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Hyde Park Garden Fair Committee |
Hyde Park Garden Fair Committee: 50 YEARS!
a programmatic committee of Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference.
This page brought to you by Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference and HPKCC's website, www.hydepark.org. Join the Conference!
HPKCC program home. Committees. About HPKCC. Quality of Life Hot Topics and Issues. Visit More gardens.
To Garden Fair's website. Chicagoland's largest and oldest continuing garden fair. Thanks for your participation! We wish to see you at the 2011 next sales and the winter lecture series.
Our Spring Sale is 3rd Friday and Saturday in May and Fall sale usually 2nd or 3rd Saturday in September (10 am-4 pm.) (Spring only: ) 9 am-6 pm Friday, 9 am-4 pm Saturday spring and fall) . In the Hyde Park Shopping Center Courtyard, 55th and Lake Park. 51st YEAR!
FALL SALE OCTOBER 2. PRESS RELEASE ON THE FALL 2010 SALE.
The April 2009 Conference Reporter was all about the Garden Fair! View in pdf.
- Meetings, conferences etc., Spring Sale Friday May 14 9-6, Saturday May 15 9-4, Hyde Park Shopping Center.
- 2010 Fall Mum and Bulb Sale October 2 2010
- 2010- 51st Spring Sale From the May 2010 Reporter FLASH
- 50 years celebrated
- Information, next sales, Getting stuff donated to not for profits. And some pics from past Garden Fairs
- More about it
- The Fair maintains a fine garden at 53rd and Lake Park. Its story before it's gone for redevelopment
- Vegetable container gardening basics
- Links to Hyde Park gardens-- and see more pics
Watch for the 2010 Fall Mum and Bulb Sale. May be moved to October 2, Saturday, 9-6 due to holidays.
Watch for 2011 Winter Inspirations Lecture Series
2010's were wonderful: (As in January 2010 Conference Reporter. By Trish Morse: Come to where green thoughts of summer gardens blossom, Tuesday evenings in February at the Augustana Lutheran Church, 55th and Woodlawn Avenue, at 7:00 p.m.. There will be refreshments and inspiration, though the ground is covered with snow.)
From the August 2010 Reporter (Vol. 16, No. 2)
Dreams of Spring-- The Fall Garden Fair [by Trish Morse]
The Garden Fair Committee's Fall Fair takes place this year on Saturday, October 2 at the Hyde Park Shopping Center, 55th and Lake Park. Shopping hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This fair is offered as a serice to the community, at just the time when you might be thinking how you would like your garden to look next spring!
The Fall Fair offers bulbs to plant before the first frost for spring color. many exciting varieties of tulips, narcissus, and crocus are available. These spring staples are complemented by hyacinth, alliums, Fritillaria, scilla, Dutch iris, dwarf iris, bearded irises, lilies, and specialty bulbs. This year, the committee plans to offer fall plants such as chrysanthemums, asters, and kale, depending on what is available, as well as houseplants and maybe a few perennials that prefer fall planting.
The bulbs are ordered and shipped from the Netherlands. At the fair, local gardeners offer advice about selection, panting adn cultivation. Plants are selected for city gardening conditions by experienced members of the Garden Fair Committee from trusted Chicagoland growers and nurseries.
The Garden Fair Committee supports the beautification of the neighborhood with donations of plants to schools, houses of worship, and other institutions, as well as to parkways; hanging baskets for the 53rd St. business district. Committee members volunteer to maintain local park areas such as the Wildflower Meadow in Nichols Park.
If you have questions about the fall fair, please contact Joy Rosner, at 773-241-6943, or e-mail joyrosner@aol.com. For more information, visit the Fall Garden Fair's website at www.hydeparkgardenfair.org.
51st Annual Garden Fair May 14-15 2010-
From the May 2010 Reporter FLASH
by Trish MorseThe 51st Annual Hyde Park Garden Fair will fill the Hyde Park Shopping Center courtyard with over 50,000 plants on Friday may 14 (9am to 6 pm) and Saturday May 15 (9am to 4 pm).
As usual, each of the departments of the Garden Fair has searched throughout northern Illinois and Indiana for new varieties, heritage plants, and old favorites. It's a major fundraiser for the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference, but it's also a goal of the Garden Fair to bring the joy of flowers to every yard and parkway in the neighborhood. After all, the motto of Chicago is "Urbs in horto."
The floor of the courtyard is always a mosaic of color on Friday morning because that's where the Annuals Department spreads their 800 flats of 86 varieties. They range from African blue-eyed daisy to zinnia--the department is organized alphabetically. Also festive are the tables for the Containers Department, which specializes in the dramatic and the exotic, including plants fro water gardens.
The Groundcover Department is the place to look when you have a space to fill--either with plants that send out creepers like ajuga, pachysandra, and vinca, or with plants that spread out and fill that shady nook with their girth, like hostas and lady's mantle. Hanging Baskets add spectacular color on their racks by the entrance to the Fair where the fuschias, passion flowers, and rose-flowered impatiens dazzle the eye and nose.
The Herb Department offers a wide range of herbs, many from organic growers, in addition to the culinary staples. There are 11 cultivars of basil alone. The Houseplants show off unusual shapes, colors, and textures suitable from the dim dorm room window to the glorious sunporch with dramatic plants.
The Perennials Department prides itself on understanding the growing needs of Hyde Park/Kenwood for its plants need to survive from year to year. They search out the new and unusual but also teh tested and reliable--from Achilleas and Acounitums to Verbenas and Veronicastrums, they are chosen to survive int eh Chicago climate and neighborhood shade. The Shrubs, Vines, and Roses Department also seeks out the beautiful, unique, and reliable woody plants suited for Hyde Park conditions.
The Vegetable Department offers expertise, advice, and a wide range of organic, heirloom, and unusual varieties of 31 types of vegetables. There are nearly two dozen varieties of organic heirloom tomatoes that have done well under Hyde Park conditions.
Last alphabetically, but not last in my heart, is the Wildflower Department, where flowers, grasses, and ferns that evolved to do well in Chicagoland flourish. They need less attention (and often less water) and attract more butterflies and hummingbirds. Some are showy, some are delicate and ephemeral, some thrive in shade, and some recall the sun-drenched prairie, but all bring a touch of the wild to the city.
This year, the Resource Center will offer mulch and compost for sale during the Fair- the best thing to give your new plants a great start in the garden. And remember that the profits from the sale go to support the garden at the corner of Lake Park and 534d, teh Wildflower Meadow and formal garden in Nichol Park, Norah's Garden at Spruce Park, some of the hanging baskets on 53rd, the lecture series every winter held in Augustana Church, as well as all the other activities of HPKCC.
The Fair held wonderful 50th Anniversary gala reception for members, volunteers and friends May 31, 2009. Highlights included a Resolution from the Chicago City Council thanks to Ald. Preckwinkle and Hairston (who also spoke), a proclamation by Mayor Richard M. Daley, recognition and presentations to surviving founder members and primary leaders and volunteers from over the years, particularly past president Bam Postell and present leader Lesley Bloch; a spectacular revolving slide show, Mr. Howard's granddaughter singing "Summertime," a stellar pianist, a buffet, and a presentation cake were also featured.
There was also a wonderful talk by Bam Postell, photo exhibit and audiovisual show on the Garden Fair's 50 years at the Hyde Park Historical Society July 18 2009.
For info, volunteering, gift certificates, special purchases call George Rumsey at 773 955-4455.
Specifically to volunteer- call Sue Purrington at 773 363-4368 or 773 324-5555 (5th Ward office).2010 Next: Spring Garden Sale, Hyde Park Shopping Center Courtyard, 55th west of Lake Park.
At the Fair: Help Desk of experts.
You can preorder set-asides for nonprofits, churches et al for pickup 4 pm on the Saturday of the sale. Depends on what's left and demand. Contact Lesley Bloch, 773 947-8313.The Garden Fair has been planting the formal garden in Nichols Park, the garden at the corner of 53rd and Lake Park, Norah's Garden on the south side of Spruce Park (54th east of Blackstone) and other open spaces around the neighborhood. Proceeds also help support the work of the Conference.
Above, Hyde Park Garden Fair Committee float in the 2005 4th on 53rd Street Parade and Picnic. Mary Rose Shaughnessy. Below, at the Fall 2005 sale HPKCC board member Patricia Morse touts the latest iris and other bulbs and (left part of right photo) Marianne Smigelskis discuses mums and bulbs with 5th Ward Alderman Leslie Hairston.
The Garden Fair's float at the 2004 4th on 53rd Parade. Nichols Park formal garden, one of the responsibilities of the Garden Fair. About the Fair, its offerings, and its history
There are 10 diverse plant departments and 1 non-plant department. In early spring the Garden Fair Committee visits nurseries to hand-pick over 50,000 plants, emphasizing varieties suitable for city gardens—for example, those that are shade tolerant or fit into smaller spaces or on porches and patios. Experts are on hand at the sales from the departments. Certain supplies such as mulch are also available at the Spring Sale.
The proceeds from the Fair help to support the Hyde Park/Kenwood Community Conference and to beautify Hyde Park-Kenwood neighborhood through various gardening projects. One major project is design, purchase, and planting formal gardens at Nichols Park north formal garden. Another is planting and paying for maintenance of the plot at the city parking lot at 53rd and Lake Park. The Garden Fair at one time planted and maintained the Berm along 55th Street and they helped choose the present plantings maintained by the University under a maintenance contract.
Teachers and other individuals may apply for grants to use plants for public projects such as parkway and street corner plantings. Plants and bulbs are donated directly to churches, synagogues, schools, hospitals, and other non-profit organizations, as well as money and plants for sidewalk planters along the main commercial streets.
The Garden Fair Committee has had an impressive 45 + year existence,the first sale having occurred May, 1959. (Before that of the Botanic Garden- and it's a tad bigger.) The Fair's founders included the respected environmental activist and Hyde Park Herald editor Lee Botts. Pam Postell was president for many years into the mid 1990s. It is an affiliate program committee of Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference. HPKCC is grateful for the help for its programs (and others programs) provided by the Garden Fair from proceeds from the sales- and of course the many who buy the plants!
In short, the Garden Fair Committee manages two large annual fairs and designs, plants, and maintains several neighborhood gardens. To many other projects the Garden Fair Committee members donate their time, talent, money, and labor, including the Nichols Park Wildflower Meadow.
President: Lesley Bloch, 773 947-8313. HPKCC contact/liaison: George Rumsey , Top
Feature from the Autumn, 2004 Conference Reporter:
The Garden at 53rd and Lake Park: An 18-Year Garden Fair Project
By Leslie Bloch, Garden Fair Chairperson
Way back in 1986, the city of Chicago proposed to totally concreted the 53rd St. Lake Park corner. Norah Erickson, a gardening advocate and an active member of the Committee, immediately realized this idea had t be nixed. The spot was perfect for a small public garden. The Garden fair committee agreed to take it on. Within several years (with the support of then-Alderman Tim Evans), the garden grew with an extension going around the corner on Lake Park. Graced with flowering shrubs and well tended perennials the garden thrived for many years.
Norah and Bill Erickson devised an ingenious system of connecting soaker hoses to water the entire garden by sections from the faucet on the side of the building which now houses Hollywood Video. It was possible to shut off the water to any one of the three sections so that another could receive a gush of water. The two of them spent many hours enriching the soil, planting additional perennials and cultivating Norah's beloved sunflowers. Bill acquired a trash can, which he beautifully decorated with painted multi-colored flowers. A hand-painted marker, followed by a steel marker, were set deep into the soil to identify the garden's sponsor. After ten years of devoted service, and many awards, Norah gave it up in order to concentrate on the garden bordering the edge of Spruce Park on 54th St.
The care o t he garden became the responsibility of the committee. Members worked diligently to maintain it as best they could over several years, taking turns weeding, planting, watering, and picking up the wind-blown trash. Unfortunately it was never as consistently beautiful as it had been when the Ericksons nurtured every plant. Water was a big problem. The hoses had been pierced by accidental trowel punctures, resulting in a loss of pressure. Mere trickles of water here and there simply weren't sufficient for good care. The summers were scorchers. None of numerous watering strategies worked. Hoses were stolen. The faucet was destroyed over several winters by cars mistakenly backing into it. The garden had become a chore, and embarrassment.
But now as we look back on the successful Summer of 2004 with perennials selected by the Committee and a glorious Fall of blooming mums from the Bulb and Mum Sale in September, we can honestly say the garden is once again a delight to behold. Thanks to Angela Smith, the director of Executive Suites at Aegis Properties, Hyde Park Bank, and the bank's lumber, the faucet has been repaired and provided with an indestructible steel cover. George Franklin of S&G Franklin installed a Toro watering system. Arrangements were made with the SECC Flower Power project for regular watering during the Summer. And best of all, the Committee hired Roy Powell to care for the garden two afternoons a week. Our recent planting of bulbs for plants in the Spring will lead the garden into another successful season.
Vegetable Growing Basics for Container Gardening
Guidelines abstracted from material from Betty McCarthy's Garden Fair lecture February 7, 2007
Light requirements:
- High- at least 6 hours direct sunlight--cukes, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes
- Medium- 4-5-- roots such as radishes, carrots, cabbage family high end
- Low- still minimum of 3-4 direct-- lettuces, chard, spinach, mustards
Temperature preferences (soil)
- Cool 30s to high 60s-- leafy vegetables, peas, green onions, root crops
- Warm low 60s to high 80s and a long growing season. Fruiting, pole and bush beans, chard, some leafy just before harvest
- Sultry low 70s to high 90s and extra long growing season-- sweet potato, okra, tampal, Malabar "spinach"
- Notes: leafy vegetables "bolt" if to warm. Tomato plants do not set fruit if nighttime temperature are in the 80s and growth stops if daytime temperatures go down to the 50s.
Suggested Container sizes
- Window boxes 6" deep or more: quick growing greens harvested 25-5 days from germination, radishes, maybe baby carrots, very dwarf tomatoes if far apart
- 2 gallon pots c. 8'-10' dia.: single pepper, eggplant, cukes, determinate tomato
- 5 gallon pots or equiv 15" dia like trash cans: single full-fruited tomato inc. Big Boy, cherry- other indeterminate tomatoes requiring trellis or cage
- 7 gallon or larger: combinations esp. of quic-corp and long-season.
- Note: small containers dry out fast so use the largest to fit your space.
Special consideration of location
- Weather conditions--spring and fall may require moving to shelter or covering
- Wind leads to drying, breaking or toppling. Tie to support or use cage or trellis
- Mess: be prepare to spill water, fertilizer, soil, plant debris. Use a spot that is easily tidied up or resistant to stains.
Selection of available books (sample)
Container Gardening for Kids. Ellen Talmage. Sterling. NY: 1996
Incredible Vegetables from Self-Watering Containers. Edward C. Smith. Storey: 2006
Gardening in Containers. Alvin Horton, ed. Ortho Books:1984
Movable Harvests: The Simplicity and Bounty of Container Gardens. Chuck Crandall and Barara Crandall. Chapter, Shelburne, VT: 1995
The Bountiful Container.... Rose Marie Nichols McGee and Maggie Stuckey. Workman P, Ny:" 2002
The Edible Container Garden: Growing Fresh Food in Small Spaces. Michel Guerra. Fireside of Simon & Schuster. NY: 2000.
Selection of websites for general information - do a simple search for lots more.
Cornell University: soil less mix: http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/chemung/publications/container-growing-amending-soil.pdf; suitable vegetables with seed sources and ratings: http://vegvariety.cce.cornell.edu/
University of Illinois Cooperative Extension service: www.uiuc.edu and search "yard and garden," "food and nutrition."
Federal: start with usda.gov/gardening. National Agricultural Library at lincolnnal.usda.
Others: www.gardenlist.com (given as "gradenlist.com"). www.gardenforever.com (esp. for those with aging and disabilities). www.gardenweb.com/forums (specific and interactive).
Selection of vegetable seed and plant catalogues
Burpee. 300 Park Ave., Warminster PA 18991-0001. 1-800-888-1447, www.burpee.com
Cook's Garden, The. PO C030 Warminster PA 18974, 1-800-457-9703, www.cooksgarden.com. Esp. for salad greens, culture, recipes.
Johnny's Selected Seeds. 955 Benton Av, Winslow ME ? 1-88-564-564-6697, www.Johnnyseeds.com. Envir and socially responsible, excellent selection of seeds, herbs, flower, many organically grown. Cultural info.
Kitchen Garden Seeds (John ScheepersJ). 23 Tulip Dr, PO Box 638, Bantam Ct 06750-0638. 1-860-567-6086, www.kitchengardenseeds.com.
Le Jardin du Gourmet. PO Box 75, St. Johnsburg Ctr VT, 05863-0075. Good but small selection incl. edible flowers, in very small inexpensive packets.
Nichols Garden Nursery. 1190 Old Salem Rd NE, Albany OR, 97321-4580, 1-8-422-3985, www.nicholsgardennursery.com. Herb specialists, wine-making, seeds guaranteed to be untreated, website has blog.
Park Seed Co. 1 Parkton Av, greenwood SC, 29647-0099, 1-800-845-369, www.parkseed.com. Includes certified organic. cultual info.
Renees Garden Seeds. Online only www.reneesgarden.com. Was "Shepherd's." Delightful, wide range, good cultural.
Richters. 357 Highway 47, Goodwood Ontario LOC IAO Canada, 1-905-640-6641, www.richters.com. Outstanding herb, rest small but choice.
Territorial Seed Co. PO Box 158, Cottage Grove, OR, 97423-0061, 1-800-626-0866, www.territorialseed.com. Wide array, excellent cultural.
Totally Tomatoes. 334 W. Stroud St., Randolph, WI, 53956, 1-800-345-5977, www.totallytomato.com. But some seeds, plants, peppers, eggplant, salad vegetables.
[And here is an additional suggestion from a reader: ForFarmers.com
URL: http://www.forfarmers.com/
Description :ForFarmers.com is a marketplace for buying and selling various breeds of garden, landscape, fruits, horticulture, flowers, plants, seeds, crops, vegetables as well as agricultural jobs and a wide range of services.][For as starting bibliography on organic gardening, see above:]
Tips for sustainable Gardening: Use-Conserve-Avoid
Brought to you by Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference Environmental Sustainability Task Force (distributed at the Garden Fair sale)
USE
- Plant native plants to save on water and reduce the need for pesticides
- Consider installing a green roof
- Plant hardy perennials rather than annuals
- Try companion planting, succession planting, and rotation for a healthy garden
- Rely on indoor plants to clean the air instead of air fresheners
CONSERVE
- Care for a city tree, by watering, mulching and removing litter
- Install a rain barrel to conserve water
- Feed the soil to create the best soil ecosystem and build soil health -- the most important thing to do in the garden!
- Compost kitchen and garden waste
- Wash and reuse plastic plant pots, etc. for seed starting
AVOID
- Instead of gas or electric power, use a push mower
- Instead of pesticides and herbicides, choose garlic or soap sprays
SOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION
- The New Organic Grower, by Elliot Coleman, et al (1995)
- Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting for Successful Gardening, by Louise Riotte (1998) this is the "bible" of comp pltg
- The Permaculture Way: Practical Steps to Create a Self-sustaining World, by Graham Bell (2005)
- The Rodale Book of Composting: Easy Methods for Every Gardener (1992)
- Rodales's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening, by Anna Kruger (2005)
- How to Grow More Vegetables and Fruits, by John Jeavons (2006)
Book citations courtesy of Anna Viertel, Coordinator of School Gardens, Chicago Botanic Garden
Permaculture Websites:
http://www.sustaincup.blogspot.com (posts events and seminars)
http://www.greennetchicago.org
http://www.midwestpermaculture.comCourtesy of Bill Morrisette
Gardens of Hyde Park page. View more gardens. 61st Community Garden.
Parks/Other Parks and Open Space. LILAC. Lake Park Corridor
Suite of park photo galleries- index in the Park News web home for Jackson, Osaka, Nichols, Midway.....
Green, Growing events and announcements in Green Resources and Calendar including info on gardening volunteers, the Mayor's Landscape awards.
See park and green links in Parks/Other Links.
The Fall 2003 Mum and Bulb Sale
