Chicago Spring Garden with Tulips by photographer Ali Wayer
When I visited Chicago for the first time, I noticed that many Chicago homes had small yards enclosed with wrought iron fences. Those fences provided security for the homeowners and added a design element to the yard. Also I remember thinking at the time that since most of the yards were so small, the same fence probably kept them from being trampled.
Currently my daughter lives in Chicago and owns a condo located in a renovated brick building with a classic Chicagoan front yard. The yard originally had a small lawn, but it was too shady for the grass to grow and the whole lawn just looked sad. A few years ago in an effort to replace the dead grass, we broke ground for a garden. While the curbside tree’s shade added a calm and peaceful element to the yard, it did dictate what plants would do well. After a few false starts, we found plants that grew in both the clay soil and the deep shade. As you can see the garden has matured into a intimate and welcoming space to greet visitors.
On a side note, this garden has evolved into a mother and daughter tradition that I really like. A week or two after Mother’s Day, I visit my daughter and we plant annuals in the front garden and on her upstairs porch. We work well together and the project only takes a few hours. That leaves plenty of time for shopping, eating out and taking in a movie or a play. Then, when autumn comes, I visit again and we plant bubs and clean up the garden. As you can see, the garden is small and realistically it only takes a few hours each time. Both visits are fun and I look forward to our “garden weekends”.
Rochelle's tulips on a cloudy day. I only see the spring flowers in photos because they are finished blooming by the time I visit.
Another really good thing about a garden such as Rochelle’s is that she doesn’t have to worry about deer!