The sun is out. The flowers are blooming, and it’s time for Go Green Wilmette’s free annual Sustainable Yard Tour! Join us on July 17th from 9 am until 1 pm as we highlight what your neighbors have been up to in their gardens. This year we feature six yards that all showcase the beauty and importance of native plants. From unusual species being grown to supply seeds to nearby prairie restorations to an attractive mingling of natives with traditional landscape plants, natives take center stage this year. But that’s not all! Two gardens include innovative ways to grow food. There are water features, a rain garden and composting methods on display as well. Come learn with your neighbors, admire the wonderful plants and the insects that go with them and take home some ideas for your own habitat.
Read below to get a sense of what to expect from the gardens on the tour. Tour will be held rain or shine.
Economou garden
Created by a younger gardener who has spent time volunteering in nearby prairie and oak savannah restoration projects, the Economou garden is devoted to creating a diverse pocket prairie on one side and a source for seeds of rare native plants on another, all while providing a beautiful space to appreciate plants. Talk with Christos about his volunteer work and learn about prairie gardening.
Keer garden
Dominated by a huge, spreading locust tree, the Keer garden provides a shady oasis while taking advantage of pockets of sunshine to maximize vegetable growing. From potatoes grown in barrels and an in-ground worm composter to an herb garden in pots, the garden is a place where the caretakers try new things while maintaining an appreciation for the importance of mature trees.
Greenberg garden
If you’re looking for a certain type of garden–rain, vegetable, native plant, meditation–you’ll find it in the Greenberg garden. Unique space follows on unique space around this lively garden. A homemade pond is lined with sedges and iris. A rain garden mitigates flooding in a low corner. Composting and a vegetable garden line the back fence. Rain barrels provide water. The Greenbergs have created it all themselves and can share their experience if you want to know how it’s done.
Martin garden
In this garden, you’ll see a study in how native plants behave. Liz Martin has slowly added natives to her landscaping over a number of years, watching to see where certain plants like to be. Some areas have entirely seeded themselves. Liz enjoys learning from the plants, adding more and slowly tackling certain non-native invasive species, which all gardeners must do from time to time.
SooHoo garden
In this bird and kid friendly garden, native plants play nicely with a grassy space. Natives line the edges of a shady backyard that leaves room to romp. Annie has put herbs in the sunniest spots near the kitchen. Ask her about her native shrubs and beautiful sedges.
Holcomb garden
An insect oasis, the Holcomb garden provides artistic little rocky puddles (the water is changed daily to discourage mosquitoes) as drinking spots for the many kinds of bees that frequent the pollinator friendly plants. Rhonda has salvaged furniture for a delightful sitting area from which her Pandemic Project, a gorgeous display of native plants can be viewed. Learn from Rhonda about how much insect activity she witnesses in her garden every day.
