How does our garden grow?  Growth in our garden certainly means lots of sowing, seeding, germinating, sprouting and planting.  And, by early summer it’s time to reap the benefits:  blooms by the bucket full!

The highlight of the Idea Garden and our Herb section will feature THE Flag of the United States of America composed of red (Celosia ‘Fresh Look Red’), white (Vinca ‘Coconut Cooler’) and blue (Salvia ‘Victoria Blue’).  Our Big Ten College Color Show is going through a bit of reformatting:  we’ve moved the display into containers and will attach the appropriate college flag to the pot—Go Team!  Other new changes in the herb garden:  Our favorite culinary herbs will be placed into a semi-knot garden, as well as a new fragrance garden bed, and our newly installed Uncommon Fruit display—lingonberries, beach plum, Nanking cherry and low-bush blueberry plants will be featured.  Making a return visit:  Our border of basil display offering over 15 varieties of basil as well as our Giant Chess Board. 

Take a stroll down the curving path in our “A Walk Though the Seasons” section and you’ll pass through all four seasons with plantings in annuals, perennials, vines, shrubs, and trees that hail their best display in winter, spring, summer, or fall.  Our intention is for you to take a peek at your own landscape throughout the seasons and see if you might be lacking some winter interest, or a punch of fall color in a particular area.  As you walk through our seasons of plantings, you’ll likely find just the plant that would fill the void in your own landscape.

The Vegetable garden has a Southern slant to it this year:  collard greens to lima beans, sweet potatoes, melons and pumpkins.  We’ve even got plans to grow a variety of green cotton!  Not to worry--we’ll still feature lots of your veggie favorites!

On the northern border of the Idea Garden is where we annually showcase AAS (All American Selection) winners from the most recent five years.  But this year AAS is celebrating their 75^th anniversary and to join in the celebration we are stepping back in time and highlighting lots of their top picks.  A selection from each decade of winners, starting with the 1930’s and moving right up into 2007 will be shown in large containers adjacent to the AAS border.  Be sure to stop by for a walk “down memory lane”.

Finally, we have proof!  In a neighboring bed you can take a picture of our very friendly Loch Ness Monster topiary.   Don’t be alarmed—she’s quite docile.  We will once again feature the ever-popular “lawn” chair and “flower” bed and plant teepee.   The teepee will be over ten feet tall with Cardinal vine clambering over it (hummingbirds love this one in late summer) and a good spot for kids to use as a hideaway underneath.  Mom and Dad can take a breather on the patio near all the action.  The gourd tunnel features a variety of hard-shelled gourds such as apple, birdhouse, caveman’s club and speckled swan.  In mid-summer you can take a walk through the shady tunnel, just remember to keep your eyes open for those dangling gourds.  Our ever-popular pond has a small waterfall complete with a variety of goldfish, frogs and usually a dragonfly or two.  Sure to put a smile on your face is our new smiley-face planting of yellow and red Alternanthera adjacent to the pond.

All of the plantings in the Idea Garden are planned, planted, and cared for by Liz Omura, the Idea Garden Curator, along with her staff of 11volunteers.  Come in and chat with our trained volunteers, many of whom are Master Gardeners.  You’re likely to spot them on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 1pm to 4pm throughout the summer, and they’ll gladly answer questions and interpret displays. We’re always looking for a few more helping hands; if you’re interested give us a call! 

The Idea Garden is open anytime Cantigny Park is open – Tuesday through Sunday, March through December.  Hopefully we’ve enticed you to plan a visit to Cantigny!  While you’re here don’t forget to drop in at the Idea Garden to learn something new, bring along any questions you might have, or just to visit and enjoy!