These traditional and medicinal uses reveal the serviceberry as more than just a beautiful tree, it’s a generous provider woven into the lives of people, animals, and ecosystems alike. This generosity is at the heart of what many indigenous teachings emphasize: a relationship with the natural world
grounded in respect, reciprocity, and mutual care. In the excellent book The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World, Indigenous author Robin Wall Kimmerer (author of Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants) writes about the “ethic of reciprocity” that challenges us to see ourselves as interconnected to the natural world, in tune with the cycles and rhythms of nature. Serviceberry shows us a model of living that is rooted in what she describes as the “gift economy,” based upon, “reciprocity rather than accumulation.” Serviceberry, Kimmerer writes, “[provides] a myriad of goods and services. Not only to humans but to many other citizens. It is a preferred browse of deer and moose, a vital source of early pollen for newly emerging insects, and host to a suite of butterfly larvae — like Tiger Swallowtails, Viceroys, (continued on page 28) Landscape Illinois — The Magazine
Admirals, and Hairstreaks—and berry-feasting birds who rely on those calories in breeding season.”
In another excerpt from her book, Kimmerer reminds us of our place in the ecosystem:
“With my fingers sticky with berry juice, I’m reminded that my life is contingent upon the lives of others, without whom, I simply would not exist. Water is life, food is life, soil is life–and they become our lives through the paired miracles of photosynthesis and respiration. All that we need to live flows through the land. It is not an empty metaphor that we call her Mother Earth. Food in our mouths is the thread that connects us in a relationship simultaneously spiritual and physical, as our bodies get fed and our spirits nourished by the sense of belonging, which is the most vital of foods.
“I have no claim to these berries, and yet here they are in my bucket, a gift.
This pail of juneberries represents hundreds of gift exchanges that led up to my blue-stained fingers: the maples who gave their leaves to the soil, the countless invertebrates and microbes who exchanged nutrients and energy to build the humus in which a serviceberry seed could take root, the Cedar Waxwing who dropped the seed, the sun, the rain, the early spring flies who pollinated the flowers, the farmer who wielded the shovel to tenderly settle the seedlings. They are all parts of the gift exchange by which everyone gets what they need.”
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Chicagoland area with of 400 acres of quality field-grown nursery stock .
Cedar Path Nurseries has two conveniently located sales yards, Lockport and Barrington, to better serve our clients.
We are the premier shade tree grower in the Chicagoland area with of 400 acres of quality field-grown nursery stock .
We are the premier shade tree grower in the Chicagoland area with 400 acres of quality field-grown nursery stock. Cedar Path Nurseries is conveniently located in Lockport to serve our clients.
Cedar Path Nurseries has two conveniently located sales yards, Lockport and Barrington, to better serve our clients.
We are the premier shade tree grower in the Chicagoland area with of 400 acres of quality field-grown nursery stock .
Cedar Path Nurseries carries a full line of B&B trees and shrubs, container shrubs, perennials and groundcovers. Not only are we your onestop -shop, but we are sourcing experts. We look forward to assisting on your next project.
We are the premier shade tree grower in the Chicagoland area with of 400 acres of quality field-grown nursery stock .
Cedar Path Nurseries has two conveniently located sales yards, Lockport and Barrington, to better serve our clients.
Cedar Path Nurseries
has two conveniently located sales yards, Lockport and Barrington, to better serve our clients.
Cedar Path Nurseries carries a full line of B&B trees and shrubs, container shrubs, perennials and groundcovers. Not only are we your onestop-shop, but we are sourcing experts. We look forward to assisting on your next project.
Cedar Path Nurseries carries a full line of B&B trees and shrubs, container shrubs, perennials and ground covers. We are, not only your one-stop shop, but we are also sourcing experts. We look forward to assisting on your next project.
Cedar Path Nurseries carries a full line of B&B trees and shrubs, container shrubs, perennials and groundcovers. Not only are we your onestop-shop, but we are sourcing experts. We look forward to assisting on your next project. Growers & Distributors of Quality Nursery Stock
Cedar Path Nurseries carries a full line of B&B trees and shrubs, container shrubs, perennials and groundcovers. Not only are we your onestop-shop, but we are sourcing experts. We look forward to assisting on your next project.
Lockport, Illinois
Lockport, Illinois
Barrington, Illinois
Barrington, Illinois
Barrington, Illinois
15235 W. Bruce Road, Lockport, IL 60491 Office 815.838
15235 W. Bruce Road, Lockport, IL 60491
Office 815.838
15235 W. Bruce Road, Lockport, IL 60491 Office 815.838- 4900 |Fax 815.838.4999
190 W. Penny Road, Barrington, IL 60010 Office 847.551.3700 | Fax 847.551.3707
Barrington, Illinois
190 W. Penny Road, Barrington, IL 60010 Office 847.551.3700 | Fax 847.551.3707
190 W. Penny Road, Barrington, IL 60010 Office 847.551.3700 | Fax 847.551.3707
SALES@CEDARPATH.NET | WWW.CEDARPATH.NET
(continued from page 28)
I could keep quoting this book until I’ve shared the entire manuscript–it’s that good! It challenges us to think of our human economies reimagined and modeled after ecological systems that meet citizens’ needs while aligning with ecological principles that allow long-term sustainability for people and for the planet. Robin Wall Kimmerer’s writing poses the question: What if we shifted how we saw the world from a market economy to a gift economy? Would that change how we interact with each other and the natural world? She gives the example of receiving a handknit hat vs. buying a massproduced hat at the store, and writes, “you’re likely to take much better care of the gift hat than of the commodity hat, because the gift hat is knit of relationships. This is the power of gift thinking. I imagine if we acknowledged that everything we consume is the gift of Mother Earth, we would take better care of what we are given.”
We have much to learn from this indigenous wisdom. To keep learning more, you can grab a copy of her book anywhere books are sold, listen via audiobook, or stop by the Spring Grove Nursery office and borrow a hard copy to read and then pass along to share with a friend! The Morton Arboretum is hosting Robin Wall Kimmerer on Monday, October 13 for a discussion about how we can orient our lives around gratitude, reciprocity, and community,
based on the lessons of the natural world. We signed up to attend; tickets are on sale now, we hope to see you there! There is a lot of interesting research and discussion out there about the history and future of the serviceberry tree and its fruits. We encourage you to keep learning more about this Midwest native tree we all know and love, and try out some of the recipes or uses for yourself. Let us know if you make or bake anything delicious with your serviceberries, or if you just like to appreciate the seasonal beauty at Spring Grove Nursery.
Tried-and-True Tree!
The Serviceberry’s story, woven from summer sweetness, autumn brilliance, deep cultural history, and ecological generosity, reminds us that the trees around us are more than ornamental. They are teachers, companions, and participants in a larger web of life that sustains us all. Whether you’ve tasted the berries, admired its fiery foliage, or simply walked past its smooth, silver bark on a crisp fall morning, the Serviceberry offers a quiet invitation: to notice, to give thanks, and to care for the gifts the natural world provides. As the seasons turn, may we carry that spirit of reciprocity into our gardens, our communities, and our daily lives upon the land.
Registration 7:15 AM - 8:15 AM
Check-In & Badge Pick-Up
WELCOME & INTRODUCTION
8:00 AM
Welcome & Introduction — Auditorium
Kim Hartmann, President Landscape Illinois
8:05 AM - 8:10 AM
Sustainability Announcement
Brandon Losey
OPENING KEYNOTE
8:10 AM — 9:40 AM
Opening Keynote - Reawakening Ancestral Connections to Land
Wambui Ippolito, Wambui Design
Working ethically in landscape design requires a recognition that land holds memory, that our ancestors’ footsteps, struggles, and blessings are embedded in it. By honoring our own family land heritage, we can learn to foster a healthy reciprocal relationship with nature. In this talk, Wambui will share how to identify and locate one’s ancestral relationship with nature and, in so doing, completely shift your design process.
9:40 AM — 10:00 AM — Morning Break & Exhibitor Visits
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Concurrent Sessions 1 —
ROI Based Design and Management of Natural Landscapes in Corporate Settings Room 101 ABC
Michael Keenan, Urban Ecosystems
Natural and sustainable landscapes have increased in popularity in recent years. The ecological benefits are typically touted as the principal driver for converting from a conventional landscape type. However, little is typically communicated about the economic aspects of sustainable landscapes. Learn how parameters of design and management in naturalistic landscapes can influence a quicker return on investment and build value for corporate and commercial customers.
Oaks, Fire, and Climate Change
Auditorium
Heather Holm, Pollinator Conservationist and Author
This presentation will look into the past to understand grassland systems at the time of Euro-American settlement and discuss how Native Americans managed and influenced the composition of these grassland systems with their regular use of fire. Heather will also discuss the impacts of fire as a strong selective pressure on keystone plants and bees. Pivoting to look into the future using projected climate modeling, Heather will address the ecological conditions today, focusing on oak ecosystems and grasslands, then paint a picture of what a functional, biodiverse, and resilient landscape may look like in the future, and what actions are needed to achieve these outcomes.
11:00 AM — 11:20 AM — Morning Break & Exhibitor Visits
11:20 AM - 12:20 PM Concurrent Sessions 2 —
Natives That Need More Love: Native Short-statured Landscape Forbs, Sedges, and Grasses that are Underutilized in Landscapes
Room 101 ABC
Luke Dahlberg, Citizens for Conservation
There are a plethora of native plants to choose from to use in landscaping and restorations. However, as the use of these species continues to increase, many of these great plants are still not utilized in our landscapes, especially the short-statured early bloomers. Learn about the many species of short forbs, grasses, and sedges that need more representation, some of the potential factors for why they are not utilized as much as other native, and how to incorporate them in our landscapes.
You are an Educator – Cultivating Confidence with New Approaches to Landscape
Auditorium
Chris Fehlhaber, Chanticleer Garden
A disconnect exists between the popular and traditional ideas of landscape and the ecological forefront our industry has begun to embrace. All of us in the green industry are responsible for accurately representing the importance of our work and the value of doing that work well. Come together for a conversation highlighting effective strategies and approaches to elevating progressive horticultural practices.
Lunch — 12:00 PM - 1:10 PM
Room 101 ABC
1:10 PM - 2:00 PM Concurrent Sessions 3
Parametric Planting: Designing
Biodiverse Gardens Using Emerging Design Tools
Room 101 ABC
Conor O’Shea, Hinterlands
In this talk, Conor O’Shea will present an underthe-hood snapshot of the ever-evolving computational planting design process at Hinterlands, his Chicago-based landscape architecture practice. Drawing on case studies of recent midwestern gardens, he will showcase how his work at Hinterlands sits at the intersection of computational design, the new perennial movement, and insect-friendly approaches to planting design and maintenance. He will highlight tools in the Hinterlands workflow, such as Rhino, Grasshopper, and Augmented Reality. He will also discuss how he is translating the tenets of new naturalism, such as layered planting, intermingling, and matrix planting, into an emerging computational design aesthetic using digital tools.
Rethinking Lawns — Auditorium
Becky Barak, Ph.D., Chicago Botanic Garden; Liz Anna Kozik, Chicago Botanic Garden; Lauren Umek, Ph.D., Chicago Park District
Studies show that different plants cool off landscapes in different ways. The classic example is trees, because, of course, shade is cooler than sun. Beyond that, though, plants go through a process called evapotranspiration. Simply speaking, plants release water into the air, cooling things off. In theory, different plants cause different amounts of cooling. Studies, such as the one below from Cooling Cities, Natural Areas Conservancy, 2003, show that even switching from lawn to a grassland can cause a temperature drop of 4°F! With the expertise of Dr. Natalie Love of the Chicago Botanic Garden, we are collecting temperature and humidity data at city parks all over Chicago to see what kind of landscape helps cool off our city.
2:00 PM - 2:50 PM Concurrent Sessions 4
Integrating Tree Water Use
Strategies into Landscape Design and Maintenance
Room 101 ABC
Luke McCormack, The Morton Arboretum
this session, we will discuss some of the causes and consequences of water stress from a belowground perspective as well as considerations for tree selection and planting to minimize stress when possible.
PANEL DISCUSSION — 2:00 PM - 2:50 PM
Connections to Ecosystems and Landscapes
Auditorium
Panelists:
2:50 PM — 3:05 PM Afternoon Break
CLOSING KEYNOTE
3:05 PM — 3:55 PM
An Ecological Entrepreneur’s Journey Auditorium
Molly Meyer, Omni Ecosystems
Drought and waterlogging both cause tree stress and dieback. However, most observations of tree water stress focus on aboveground responses rather than investigating the drivers of success or failure related to roots belowground. In
Hear Molly Meyer’s story of founding, scaling, and operating Omni Ecosystems. Learn about the mechanics and the strategy behind how the company was built, its solutions were developed, and its products brought to market. In addition to Omni’s work in developing & supplying soils for green roofs, bioswales, and rain gardens over the past 16+ years, Molly had founded & led businesses specialized in landscape architecture, landscape construction & maintenance, urban agriculture, and real estate development. Molly will share their perspective on innovating via small business and the unique challenges small businesses face in the 21st Century. If you are an entrepreneur, work for a small business, or think you may want to start your own business, you won’t want to miss this session.
EVENING PROGRAMMING — 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Afterparty Roundtable Discussions
Format: Rotating small group discussions focused on practical ecological landscaping topics.
Warm summer breezes, perfectly chilled beverages, and a relaxing chaise lounge on the patio – what else do we need for a tropical escape in our own backyards? Plants! If you’re weary of replacing clients’ bananas and cannas every year or want to add a backbone of resilient perennials to your Hawaiian-inspired designs, these perennials add lush layers with minimal fuss when sited correctly.
I’ve selected these 10 perennials for their stunning big,
bold textures and fabulous flowers. Their luscious foliage provides summer structure well into autumn’s cooler temperatures. Mix them in beds and borders to punch up your designs and surprise clients with elegant forms and some gigantic leaves.
Most of these perennials are happiest in moist to wet situations, but not all. For the water lovers, try them at the edge of a pond or stream. A strategic fountain can create a magical garden escape when surrounded by gigantic romantic foliage and fragrant flowers.
Japanese Spikenard (Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’) Bring drama to the shade with the brilliant chartreuse leaves of this layered award-winning perennial. This tousled mound of shimmering lime green loveliness reaches 3 to 6 feet each season. For the lushest performance, plant Sun King in half a day of shade and moist welldrained soils. Pair it with purples to deepen the drama or cool it off with white flowers and silver foliage.
Goat’s Beard (Aruncus dioicus)
The huge cotton candy, astilbe-on-steroids white flowers of our native goat’s beard are enough to recommend it for any medium to wet shade garden. Toss in sturdy stems and coarse leaves that reach 4 to 6 feet and you’ve got a spring showstopper! It’s not all fluff, though, as it remains a rich green presence in the garden long after the flowers fade. Try goat’s beard in a white garden or pair with variegated foliage for a zippy combination.
Queen of the Prairie (Filipendula rubra)
Large palmate leaves stacked on stiff upright red stems give layered texture, but it’s the pink flowers as big as your face that really sell this sun-loving watertolerant native. She’s a queen in any garden at 4 to 6 feet of delicious drama. Plus, those luscious leaves turn shades of orange and red in the fall for added attraction. Queen of the Prairie is happiest in a wet spot like a rain garden, downspout, or swale. Pair her with grasses, Culver’s root, and Siberian iris to balance out those coarse leaves and let her shine.
Hibisicus sp.
Dinner plate-sized flowers for weeks and weeks? Yes, please! While we have two native perennial hibiscus, there are also a wealth of cultivars with green to dark purple foliage and white to pink to red flowers. New breeding has created deeply cut leaves and intriguing bicolor flowers. Hibiscus loves heat, so these impressive lovelies won’t turn up until our temperatures are consistently in the 70s. Then the show is on with glorious flowers all summer into September. Pop hibiscus where it will get plenty of sun and added moisture and they’ll reward you with years of tropical lushness.
Leopard Plant (Ligularia dentata ‘Britt Marie Crawford’)
Ligularias are water lovers, but they bring thick rounded leathery leaves to the summer garden. Britt Marie Crawford’s large deep dark purple foliage provides a touch of the tropics and a nice note of mystery to the perennial border. Orangeyellow daisy flowers bloom late June into July. Pair with yellows and oranges for a sizzling summer combination.
Michigan lily (Lilium michiganese)
Our native Michigan lily is a showstopper! Its tall, elegant flower stalks weave beautifully through a planting as its large orange Turk’s cap flowers beckon hummingbirds. Try floating it above ligularia or hibisicus for layers of tropical lushness in a sunny to part shade moist soil. Like most lilies, rabbits and deer also adore them, so plan accordingly.
Sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis)
A fern native to moist shade and partly sunny wetlands, sensitive fern gives us a bright light green blade with wide leaflets. This is a chunky clumping fern that will thrive if consistently wet. Those beautiful fronds can add height and lightness to a shade garden while providing a unique solution to a boggy corner. Pair it with short sedges and wild ginger for a mosaic of textures.
Butterbur (Petasites japonicus)
Need some drama in a wet shady spot? Butterbur’s two to three-foot rounded leaves bring instant cool serenity to the garden. Its fragrant daisy-like spring flowers lead to almost Jurassic-sized foliage for summer. Try it next to the pond or stream or sink a container of it by a fountain where its rhizomatous nature can be contained. Pair butterbur with sensitive fern for months of tropical texture.
Rodgersia spp.
The palmate corrugated foliage of rodgersia is held on stiff dark stems in rounded mounds that will slowly spread in ideal conditions. A shade-lover and wet tolerant, look for cultivars that bring a touch of red to the tropical party. In June, spires of white to pink fragrant flowers enchant bees and butterflies. Pair it with lighter weight ferns and short-statured sedges to balance its striking visual heft.
Prairie dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum)
Perhaps one of our most dramatic natives, prairie dock thrives in average to hot, dry sites. The common name comes from its tendency to have leaves cool to the touch on even the hottest days. Enormous 24 to 30-inch leaves grow in large clumps, breaking up the grassiness of the prairie. In late summer, tall flower stalks appear with bright yellow daisies hovering at eye level or above. While it may politely reseed, plan on this tough native to live for decades. Pair it with blunt mountain mint and purple coneflower for a magical summery combination.
A Floating World— Rooftop Japanese Zen Garden
by Heather Prince
Clean, elegant lines picked out in curving patterns of pea gravel bring a fresh new look to a mid-century gem in Buena Park on Chicago’s North Side. The Imperial Towers were originally constructed in 1962 to 63 on North Lakeshore Drive and feature many Japanese and Asian-inspired elements on their 3-acre site. From swirling mosaics on the buildings to Asian gardens to pieces of Asian art throughout the lobby, Imperial Towers offers serenity from the hustle and bustle of city life.
In the heart of the condominium towers’ complex, an elegant rooftop garden sits atop the underground parking garage. As you walk into the lobby, huge plate glass windows look out onto this serene space, instantly setting a calm, relaxing mood. However, parking structure roofs require regular maintenance and after about 25 years, it was time to replace the membrane and do some much-needed repairs. The team
at Clarence Davids & Company was tapped to rebuild the garden and tasked with re-using as many elements and materials as possible. Anna Dantes, landscape designer worked with Stephen Borden, account representative, and Roberto Castel, foreman, to create an elegant breath of fresh air for the space.
The Brief
Imperial Towers wanted to keep as many elements as possible but have a fresh new look to their dry garden off the lobby. This unique space is gazed upon from three sides as you walk the lobby but also looked down on from above by some common areas as well as some balconies. “I had to accommodate all those viewpoints,” commented Dantes. “Plus, it’s a space you see the minute you walk in. It had to be eye-catching from several perspectives. It needed to look (continued on page 44)
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good through all sides and above. I thought of it as both 3D space and 2D space. This is not a space that the residents can walk into and enjoy. It is only meant to be looked at. The only people who are allowed to go inside space are the maintenance crews to water planters and clean up any debris that falls in. It’s a static space, in that sense, so it’s more an art piece than a place where people sit in and appreciate the space.”
The original Japanese dry garden was a more traditional style complete with a large wooden pagoda, stressed out evergreens, and a small concrete pagoda garden art piece. “The parameters were pretty open, which is always fun to have,” observed Dantes. “I knew when I wanted to redesign it, that I did not want to do an older, traditional Japanese garden. Elsewhere on the property, there were already curvilinear beds, and I really wanted to replicate those and redo it in
Challenges and Opportunities
The Imperial Towers staff stressed reusing as much of the original stone as possible. The large lava boulders, some of the blue Mexican beach pebbles, and the flat flagstones were pulled up and thoughtfully placed in the refreshed space. The small concrete pagoda statue was relocated. “I repositioned the flagstones to create a curved path from door to door,” recalled Dantes. “The lava boulders I placed in groups of threes and fives to lead your eye through the space.”
As with most rooftop gardens, the planting depth was shallow, only 4 inches deep. The space is also in full blazing sun with light reflected off the glass windows and walls. “The shallow depth and the hot sun inspired my use of sedum,” said Dantes. “We used the Quick Cover sedum mixes from Midwest Groundcovers and weight was a factor, as well. “Anything going in that space had to be lightweight. There’s a lot of rock, but it is spread (continued on page 46)
(continued from page 44) in a very thin layer and evenly distributed.” There is also no irrigation, so the maintenance team waters with hoses.
To give the impression of water without having to maintain a water garden and add its significant weight, Dantes chose the blue Mexican beach pebbles. “The smooth texture is meant to mimic a tranquil pond. I added the crane statues as a gentle visual cue and art piece.”
With a very neutral palette of grey, brown, and black, Dantes wanted to provide some visual pauses without disturbing the Zen feel with flamboyant color. The Torii gate is a nod to the Japanese architecture in the outdoor spaces. Dantes then chose Origami containers from Crescent Garden Planters for a scatter of summer color. “I chose them because what’s more Japanese than origami?” chuckled Dantes. “The white provides a nice visual pop, and the folded paper look fits right in no matter the season. We do plant them up in summer color, but they are empty in winter to keep a clean aesthetic. I set them so your eye moves from grouping to grouping and (continued on page 48)
(continued from page 46) it provides some movement in the space.”
The Results
The first impression of the garden is calm and serenity. By choosing very few elements and focusing on repeating shapes, Dantes brought a very contemporary aesthetic to the space. “It was really fun getting to play with the curves and the lines and spend some time figuring out all the different sizes of the ovals throughout. I wanted to make it feel cohesive with the outside as well as the inside.”
Designing a more static space stretched Dantes’ design muscles. “It was definitely challenging for me to wrap my head around a space where people couldn’t go. We, as designers, are generally creating places that people sit in and enjoy. But then, that opened up opportunities, as well. Knowing that people would not walk in and change up the space meant that every single element, when I set it in that spot, would stay in that spot. Which was refreshing, because in most public spaces, furniture will get moved, containers can get shuffled or damaged. It also stretched my perspective since this is a garden to be looked at from the side or above instead of by people within.”
The clients are thrilled with the garden. They created a brochure for residents to explain the process and have been very happy with the result. “I think it looks fantastic!” said Dantes. “It’s so unique and was a very fun challenge.”
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El estado de nuestros majestuosos robles
El lento declive del rey
del bosque
Por Nina A. Koziol
Muerte por mil cortes. Ese podría ser el futuro de la población de robles del Medio Oeste. Un clima siempre cambiante, la vejez, problemas de ubicación y suelo, enfermedades: esta serie de factores estresantes está teniendo un impacto alarmante en las especies de robles nativos. Agregue plagas invasoras, sequías que se prolongan por varios años, supresión de incendios, deriva de herbicidas y compactación del suelo, y tendrá robles debilitados que son más susceptibles a factores secundarios, como infecciones por bacterias y hongos.
Las especies de roble han sido ecológicamente dominantes y un componente clave de los ecosistemas forestales en el Medio Oeste y en el este de los Estados Unidos durante los últimos 10 mil años. En Illinois, el declive del roble blanco y otras especies de robles ha sido atribuido a plagas invasoras, como los patógenos oomicetos y otros factores de estrés.
Según el informe de Aspectos destacados de los bosques, otoño 2023, del Departamento de Recursos Naturales de Illinois, “El marchitamiento del roble se encuentra en todos los condados de Illinois y se ha convertido en una enfermedad seria de los árboles urbanos y forestales”. Se ha convertido en un problema tan serio que la NASA está prestando su tecnología para investigar el declive del roble. (Ver enlace en la parte inferior.)
El patógeno del marchitamiento del roble fue detectado por primera vez en Wisconsin en 1944, y los robles son el único hospedante conocido. En la actualidad, no existe un control completo ni una cura para el marchitamiento del roble. El cuidado adecuado de los árboles y las medidas de control mecánicas y químicas pueden evitar que la enfermedad se propague a los árboles sanos cercanos. El hongo que causa el marchitamiento del roble invade los tejidos conductores de agua (xilema), produciendo la obstrucción de los vasos, lo que impide el flujo normal del agua. El follaje se decolora y muere. A medida que la enfermedad avanza, las ramas mueren y eventualmente el árbol completo puede morir.
Según el Arboreto Morton, todos los robles son susceptibles a marchitamiento. El grupo de robles rojos, especie con
lóbulos puntiagudos en sus hojas (roble rojo, negro, de Hill, palustre americano y escarlata), es más susceptible al marchitamiento que el grupo de robles blancos, especie cuyas hojas tienen lóbulos redondeados (roble blanco, bur, inglés, blanco de los pantanos y chinquapin). Los del grupo de robles rojos suelen morir rápidamente, a menudo dentro de semanas o meses después de la infección. Los árboles del grupo de robles blancos generalmente desarrollan síntomas más lentamente, mostrando la marchitez de las ramas durante años antes de morir. En algunos casos, los robles blanco y bur se recuperan después de un año de infección.
¿Por qué importa?
Doug Tallamy, profesor de entomología en la Universidad de Delaware y autor de Bringing Nature Home (Traer la naturaleza a casa), señaló que nuestros robles nativos sustentan a más de 500 especies de mariposas y orugas de polillas. Estos y otros insectos desempeñan un papel esencial en la red alimentaria, actuando como fuente de alimento para las aves y sus crías, así como para muchas otras especies de animales. El declive de los robles afecta negativamente la fauna que depende de ellos.
¿Dónde estamos?
Los esfuerzos de restauración han estado aumentando dentro de los 15,000 acres de la Reserva Natural Cap Sauers Holding, gran parte de la cual rodea nuestra pequeña subdivisión. El centro de esta reserva es el lugar más remoto de todo el condado de Cook. A pesar de las quemas controladas, el corte de arbustos y el uso de herbicidas para recrear las sabanas de robles, la falta de robles jóvenes es evidente cuando caminamos por esos bosques.
El declive general de los robles es preocupante y no hay un solo factor responsable. El pardeamiento prematuro del follaje, el adelgazamiento de las copas y la pérdida de ramas pueden eventualmente conducir a la muerte del árbol. “Muchas de estas reservas forestales, aunque las consideramos vastas, son realmente limitadas”, dijo Tristan Shaw, propietario y gerente del vivero Possibility Place Nursery en Monee. “Los robles jóvenes necesitan protección únicamente contra la depredación en pequeñas plántulas: los sistemas radiculares y las copas son gustosos. No se ven doseles jóvenes surgiendo, incluso en nuestros bosques. Y en las antiguas sabanas se puede conducir y ver que no hay árboles jóvenes que crezcan de manera significativa”.
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¿Quién está comprando robles?
“Los robles son una especie clave en nuestro ecosistema que proporcionan hábitat y alimento, sombra densa y muchos otros beneficios como la captura de carbono y una mejor calidad del aire, además de absorber las escorrentías de agua, mitigar la erosión y mejorar la salud del suelo”, dijo Maggie Thomas Harper, cultivadora y curadora del dosel arbóreo en Spring Grove Nursery, en Mazon. Desafortunadamente, los robles no son tan populares como algunos de los otros árboles de sombra cuando se trata de ventas. Nuestros árboles de sombra más populares suelen ser los arces rojos, dado sus hermosos colores otoñales. Si bien son grandes árboles y entendemos su atractivo, es entonces cuando nos encontramos educando a las personas sobre la importancia de la diversidad del dosel arbóreo y los beneficios ecológicos de los robles”.
Para Tom Kadolph, vicepresidente y gerente general de Cedar Path Nurseries en Lockport, las ventas de robles han mantenido su ritmo, pero los lotes más pequeños en las subdivisiones hacen que los propietarios de viviendas piensen dos veces antes de adquirir grandes árboles de sombra. “Siempre hay algo de prestigio con un roble en el patio interior”, dijo Kadolph. “Pero los robles no siempre encajan. La excepción son los columnares: Regal Prince y Kindred Spirit. Otro que viene es Crimson Spire”. Por
ahora, el mercado es específico. “La demanda real es de tipos pantano, rojo y columnar. Los robles bur y teja aún tienen algo de dinamismo; son majestuosos y los parques ciertamente los usarán”, dijo Kadolph.
Spring Grove Nursery ofrece 15 variedades de robles cultivadas y especies silvestres. “Algunas de las más populares son el roble blanco de pantano, el bur y las nuevas variedades columnadas”, dijo Harper. A veces escuchamos comentarios de que la gente no quiere que las bellotas caigan en sus patios, pero hay variedades como Urban Pinnacle que se crían para tener bellotas más pequeñas. Sin embargo, también sabemos que las bellotas son importantes para la fauna local, por lo que nos gusta usar eso como una oportunidad para educar sobre los árboles. Harper trabaja en estrecha colaboración con los silvicultores y los equipos de obras públicas para evaluar el dosel arbóreo existente en su comunidad. “Si hay flexibilidad, siempre nos aseguramos de incluir robles en el grupo”.
En Possibility Place, “el roble que más hemos vendido ha sido el roble bur”, dijo Shaw. “Es definitivamente el más versátil—muy adaptable a condiciones muy duras y tiene un buen desempeño”. La desafortunada mentalidad actual, señala Shaw, es que los robles crecen lentamente o son demasiado grandes o no tienen color en otoño, pero no es así. “Los robles no son de crecimiento lento y algunos tienen un atractivo color en el otoño”. La razón principal por la que los árboles nativos están ganando popularidad, dice, es que los clientes minoristas, los municipios, los paisajistas y otros ven la conexión entre las orugas que son sostenidas por los robles y las aves y la fauna silvestre que dependen de ellas.
Shaw ha observado a lo largo de los años cómo algunos municipios y silvicultores decidieron no tener más del cinco al siete por ciento de cualquier especie de árbol en sus plantaciones. “El objetivo final para ellos es la diversidad, pero creo que se pierden un poco en el camino,” dijo Shaw. “Eso es difícil de lograr porque vivimos en un estado de pradera, un estado de sabana de robles. Para la comunidad en la que vivo, quiero un organismo de larga vida y un dosel arbóreo sostenible y duradero. Están tratando de aumentar la diversidad, pero la realidad es que una larga sequía o un invierno terrible van a ser devastadores para ciertas especies, especialmente en un entorno de vías ajardinadas”.
Robles en crecimiento
Cedar Path Nurseries compra robles cultivados como plantones y ofrece 12 tipos, incluyendo especies silvestres. “Los enterraremos de inmediato,” explicó Kadolph. “Algunos viveros los ponen en una maceta y (más tarde) los trasladan al suelo, pero nosotros compramos plantones lo suficientemente grandes”. El proceso puede tardar entre tres y siete años antes
de que los robles estén listos para la venta. “Tienes que cavar un gran cepellón en estos porque la mayoría tiene una raíz primaria grande”. El punto óptimo, dijo, es el roble que tiene un tronco con un calibre de cuatro pulgadas o menos.
Para Harper, “Plantar robles es un acto de esperanza: esperanza para el futuro, esperanza en la mejora de nuestro medio ambiente y esperanza de que estos majestuosos árboles nos sobrevivan por mucho tiempo y crezcan para las generaciones venideras”.
Gestión Cultural
El Arboreto Morton ofrece información sobre el ciclo de la enfermedad del marchitamiento del roble, sus síntomas y manejo: https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/tree-plant-care/plantcare-resources/oak-wilt/#management
Investigación
En finales de 2024, la NASA se asoció con el Arboreto Morton, en Lisle, para estudiar la rápida mortalidad del roble blanco. El Arboreto está llevando a cabo una investigación para determinar los principales factores que impulsan el declive del roble blanco y, a su vez, crear planes para conservar los bosques de robles en todo Illinois. Léelo aquí:
Iwas out for a jog the other day and it hit me: volcanoes, everywhere. Yard after yard, tree after tree, mulch piled up around the trunks of trees, burying the crowns and asking for trouble. This is an unfortunately common practice in all types of landscapes. Piling mulch up around the crown and trunks of landscape plants can lead to an assortment of plant health problems ending in loss. Mulching is a necessary part of landscape maintenance. It helps suppress weeds, maintain soil moisture and looks attractive among other benefits. Trees in the middle of a lawn also benefit from having a physical barrier to prevent trunk damage from lawn mowers and trimmers.
Why volcano mulching is harmful:
1. Bark rot and disease. Too much moisture around the trunks can lead to rot, fungal disease and insect infestations. Damage to the bark can reduce the ability to transport water and nutrients to the canopy.
2. Stress on new plantings. For new plantings of perennials, piling mulch on the crown can weaken the plants before they get established. When freshly
applied, mulch can be hot and dry. This can increase transpiration and cause a drought response, leading to yellowing leaf tissue and crown death.
3. Water doesn’t reach the roots. When you apply water to a landscape with mulch volcanoes, that deep pile of mulch can capture much of the water. As an example, during a 1-inch rain event, you might get water 2-5 inches down in the mulch. If that mulch pile is 6-12 inches deep, you will not be getting water down into the root system.
4. Home for pests. Mulch volcanoes are a haven for rodents and other pests. They will feed on the bark tissue during the winter leading to significant damage come spring.
5. Adventitious and girdling roots. Volcano mulching will encourage roots to develop within the pile. Proper root architecture is important to long-term survival of trees. For many tree species, this girdling will lead to tree health decline and loss.
6. Wasted labor and materials. Piling up mulch like
is Lava
this takes time and labor. Applying the correct amount of mulch will utilize less material and time.
7. Replacement costs and storm damage. When plant health suffers from this practice, plants will die and will need to be replaced. Trees are long-term investments in a property. Not only are they more costly to replace, but they can also cause considerable damage when they fail. Weakened trees are more susceptible to storm damage which can far exceed the cost of replacement when they fall onto cars and buildings.
Mulch the right way:
• Think donuts, not volcanoes. Keep mulch away from the crown of plants.
• Mulch should be 2-4 inches to suppress weeds, conserve moisture and regulate soil temperature.
• For herbaceous plants, irrigate thoroughly before mulching. If mulch is too hot to touch, it is too hot to spread.
• Consider mulching during fall cleanup to provide early spring benefits.
Mulch is a useful tool for the landscape if it is used wisely. Volcano mulching cuts years off a tree’s life and costs property owners more in the long run. The real story of landscape health happens beneath the surface, and it’s our job to make sure practices above ground don’t compromise what lies below. As stewards of the land, let’s lead by example: spread the mulch right, and spread the word while you’re at it.
Two examples of improperly mulched trees
North Star JCB
James Ryan
31W019 North Avenue
West Chicago, IL 60185 (331) 465-0000
www.northstarjcb.com
by Meta L. Levin
Eighty years ago, Joseph Cyril Bamford took some scrap steel and surplus parts left over from World War II and began building trailers in his barn in the UK. From there his business grew, expanding not only through Great Britain, but internationally, as well. That was the beginning of J.C. Bamford Excavators, Ltd. – the JCB standing for Joseph Cyril Bamford.
Now, as then, the company is a privately held family business, with his son currently serving as chairman. The multinational company manufactures and sells equipment used in construction, agriculture, waste handling and demolition.
A year and a half ago, James Ryan, whose background is
in the truck industry, learned of an opportunity to have a JCB franchise and jumped at it. Thus, North Star JCB began growing in Illinois and northwest Indiana.
The business model is based on dedicated JCB only dealerships in North America. “We are only focused on JCB and growing this world class brand in our marketplace,” says Ryan.
North Star JCB sells new and used JCB equipment, as well as providing parts and service. Sales include skid steers, compact excavators, backhoe loaders, telehandlers, compact track loaders, site dumpers, teleskids, teletruks, tract excavators, wheeled loaders and wheeled excavators.
This is not new. JCB has had dealers in the United States for the last 50 to 60 years, says Ryan. About seven years ago, the company switched to a dealer sponsor model, which has proven to be successful.
In April 2024, when Ryan started North Star JCB, he had four employees. Now, there are a dozen. In part that is because he brought with him not only a wealth of experience but also contacts with the expertise necessary to build the business.
For instance, Ryan Armstrong, his parts manager, had worked with him at a previous job as an assistant parts manager. “Those who run the parts side are a unique breed,” says Ryan. “They are detail oriented and have good organizational skills.” This, he says, describes Armstrong.
Service Manager Jake McKnight is a master certified technician who worked with Ryan at two different jobs. “He knows service,” says Ryan. “He knows how to take care of a customer and does a great job with process and holding his team accountable.
He’s a high horsepower individual.”
Joe Wilmath and Brock Bussenger do sales for North Star JCB. Both came with experience. Wilmath, in fact, has 30 plus years in the automotive industry. He and Ryan have known each other since high school. “He is all about taking care of the customer,” Ryan says.
Initially, Bussenger came on board in parts and service, but is transitioning to a general sales role. “He’s a young, aggressive guy,” says Ryan.
Ryan is pleased with the way things are going. “I’m building a quality team,” he says. “Our number one priority is taking care of the customer.”
In previous jobs, Ryan was introduced to ILCA, now Landscape Illinois, and he felt it was important that North Star JCB become a member. “I knew from past experience that it was a great organization,” he says.
Married to Allie, the couple has four children: Reese, 11; Ruth, 9; Mima, 6 and William, 4. William is crazy about the equipment Ryan sells, but it was Ruth who protested when her father sold a skid steer she liked to sit in.
Ryan has plans to expand North Star JCB throughout Illinois and northwestern Indiana. “I’m proud of how we are getting the JCB brand to turn around in the marketplace,” he says.
HELP WANTED
Mechanic - Fleet
Our Fleet Services Department consists of our Fleet Supervisor and two full-time Mechanics. As a Mechanic, you will be responsible for inspecting, repairing, and performing preventative maintenance on our fleet of trucks, cars, buses, trailers, tractors, mowers, small equipment, and diesel engines. Additional responsibilities include ordering and managing parts inventory, and other duties as assigned.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old with a valid Illinois driver’s license; a CDL license is required or must be obtained within the first year of employment. A journeymanlevel mechanic with prior experience in fleet repair and/or maintenance is required. NOTE: Applicants must possess the requisite physical ability to perform the essential job duties, with or without reasonable accommodations. How to apply: Apply online at
CB Conlin Landscapes Inc. is a full-service residential landscape design and construction firm located in Naperville, Illinois. We are seeking a talented and experienced Landscape Operations and Purchasing Manager to add to our collaborative team environment.
Qualifications
- Minimum 3+ years of management experience within residential landscaping.
- Proven professional client skills and people management.
- Reliable and professional self-starter with good presentation and writing skills.
- Knowledge of local plant identification and care is a must.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Proficient in computer and technology skills.
HELP WANTED
Responsibilities
• Estimating/Sales - Landscape
Enhancements and Maintenance
• Client Contact - Personal Jobs
• Materials Selection - Personal Jobs
• Project Oversight - Personal Jobs
• Materials Sourcing/Purchasing/ Confirmation - All Jobs
• Calendar Oversight – Landscape and Maintenance Crews
• Fleet/Equipment Maintenance
• Snow Coordinator Benefits
We offer excellent salary + bonus, health, dental, and retirement benefits.
How to apply: Please email resumes to bconlin@cbconlin.com or contact us at 630-416-8998 for more information.
Salary Range: 70-90k
Coming Full Circle
By Nina A. Koziol
Shrub roses are having a renaissance. Maybe it’s their disease resistance. Or purported low maintenance. Whatever it is, it’s like we’ve time travelled back to the 1940’s. Orange-flowered roses are autumn-centric. For Tom Soulsby, senior horticulturist at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, it’s all about deadheading into fall. “With a longer fall, deadheading promotes blooms. The risk of deadheading is very little. You’ll have blooms to the very end.”
Modern Roses 1943
Adobe Sunrise
Orange Glow Knock Out Rose
Bottle Gentian — A Late Season Star
by Mark Dwyer
In late September of 2010, I found myself touring the Chicago Botanic Garden--one of my favorite gardens for ideas and inspiration. I was walking along a partly shaded, woodland edge and noted some blue flowers that I knew weren’t asters. Upon closer inspection, my first exposure to the closed bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) was quite memorable. Seeing the rich blue color on those bottle-shaped flowers so late in the season piqued my interest in acquiring and growing this plant after I had positive identification. Admittedly, my track record with the genus Gentiana has not been exceptional until I pulled this native species into my “design quiver”! There are other species of bottle gentians, but this one is by far my favorite. It is also called Andrew’s gentian and closed gentian.
This species is native across a broad mass of Northeastern North America. Slow growing but long-lived, bottle gentian will naturalize into clumps and require little care once established in appropriate settings. Hardy in USDA
zones 3-7, this species is best grown in moist, rich, cool, loamy, well-drained soils in part sun. Full sun is acceptable if consistent moisture is available. Flood plain forests, thickets, fens and wet, mesic prairies are prime locations for bottle gentian. Reaching 12-24 inches in height, this perennial is a bit lax in habit (floppy) when in bloom but holds up well with “supportive neighbors”. The ovate, lance-shaped leaves display a sheen on the upper leaf surface.
The flowers (1-1.5 inches long) are quite interesting independent of their welcome blue color in early fall (August – October). The intensity of blue can be variable depending upon the maturity of the flowers. Occasionally, pink and white flowers are observed with this species. The closed flowers are primarily clustered at the top of the unbranched stems although blooms can also be observed at the upper leaf axils. The top set of leaves is arranged in a whorled pattern and supports a cluster of flowers at the top. The pleated flowers have
a small fringe around the closed top. In essence, only the strongest of bees can access the nectar in these closed flowers. Bumblebees are considered the primary pollinator as they can “muscle” into the flowers by forcing the corolla open to crawl inside, sip nectar and ensure pollen transfer and successful pollination. Bottle gentian has no serious insect or disease problems. Deer do occasionally take a nibble of flower buds.
Since my fateful encounter with Gentiana andrewsii in 2010, I’ve planted hundreds of bottle gentians in partial shade situations with ample moisture. My intention is to not only incorporate a native species but certainly to rely on the contribution of late-season blue flowers. The unique appearance of this perennial is noteworthy and striking. I do combine it with sedges, ferns and other neighbors that will help support the potentially floppy stems. While this plant can be staked, I like letting it meld into the composition and provide not only late season beauty but a workout for our sturdiest pollinators!
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