I need help! Chicago

Well mother knows best. (She told me months ago to join) Many of you must know her, Happy_1. She is adorable & Chatty. I just joined DG & even more amazing gardening period! I recently purchased a 115-year-old Victorian in downtown Chicago. All I really bought is brick and land! I spent the last 10 mos. renovating the interior (far from finished but I need a break.) I am truly looking forward to diggin' in the dirt. I'm hoping everyone out there can help me. After getting my first quote from a garden designer of $100,000.00 yep 100K. I've decided to do it myself. My yard is only 33 x 65 dose this sound ridiculous to anyone else? Looking forward to meeting all.

As old as the home is, there must be some existing perennials waiting to pop up...It would be nice to incorporate some of the remaining plantings into your new gardens...even if you had to move them.

I'd watch and see what shows up this spring. Might be something with a bit of history.

Good for you! It's wonderful that there are people like you who save these treasures from the past. And welcome to Dave's Garden! Melody has a good point about the possibility of former plantings showing up. As to the space - it's what you have, and you can do wonders with it. You can grow up (trellises) as well as out, and containers can fit on steps. Could you send pictures of the home and yard? It would be fun to track your progress. Be sure to keep a journal, with notes about what works best (there likely will be some things that don't work - be not discouraged!)

I'm curious about your ID - do you have a horticultural background?

I'm so proud of you! So many people would have torn down and rebuilt. Restoration is so hard and so expensive. I don't blame you for taking a break. 100K is unreasonable but not unusual. Some garden designers think their profession is a luxury profession and seem to charge accordingly. I'd get a second or third opinion if you're worried about doing it yourself.

I am heavily involved in garden design and I will tell you the most important part of the design is the plan. I would wait and see what springs up before I purchased much material. While I was waiting I would watch my yard and document it's idiosyncracies; How much sun do you get? Where? When it rains, where does the water seem to collect(if at all). How does the ground accept rainwater? Does it puddle and collect for hours after the rain or does it easily accept water? Where is your shade and what type of shade is it? Is it deep or does it allow filtered sunlight? Get an arborist out to inspect your trees, most likely they need some pruning. You want to ensure the longevity and health of your trees before you plant. Also, call your local extension service or master gardeners and get a soil test kit. Test your soil in several places so you will know what will grow in those locations and what ammendments you will need. Inspect your grass, find out what kind it is so you will know how to fertilize and what it will look like if it becomes unhealthy. I'm going to go get some links of websites and organizations that can help you. You can do this and we'll be cheering for you all the way. BTW, WELCOME. I'm a newbie too and I love these people!

Here are the links I promised you. I got them off of our Texas A&M Master Gardeners website. IMHO, get to know your local Master Gardeners. If the Chicago program is as good as the Collin County TX program, they will be your new best friends.

http://www.extension.uiuc.edu/home/homelawn.html University of Illinois

Extension Links: Master Gardeners, MGs will help you get your soil test going and give you all kinds of horticultural advice for your location. Ours has a hotline for the public, yours might too.

Virtual Forest - info you might need to better manage the forest resources on your property,

Horticultural Soulution Series(very interesting) and many others.

http://www.nres.uiuc.edu/outreach/programs/hort.html
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Outreach program: Consumer Hort Info Series

http://www.siuc.edu/~psas/
University of Southern Illinois Plant and Science - Miscellaneous Public Hort Ed Events.

Happy gardening, send us pictures and keep a journal. You can do this!

This message was edited Apr 12, 2005 9:57 AM

Unfortunately the previous owners spent a fortune on container gardening each year. They also preferred an Asian style, I do not. The garden was featured in the book “ The Gardens of Chicago’s Gold Coast. “ But when the previous owner died I think he took the perennials with him! The picture shows the railroad ties that I had removed last month. I plan to make the garden with softer lines. I feel it will really complement the house.
To answer your question, zippo. I plan to learn by mistake.

Ack!!!!!

Well, 100k might not be unheard of but I've been unable to respond for the last 20 minutes just thinking about it. And I'd find it hard to believe you'd get even close to 100% of it back in a sale.

My best friend has used the same landscaper for many years, and my DH knows a landscape designer. There are sooo many to choose from. E-mail me if you want more names from the area for more estimates.

I suppose I should ask if that was for design only or if it included all the work and materials. Even so, if you have a design that you like, 33 x 65 just isn't so intimidating that you couldn't do all or most of it yourself. And you can get ideas here for free.

Thanks Herbswife you are a big help. Your right about the renovation most people told be to gut it. I didn’t feel right but I definitely chose the hard way. It was really exciting when the pipes burst Xmas eve with 12 coming for dinner the next day. My husband hates indoor camping. Anyway you can see by the pictures we are on our way.

Cheyl_IL I glad you’re here. I saw your name as a member and planned on contacting you. Funny huh? I am about 3 blocks from the lake someone said I’m in zone six is that

Another angle

According to the "new" zone maps, I think that's right. Chicago, and a little pocket around it, is a little warmer than the rest of NE Illinois. I'm in that little pocket :)

Very pretty! I like your colors.

Very nice!! 100K is pretty steep, but my guess would be because of the area you are in. They assume big houses, near the lake, equals big bucks!! It will be much more fun to do it yourself. Welcome to Dave's!!
Deb

Your house is gorgeous! Looks very much like it was a labor of love. I like the rope chew the best though. Looks just like my house only yours is so much cleaner and just absolutely beautiful! What kind of dog do you have?

**if you read many of my posts you will learn that my DH and I do dog rescue. My life's goal is to have a house in heaven with all of the dogs we've helped over the bridge and a rawhide chew for a crown. Please don't be offended that the chew impressed me most, I am a wierd bird.

I got an email ad for a site offering free and very inexpensive brand name and popular software. You might be interested in the following:

Home Page - www.fcdsoft.com

3D Landscape Design Package - www.fcdsoft.com/sku-3DLAND.html

You obviously don't need the Home Design part of this. I want you to come do my home now.

3D Home and Garden Design - www.fcdsoft.com/sku-HOMGRD.html

See ya, rhonda

Herbswife, glad you asked. His name is Verdell and he is an Affenpinscher. I consider him a rescue even though a paid full price. I flew to New Mexico to pick him up He has a crooked nose as full of bugs when I got him. Send me a photo of your dogs I love them too. If you have any pictures of your garden please send them, I need inspiration. Again thanks for your help I’M GLAD I met you.

Oh what a sweetheart!!! I bet he shadows you everywhere he goes!! I'll put a picture of Midgie on the pet forum and tell her story, it's pretty inspiring - where she was and where she is three years later. It'll take me a day or two but I'll email you and let you know when it's done. Gotta go now, promised Tiddles we would go to the nursery!