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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 2010 winter lecture series.
Our Spring Sale is 3rd Friday and Saturday in May and Fall sale 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. 50 YEARS!
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.
- 50 years celebrated
- Information, next sales. 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
May 14, Friday 9 am-6 pm, May 15, Saturday 9 am-4 pm Spring Sale. Hyde Park Shopping Center courtyard, 1500s E. 55th St.
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 sumer gardens blossom, Tuesday evenings in Febuary at teh 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.)
February 2, Tuesday, 7 pm. Hyde Park Garden Fair Committee ( a committee of HPKCC) opens its 2010 Winter Inspirations Lecture Series. (Next Feb. 9 and 16.) “Organic Gardening Basics” with Kirsten Akre from the Chicago Park District’s Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse. She’ll show us how to work with nature to maintain the delicate balance of all the organisms in our yard and give us the skill to grow healthy productive plants for food and pleasure. Learn how to create an abundance of bees, birds, beetles, and worms in your garden, and celebrate the diversity of life both above and below ground.
Augustana Lutheran Church- this one in the sanctuary. 5500 S. Woodlawn. http://www.hydeparkgardenfair.org.February 9, Tuesday, 7 pm. Hyde Park Garden Fair Committee ( a committee of HPKCC) 2010 Winter Inspirations Lecture Series. (Next Feb. 16.) We’ll learn how beautiful biodiversity can be when Loretta Downs presents “Butterfly Gardening in the City.” Loretta has transformed her Bucktown two-flat and urban garden into a butterfly-friendly habitat. She raises and releases as many as 300 monarch butterflies each season. Find out how she does it and learn how to create a butterfly-friendly garden of your own.
Augustana Lutheran Church. 5500 S. Woodlawn. http://www.hydeparkgardenfair.org.February 16, Tuesday, 7 pm. Hyde Park Garden Fair Committee ( a committee of HPKCC) 2010 Winter Inspirations Lecture Series. (Next Feb. 16.) "Tasting Fresh Herbs in February" with Bam Postell, who will show us how to capture the tastes of summer herb harvests in our pantries and freezers so that even in the dead of winter mustards, vinegars, jellies, butters, and more will keep us warm. Discover how with recipes, demonstrations, and tastings. Luckily, with fresh herbs available in stores, we won’t have to wait until spring to experiment ourselves. Augustana Lutheran Church. 5500 S. Woodlawn. http://www.hydeparkgardenfair.org.
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.
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: Winter: Garden Fair Lectures. Spring Garden Sale, Hyde Park Shopping Center Courtyard, 55th west of Lake Park. Chrysanthemums, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, aliums, irises, spring bulbs, fall bulbs, perennials, and a lot more!
At the Fair: Help Desk of experts.
The Garden Fair has been planting the formal garden in Nichols Park and other open spaces around the neighborhood although they do not formally maintain gardens. 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:]
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
