Check out the May/June issue of Chicagoland Gardening.   You'll find the Olsen Garden -- Wood's Walk -- featured along with information about how and when you can visit this spectacular site later this summer through the Garden Conservancy's Open Days program. 

Learn more about garden design, plants and placement. See "Classes."

Here's an excerpt:  The Problem:  Leaves are Yellow, Plant is Wilting. Countless fungi inhabit the soil and two of them in particular--Fusarium and Verticillium—cause many plants to wilt (and sometimes die). The fungus enters through the roots and clogs water-conducting tissues. Cut a stem and you may find brownish stains in the center. Unable to get water and nutrients because of plugged stems, the leaves turn yellow and begin shriveling from the ground up and the plant eventually dies.   The Fix:  There is no treatment but you can help prevent it.  Avoid planting tomatoes, potatoes and peppers in the same location for 3 to 4 years. Remove and destroy all diseased plants—don’t compost them.  And look for varieties with the initials VFN on the seed packets.  The letters indicate that the plants have resistance to the two fungal diseases and to nematodes--soil-dwelling pests that cause root damage. Many new hybrid varieties are “VFN” types. 

Fun with Paint!

An inexpensive obelisk now matches the front door

A snippet of our hummingbird/butterfly border.

Lip-smackin' good. Hungry Hummer (c) Ellen Hodges.

The eggplant-colored arbor flanked by Cotinus (smokebush) in its glory.