Northtown Garden Society
Chicago, Illinois
Hydrangea
Planting the Garden 2011
The Summer Cleanup Crew 2017 L to R: Marilyn Shipley, Holly Gallegos and Ginny Davis
Boone School Garden
Comments from Jami Mandolini at Boone School in early October:
We had several classes go out into the garden near the end of the year. Students planted tomatoes, cilantro, beans, corn, and squash. We are hoping to prep the garden for the winter soon.
The students really loved being able to get out into the garden and get dirty. They helped us to fill the raised beds with organic material and a layer of soil, they planted seeds, took part in watering them, and got to see them grow and some of them bloom. Having the opportunity to experience nature first hand is invaluable and many of them are excited for more opportunities this school year.
Waters School Garden
Arnstrong School Garden - new conifers
Titia Crespo and Pete Leki - Waters School
L to R: Jean Francione, Principal Jacklyn Delaney, Eva Mannaberg (NGS), and Jami Mandolini - Boone School
L to R: Theresa Isaacson, Eva Mannaberg (NGS), and Principal Otis Dunson - Armstong School
Green Room 2014
Green Room 2012
Cactii Terrarium
Cleanup Crew 2014
L to R: Ginny Davis, Eva Mannaberg, Lee Holohan, Lucy Radycki, Shelly Greenberg
Late Spring 2017
Mosaic Marker created by Ginny Davis 2015
First Year Planting 2010
The Plaque made by Frank Glapa
The Dedication Picnic 2012
Waters School Gardens
Rose of Sharon Garden 2016
Triangle Garden 2017
In 2016, three local schools, Armstrong, Boone and Waters, have received $300.00 each in order to further their school gardening projects. Armstrong will build a conifer garden, Boone will grow vegetables in raised beds and Waters will use the grant to continue its Sustainable Garden Project.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Scholarships
Supporting Park District Programs
Our Community Outreach Program for 2017 has granted scholarships to 4 children to attend Warren Park Day camp. In the past, we have provided funds for a day care graduation party and purchased swimming pools for summer campers.
Pictured on right are three of the four 2017 campers, brothers, Samuel and Nathan, and Sebastian who we have supported for 3 years.
School Gardens
Supporting Local School Gardens
Pete Leki, award-winning environmental activist, gardener and Ecology Program Coordinator at Waters Elementary School spoke about the process of converting an asphalt parking lot/play area to native plant and community gardens. To see a video of Mr. Leki discussing his work at Waters School, click here.
The Rose of Sharon Garden was the dream of NGS member Sharon Walsh whose untimely death in 2011 prohibited her from enjoying her dream. It is named in her honor.
The garden is located on the south side of the sidewalk leading to the Warren Park Field House, 6601 N. Western Ave. It is planted with pink roses, Russian Sage, cranesbill "Rozanne", hostas and daffodils.
We have been maintaining the Triangle Garden on the east side of Indian Boundary Park, 2501 W. Lunt Ave., for many years. It was redesigned as a mostly shade garden in 2010 as the tree canopy spread.
The plantings are a mixture of shrubs and perennials with a patch of shade annuals to provide a bit of color. A nice selection of shade perennials including ferns, hostas, anemones, hydrangeas, coral bells, turtleheads, astilbe and ligularia can be found. In the spring, species tulips, daffodils, crocuses and other spring bulbs burst forth.
We have been maintaining The Green Room, located in the Warren Park Field House, 6601 N. Western Ave., for many years. It contains a variety in indoor plants including a terrarium containing cactii. It provides a nice respite to get away from a snowy, cold winter.
Gardening
Gardening
Green Room
One of our missions is to provide services to our community. We do this by maintaining gardens in local parks, maintaining the Green Room at Warren Park, providing summer camp scholarships to children in need and providing financial support to local school gardening programs.