Northtown Garden Society

Rose Garden At Warren Park

The Northtown Garden Society assumed the responsibility for the maintenance of the Chicago Park District rose garden on the corner of Pratt and Ridge Avenues in Chicago. The garden was in need of TLC so a group of NGS volunteers pruned, cleaned, edged, weeded, and mulched the bed in early May.

Triangle Garden Maintenance

In early May, a group of NGS volunteers weeded and cleaned up the garden. The growth since planting last year is amazing as shown in the photos below. All but 4 of the perennials survived a fairly harsh but snowy winter.

Triangle Garden Planting and Maintenance

The Triangle Garden on the east side of Indian Boundary Park was redesigned by a goup of NGS members to convert it to a shade garden. Planning started in January, the design was complete by March and the garden was planted in early June using a variety of perennials and shrubs with a splash of color provided by Impatiens. Garden interest was added by building a berm to provide height. The generous donations of community businesses and community and NGS members made this garden possible.

Pictured below from left to right are the stages of development of the garden.

Green Room Maintenance

The Green Room in the Warren Park Field House flourished under the care of NGS member Michael Oster becoming more tropical although the succulents and cactii still found a home.This room offers a nice respite for community members and a place for children to learn about plants.

Community Service Activities - 2009

Green Room Maintenance

The Green Room at the Warren Park Field House has been maintained by the NGS for many years. It houses a variety of houseplants, succulents and tropicals which are enjoyed by visitors to the park.

NGS volunteers are responsible for watering, pruning, dividing and maintaining a healthy culture for the plants.

Triangle Garden Maintenance

The Triangle Garden, located on the east side of Indian Boundary Park, has been maintained by NGS vounteers over the years. As the canopy of the surrounding trees has expanded, a major renovation of the garden was started in 2009 to be completed in 2010. The focus of the garden will be on shade plants. Stayed tuned for the progress of this new venture.

The photos show the garden several years ago and it's appearance in October of 2009 as it was being cleared of plants and mulched for the winter.

Corner Garden Installations

For the past two years, NGS volunteers have assisted interested community members in designing and planting small gardens at their street corners. Many of the plants in the gardens came from NGS member gardens. The community members are responsible for maintaining the gardens once they are planted.

Anyone in the West Ridge area who is interested in obtaining help with a corner garden, please contact the NGS by e-mail below.

Chicago Flower and Garden Show

In March of 2009, NGS members worked with members of the Indian Boundary Park Advisory Council and the Wicker Park Garden Club on a display for the Chicago Community Gardening Council at the Chicago Flower and Garden Show. We participated in weekly classes or plant maintenance activities beginning in January, 2009, and helped set up the display at Navy Pier as well as served as docents throughout the show.

Shown below: Pruning Dogwoods, making paper, and building the display.

Annual Spring Evening Garden Walk

Each June, NGS conducts an evening garden walk through selected West Rogers Park neighborhoods which provides our local gardeners with an opportunity to show off their creativity. This popular event started as a walk of members' gardens to share ideas and has grown to a walk of 10-12 gardens within a 4-6 block area of a neighborhood. Each year, a different neighborhhod is selected for the walk.

Library Planter Maintenance

The planters at the Northtown Branch of the Chicago Pubic Library have been maintained by NGS volunteers for several years.

High Ridge YMCA Garden

At the request of the YMCA, NGS volunteers designed and planted the YMCA's front garden on Touhy Avenue.