Chrysalis Hospice Inspiration

Here is my wonderful friend, Loretta Downs, in the generous garden of her Chicago B & B. The fuzzy object on the tree trunk is a nesting bag which provides soft materials for birds, another of Loretta's interests. But butterflies captivate her most. After a dozen years as a hospice volunteer and inspirational speaker and following her mom's death, Loretta initiated her first Chrysalis room. She raises Monarchs in incubators and these become part of the transitional experience when hospice patients are lucky enough to end their life in one of these Chrysalis rooms in nursing homes. We should all be so lucky. Read more at her recent website: http://www.endoflifeinspirations.com/chrysalis_room.htm

TruGreen ChemLawn Vigil

Our new dog, Mina, wants to roam in true green, non-chemically treated, landscapes. Thus, she is passing along the following information from Safer Pest Control Project:


VIGIL FOR LESS-TOXIC LAWNS
On Thursday, June 28th, Pesticide Watch is asking you to participate in an opportunity to reform the lawn care industry and phase out the use of some of the most toxic lawn care pesticides. TruGreen ChemLawn, a part of The ServiceMaster Company, will hold its annual shareholder?s meeting at the Chase Tower in Chicago. TruGreen ChemLawn is the nation's largest lawn care pesticide applicator, and over half of the chemicals they use are possible carcinogens. A new private equity group called Clayton, Dubilier and Rice has purchased TruGreen ChemLawn and ServiceMaster and has a unique opportunity to make it truly green. We are hosting a vigil and speaking with new company owners at the shareholder?s meeting to stress the need to phase out dangerous lawn chemicals. You can learn more about the campaign at www.RefuseToUseChemLawn.org.

What: Be Truly Green Vigil
When: Thursday, June 28th
10:00-11:00am Vigil outside
11:00-12:00pm delegation inside shareholders meeting
Who: parents, faith leaders, children and pets, everyone, to attend the event!
Where: Chase Tower, Plaza Level S.E., 10 S. Dearborn St (The Loop), Chicago, IL

Also, while we are on the topic:

FAITH IN FEWER PESTICIDES
TruGreen ChemLawn, the nation's largest lawn care pesticide applicator, applies thousands of pounds of pesticides to lawns across the country each year. Pesticides they use, like 2,4-D, MCPP and MCPA, pose serious threats to children, pets and our environment. Yet, the company claims to "Honor God in All That We Do." We are calling on all leaders in the broader faith community, be they Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim or some other faith, to sign on to our interfaith letter calling on TruGreen ChemLawn to phaseout and discontinue the use of dangerous pesticides. See more on our website at http://www.refusetousechemlawn.org/open_letter_to_the_faith_community2. Signatories should submit their full name, title and contact information to paul@pesticidewatch.org

Thank you for your time and we hope you can participate.

Rachel Rosenberg
Executive Director
Safer Pest Control Project

Compost Tea Dame

I am always jealous of pick-up truck owners...here is Lynn Bement compostqueen@comcast.net with her compost tea brewer. She brewed this tea especially for a pathetic landscape lacking in micronutrients. Soon after this shot, she sprayed all the plants with her special brew. Now we hope the critters will get going and the plants will begin to thrive. Be the first on your block to call her and start towards a healthy garden!

Piet & Frank at Millenium Park

Oudolf's Sanguisorba & Gehry's bandshell form and inform Chicago.

Chicago Architectural River Boat Tour

Wasted opportunity & a gem...the roof gardens, of course.

Frogs for Susie

Irene's Table

Planetary Garden

Old Orange Eyes

17-year cicadas in Glencoe....I love the hum of their mating calls. The sound was louder in Wilmette presumably because we were working under the canopy of very old oaks.

Contrasting Colors, Cool Textures

No Need To Imagine Orange Anymore

One of our great clients, Chris Toth, plays with my favorite color in her container.