Gardening As A Form of Art

Today, take a peek into a backyard that changes shape and color every year. Following our storieson Garden Club members  and , Sue Adams is the third gardener Patch is profiling this week in honor of National Garden Week in Northbrook. 

The village declared the week of June 5-11 as National Garden Week in recognition of the efforts of the Northbrook Garden Club. Founded in 1950, the Garden Club was built around the basic ideals of service and civic beautification.  Its members have created public gardens throughout the village, including those by the Historical Society building, the fire departments and park district buildings. 

Read on for the story of club member Sue Adams, and click through the photo gallery at right for images of her garden. 

She's Still Learning

For Northbrook resident Sue Adams, gardening is an art form just like painting or drawing.

The former art teacher has been a member of the Northbrook Garden Club since 1997, when a friend invited her to come to a meeting.

“I enjoy the design elements I have learned,” she said. “The programs are always very informative.”

Adams said she has learned not just techniques for designing her garden but better growing practices.

“I’m definitely more ecological now,” she said. “I compost now and I’m much more careful and conservative with water.”

Besides what she has learned about her own gardening, Adams said she is proud of her involvement with the Garden Club because of the way it has allowed her to give back to the community.

Each year, the Garden Club holds a plant sale to raise money for a scholarship for a local student.

“We give a $1000 scholarship to a student at Glenbrook North who is chosen by the horticultural instructor there,” she says. “The student may not necessarily be going on to study horticulture, but they will be going on to study something related to the environment.”

The club also donates part of the proceeds from the plant sale to the Garden Club of Illinois, which uses the money to fund for students throughout the state who will be attending the University of Illinois or Southern Illinois University.

Held at the chalet next to the Ed Rudolph Velodrome in early spring, the plant sale is also a learning experience for customers and members alike. New garden customers can take home planting tips, while members must be knowledgeable of all the plants for sale. The plants have all been started from local seeds or from plants already flourishing in club members’ backyards.

Although she’s been part of the Garden Club for nearly 15 years, Adams said the group is still a resource for her.

“I learn something new at every meeting,” she said.

The club takes a summer recess and resumes their meetings the first Tuesday in September at . For more information, visit the club's website or check out their table June 29 during Home Gardening Day at the .