By Carol Cichorski, on April 15th, 2013  Morning snow flurries are not enough to stop an afternoon gardener. After all, it is April and I am itching to get outside. I need to see what is trying to bloom for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day. I need to finish getting those grasses cut down. I need to plant the Pansies. I need. I need. I need. My inner gardener pretty much doesn’t care what the outside temperature is. I’m goin’ out there.
My coal bucket experiment has certainly been a success. I planted my coal buckets up last December and put them in the garage. Mike watered them a few times, but basically, we ignored them. We noticed some sprouts in early March and moved the coal buckets outside. Fearing for the life of my little sprouts, we often brought them in on really cold nights. It worked! I have the only blooming hyacinths and tulips in sight.
I do have a few (and I do mean few) other candidates for today’s Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day. I’m going to count the pansies as blooming, even though I can only take credit for buying them.
A lonely crocus is blooming.
The daffodils are trying.
The scilla is beginning to make a statement. It has naturalized under a large tree in the front, and soon the periwinkle it cohabitates with will join the party.
I know it’s not much, but I’m not going to complain. It’s all relative…and speaking of relatives, we have one in Door County. Debbie’s yard looked like this just a few weeks ago. Suddenly our spring doesn’t seem so bad.
Do you want to know what else is blooming in the April garden? To see what other bloggers have blooming on the 15th of every month, visit May Dreams Gardens – Bloom Day for our Garden Bloggers’ Bloom day entries.
By Carol Cichorski, on April 5th, 2013  Session after session after session after session. As the On-Site Seminar Manager for the Chicago Flower & Garden show, you’ve got to figure I have some takeaways to share. No, not leftover plants from the displays (darn). For this month’s Favorites on the Fifth, I’ll share my list of favorite informational takeaways from the show.
#1 – Best Quote
A quote from Rich Eyre at Foxwillow Pines:
“The sound of falling water is worth three psychiatrists.”
#2 – Best Gardens
Nearby places I want to see:
-The Chicago Art Institute garden designed by Roy Diblik of Northwind Perennials. Roy’s philosophy fully embraces native plantings.
– The Chicago Shedd Aquarium garden that won an Illinois Landscaper Construction Association (ILCA) Excellence award
#3 – Words of Wisdom
Tips from Chris Olsen, Landscape and Design Guru:
– Group 3 planters together. CRAM them full and SHOVE them together.
– Let your neighbors know when you are having a big party. Apologize for the cars and traffic. Then watch them all clean up their yards.
#4 – Attracting Monarchs
Pat Miller is a conservation specialist for Monarch Watch. She is a Master Naturalist and Plant Technician for the Morton Arboretum. Per Pat:
– Monarchs only lay eggs on milkweed. Milkweed is the only thing the monarch caterpillar eats. If you want monarchs, get milkweed.
– Most monarchs live about 4 weeks, but the monarchs towards the end of summer are built for the migration to Mexico and live up to 9 months. They ride the winds like hawks. Even the monarchs from Canada make the 3000 mile trip to Mexico.
 Monarch caterpillar photo by Bette Watson #5 – Best Book
Jeanne Pinsof Nolan does monthly organic garden workshops at Lincoln Park for Green City Market, as well as school programs. If she had to pick one gardening book, it would be “Rodale’s Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening”.
#6 Local Flowers
Debra Prinzing’s new book “The 50 Mile Bouquet” promotes making your arrangements with plants from local growers. It surprised me to learn:
– 80% of cut flowers come from South America.
– 97% of Valentine roses come from South America.
– Only 2 floats in the Pasadena Rose Bowl Parade had American grown flowers this year.
#7 – Best Photography Tip
Mike Caplan may be best known as the WLS Meteoroligist, but to me he is a photographer. His photography session taught me to pretend there is a grid on my viewer when I am deciding what the focal point of my picture is. Think of it like a game of tic tac toe. The focus generally belongs at a grid intersection; only occasionally does the subject belong in the middle of the picture.
#8 – Best Lawn Care Tips
These tips come from Tom Tiddens of Chicago Botanic Gardens:
– Sharpen your lawnmower blade at least annually.
– Core aerate 1 – 2 times a year, late spring, early fall. Decreases compaction, Increases drainage, increases rooting, breaks thatch layer, and it’s then a great time to seed.
#9 – Best Bulb Tip
Jennifer Brennan’s and Mike Nowak’s “Dig In” Chicago TV show returns on April 27th to WCIU 26.
– Jennifer suggests starting summer bulbs inside now, just like you would start seeds now.
– We’ve taken that to a whole different level with over 150 dahlias currently growing in our basement. By the time Mike is done, we’ll have 400 – 500 for sales and for our yard.
#10 – Sad But True
Tony Fulmer of Chalet Nursery sadly acknowledges that Impatiens Downy Mildew (IDM) is here.
– IDM attacks regular impatiens, not New Guinea impatiens, or anything else.
– The plants lose all leaves and flowers.
– Spores are airborne and stay in the ground 5 – 10 years, so even if the plants are disease free when you get them, they are still very likely to die.
– Solution: Use alternatives like the new huge begonias that are available.
By Carol Cichorski, on March 26th, 2013 I’m big on tradition for holiday recipes, but sometimes even I come across a recipe I’m willing to add to a special occasion menu. This one uses Quinoa. When I first told Mom about Quinoa last year, I pronounced it Quin-o-ah. I was so proud of myself for discovering this healthy grain. Pride goeth before the fall, as others (like Mom) had already embraced quinoa, and knew how to pronounce it: Keen-wah. Quinoa is great as a side dish with a regular meal, and it’s nice for guests as it can be prepared ahead.
Quinoa Salad with Apples and Almonds
(Originally from Family Fun Magazine)
1 cup quinoa, rinsed
2 cups water
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup peeled, diced tart apple, such as Granny Smith
1 cup finely chopped celery
1/3 cup golden raisins
1/3 cup finely chopped parsley
1/2 cup coarsely chopped almonds, toasted
Coarse salt and pepper
1. In a medium-size saucepan, combine the quinoa and water, then bring them to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the quinoa is tender and the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Transfer the quinoa to a large bowl, stir, and let it cool completely.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, lemon juice, and salt. Gradually whisk in the oil until blended.
3. Add the apple, celery, raisins, parsley, and almonds to the quinoa and toss the ingredients well. Add the dressing and toss once more to coat the salad. Season it with salt and pepper to taste. Serve at room temperature. Serves 6 to 8.
By Carol Cichorski, on March 15th, 2013 
Poor me. I’ve been gone all day every day this week and couldn’t take pictures of my yard for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day on the 15th.
Poor me. I leave when it’s getting light.
Poor me. I get back when it’s dark.
Poor me. I’ve had to spend every day at the Chicago Flower & Garden Show.
Oops. I guess that last line ended any opportunity to get sympathy from you. Somehow working at the Flower & Garden Show isn’t like working. It’s more like dying and going to flower heaven.
Last week I posted some pictures that I took as the show was being built. I thought it would be fun to show some of those along with this week’s companion pictures of the same area.
Yes, it’s been a rough week. But someone had to do it. So glad it was (and continues to be) me!
Do you want to know what else is blooming in the March garden? To see what other bloggers have blooming on the 15th of every month, visit May Dreams Gardens – Bloom Day for our Garden Bloggers’ Bloom day entries.
By Carol Cichorski, on March 8th, 2013 And now…the moment you’ve all been waiting for…the opening of the Chicago Flower & Garden Show. Wait!!!! It’s not time. It’s too early. It’s even too early for the Friday evening preview to be previewing. So I won’t take the mystery out of the show, but a sneak peak could be fun. A sneak preview of the work in process that is.
I was at Navy Pier Wednesday, getting instructions for my job as the On-Site Seminar Manager. I also got the really nice Columbia Fleece that forevermore states that I was on staff at the show. Here I am modeling it (far right) with Rebecca, Tracey, Lauro, Andrew, Jeylu, and Merideth as we got our marching orders.
The big boys with the big toys were busy building the giant jigsaw puzzle soon to be known as the Chicago Flower & Garden Show. Here are some pictures for those of you who wonder how the wonderment happens.
The Chicago Flower & Garden Show starts tomorrow, Saturday, at 10 AM, and runs through next Sunday, March 17th. Remember, I’m speaking on Tuesday at 2:45 on Creativity in the Garden. Hope to see you there.
By Carol Cichorski, on March 5th, 2013 I love this quote that Beth Burden sent out to all of the speakers at this year’s Chicago Flower & Garden Show…
IF YOU ARE DELAYED FOR ANY REASON: please call Carol, our on-site seminar manager.
Yep. Me. On-site seminar manager at the Chicago Flower & Garden Show that runs March 9 – 17 at Navy Pier. We have our team meeting tomorrow so I’ll get to see the show being built. You’ll have to settle for seeing behind the scenes pictures on FaceBook.
I’m speaking too. Gee, I wonder what nice things the on-site seminar manager will say when she introduces me? My presentation on ‘Creativity in the Garden’ is all set to go, and I even tied it to the Art theme of the show. If you’ve ever wondered how I made the 3′ x 8′ mosaic that graces the banner of this blog, this will be your chance to find out. Join me at the show on Tuesday, March 12th, at 2:45.
 Come to the Show to see what Salvador Dalí has to say about creativy Nearly two dozen display gardens will provide inspiration with vertical plant walls, water features, edible gardens, outdoor living rooms, a “Kids’ Activity Garden,” an “Art of Floral” interpretive exhibit, and much more! The all-new “How to Garden” demonstration studio will offer practical tips on all things green, and experts will be available to help cure horticulture headaches.
Glean even more great ideas from the Chicago Flower & Garden Show’s professionally-designed “Tablescapes” exhibition, watch daily demos from award-winning “Garden Gourmet” chefs at the kitchen amphitheater and buy must-have garden and lawn-care products, plants and tools from top suppliers in the show’s extensive “Marketplace.”
The stroller-friendly show will inspire, educate and motivate gardeners and gourmets of all ages and abilities. You can get $2 off the box office price for each adult ticket purchased by ordering on-line. Check the website for parking and public transportation options. Show parking starts as low as $10 at the Navy Pier East and West garages.
So here we are on ‘Favorites on the Fifth’ and I didn’t have to look far to find my favorite this month. Look out Chicago Flower & Garden Show, here I come!
By Carol Cichorski, on February 26th, 2013 
Yes, gardening in Chicagoland has arrived at the Cichorski house, even though 4-6” of snow was also arriving as I wrote this.
• My first published paid article ever is in the March/April issue of Chicagoland Gardening Magazine.
• I’ll be introducing the speakers at the Garden Show March 9 – 17. Ok, it’s not the Oscars, but Seth could have some hosting competition next year if I do well. Just sayin’.
• I’m speaking at the Chicago Flower and Garden Show again on March 12th at 2:45. My topic is ‘Creativity in the Garden’. I’ve even started to write the presentation. No pressure here.
• Mike has dahlias growing in the basement.
• We are both speaking to Garden Clubs in March. Mike on Dahlias for the Park Ridge Garden Club. Me on ‘Gardening by the Blog’ for the Darien Garden Club.
• My amaryllis, though behind schedule, will be chiming in with a bloom any day.
• Did I mention that my first published paid article ever is in the March/April issue of Chicagoland Gardening Magazine? Its about our fence.
Growth is really a process, isn’t it? I’m not talking about my yard, I’m talking about people. And growing enough to write for Chicagoland Gardening Magazine has been a goal of mine. As has working for the Chicago Flower and Garden Show. Do you have some goals, latent or in-process?
I think Bill Hybels (Pastor at Willow Creek Church) was right this last weekend when he said we reach our goals by getting them on our calendar. I’ll add that they are just dreams till we start taking action. In Bill’s case, he wanted to be a Great Dad when Shawna and Todd were small. He penciled in 4 nights a week on his calendar for family time. Not a natural for a busy pastor, but it was what he felt he needed to do to meet the goal.
I’m glad that my calendar finally includes a weekly Bible Study. What we give our time to says a lot about who we are, or in this case, who I want to grow to be.
Over the last several years, I’ve also committed to writing this blog, posting 3 – 4 times a month. Hmmm, sounds like a calendar entry, a rather lose one, but an entry none-the less. I don’t know if the collection will ever be the basis for my book ‘Creativity in God’s Garden’, but the book is much more likely to happen thanks to the blog.
Perhaps it’s time for your dreams to become goals. Start with a calendar entry today.
Did I mention that my first published paid article ever is in the March/April issue of Chicagoland Gardening Magazine?
By Carol Cichorski, on February 15th, 2013  If there is one thing I know about plants, it’s the importance of having the right plant in the right place. I know this because I move my plants so often that Mike says they have wheels not roots. I’m perfectly willing to move plants when they are less than thrilled with their location. Eventually I get it right. Usually. Ok, often.
A point in case about the importance of location. I was walking around yesterday looking for blooms to post for Garden Blogger’s Bloom day. I know that February in Chicago is not the ideal time for high expectations. Yet here I am enjoying these blooms because they are in the right location. I will admit that the selection is limited. Pansies, for example, are more tolerant of chilly weather than most flowers.
I did find some other options as well. These planters by the Ruth’s Chris Steak House were doing well…
Then there is always the option of enjoying a low-maintenance area that focuses on foliage over flowers…
 Or even foregoing greenery altogether in lieu of hardscape…
But wait, you say. Carol, how can this be?
I’ll go right back to my original statement that having the right plant in the right place is important. As my camera and I made the rounds yesterday, the right place was Atlanta.
Do you want to know what else is blooming in the February garden? To see what other bloggers have blooming on the 15th of every month, visit May Dreams Gardens – Bloom Day for our Garden Bloggers’ Bloom day entries.
By Carol Cichorski, on February 5th, 2013 
It’s Elementary. Valentine’s Day is not the time to make a Boo Boo Honey. You want your loved one to know they are a Person of Interest to you. Whether you are a Modern Family or among the Young and the Restless, you don’t have to Keep Up With the Kardishians or take a trip to Vegas.
Ladies, even if you are one of Two Broke Girls vying for his love, you can get some simple craft supplies to decorate the Castle. No Extreme Makeover needed.
Be The Good Wife and do some Goodwill Hunting to find reasonably priced decorations. You can earn bonus points by including the cat if your sweetheart Must Love Pets. You don’t have to be a Jersey Girl to be his American Idol.
 Gentlemen, even if you are just a regular Family Guy, send her flowers at The Office. Be sure to include a card that says P.S. I Love You. It will get you a lot of Leverage. Roses can be expensive, but The Price is Right if you no longer want to be The Bachelor. After all, if there are Two and a Half Men in her Life, you don’t want to be The Biggest Loser.
So for today’s Favorites of the Fifth, my suggested favorite place to go is Pesches, Bertholds, or your own local florist. You don’t want her Trading Spouses or calling Dr. Phil for Anger Management.
I know you can do this, because America’s Got Talent and we all want Happy Endings. Deal or No Deal?
By Carol Cichorski, on January 31st, 2013 My first trip to the Chicago Flower & Garden Show was 18 years ago. It was a defining moment for me. Mike and his Mom were already gardeners. My gardening experience at that time came down to ‘that which would grow in my gutters if I didn’t clean them.’ Perhaps I knew that the smiley faces I was making in the picture below were being made with mums. Perhaps I didn’t. I was no plant-ologist, that is for sure.
Now it seems that I live, eat, and sleep gardening. And each year when I go to the show, I wish I could somehow be a part of it. Lookout world – here I come! Yes, I was at the show yesterday, January 30th. Festival Hall at Navy Pier is almost ready.
And the mobs of anxious visitors are beginning to arrive.
Oh, I can’t fool you. That is a very empty Festival Hall, and a very empty pier. 10 AM on a January morning is like that. I did find this lovely garden bench in the Chicago Children’s Museum.
I wasn’t at Navy Pier to see the sights though. This trip was serious business. I want to work at the show, and Gabe Coronado can and did make that happen. Yours truly will be managing the sessions. When a speaker has a microphone, it will be because of me. When you can see their PowerPoint presentation, it will be because I turned down the lights. When there aren’t enough handouts, well, that will be because of someone else, I hope.
Mark your calendar with the Chicago Flower & Garden Show dates of March 9th – 17th. I did. See you there.
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