The West Chicago Garden Club

The Kruse Garden is in full bloom and looks fabulous.

In keeping with the Club’s mission statement, we are committed to preserving the nearly one-acre garden at the Kruse House Museum.

We would greatly appreciate any volunteers who can spare some time to pull a few weeds, dead-head spent flowers, trim a few shrubs, refill the bird baths….your choice. Get your hands dirty and spend an hour, part of a morning, a couple of hours one evening. Please help!

Everyone is welcome to visit any time at 527 Main Street, West Chicago. Our regular work day is Wednesday 9 – 11:30. Contact us for other times at WestChicagoGardenClub@gmail.com.

By Ruth Kyme

Please note that our June meeting will be held in the beautiful Kruse garden.  We will have 50 folding chairs set up for those attending, or you are welcome to bring your own lawn chair.  Parking will be available in the City Hall lot west of the Kruse garden.  Car pooling is encouraged.  If inclement weather is predicted for the evening of our meeting, we will meet at St. Andrew’s church instead of outdoors in the garden.  If this change is necessary, members will receive notification by both email and phone on Wednesday evening, the day before our Thursday meeting.  

Our June speaker will be E-Ling Lou.  E-Ling is an Ikebana artist who has been practicing Ikebana, the art of Japanese flower arranging, for over 25 years. She volunteers at the Morton Arboretum, where you can see her Ikebana-inspired botanic arrangements. 

E-Ling will demonstrate the Japanese art of arranging flowers, branches, leaves, and stems as materials in natural and serene works of art.  She will demonstrate and create four Ikebana arrangements for us during the meeting.  Three of the finished arrangements will be raffled off after the demonstration.  E-Ling plans to use seasonal materials from the Kruse house garden in her arrangements.

The Kruse House Museum will be open for brief tours (& bathroom access) starting at 6pm that evening.

Meeting Location: Either the Kruse Garden (527 Main Street) OR St Andrew Lutheran Church (NE Corner of Prince Crossing & Geneva Road.)

Meeting Time:

• 6:45PM Arrive & Mingle
• 7:00PM Business Meeting
• 7:15PM Program

By Amanda & Brandon Skinner

“That Beautiful Garden!” The Kruse House is one of the first things I noticed from our home’s rear windows when viewing our home years ago. When I get to enjoy many different aspects of the Kruse Garden, I see so many community members taking advantage of the space. I notice people walking while playing with their dogs, friends, kids and grandchildren. It is a wonderful sight! I love to see adults with children looking at everything the garden has to offer, such as plants, animals, flowers, butterflies and birds. I always hope the children are learning wonderful things about nature. I hope you all take time to enjoy what is around you. I see many people take pictures of the plants, probably the tag as well. Hopefully, they will plant the same in their yards. Seeing what plants work perfectly in your neighborhood shows a beginner what could work for them too! I see many families use the garden for activities of all types. Recently one of our neighbors took a perfect opportunity for a photo shoot. They used many different features of the garden. I know the photographer’s pictures will be amazing family memories. (Picture used with permission)

On a sad note – Snowdrop, one of our sweet Kruse House kitties has passed away. Snowdrop was buried June 11. I will miss her waiting for me on my assigned mornings to feed the cats along with occasionally seeing her in my backyard. I hope Stripey will start making herself more visible.