by Ron Ory
Every April, as the ground begins to thaw and dry, 500 eager gardeners descend on the Community Garden Plots to begin planting what they hope will be a bountiful harvest by September. Few realize that nearby are a couple of gardening gems that can help them learn to grow. One is the area of four plots where Master Gardeners are growing 30 different kinds of vegetables, and they are more than willing to provide advice and show gardeners what grows best in Naperville.
A second gem adjacent to the Master Gardeners’ plots on the north side of the Garden Plots is an area called IDEA GARDENS. The Idea Gardens are tended by Master Naturalists. (Both Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists are trained and certified each year by the University of Illinois’ Extension Office.) The purpose of the Gardens is to provide homeowners some IDEAS for their own yards. The Idea Gardens feature over 100 species of native perennials planted in various conditions of sun and shade, wet and dry soils. The Gardens, begun in 2011, have been expanding and adding new features every year. The Gardens now include a Prairie Garden, Rain Garden, Sensory Garden, Sedge Meadow, Savanna and a picnic area. Last year, interactive interpretative signs and a simple labyrinth were added. This year the picnic tables will be rebuilt.
The Idea Gardens are not very well known perhaps because of the way they were developed. The development took several years and the cost of materials ($5,000+) was provided by private funding. And, most of the labor to install and maintain the Gardens has been done by volunteers. Especially noteworthy are the four Eagle Scout projects at the Gardens.
Planning has begun to greatly expand the Idea Gardens to feature a Garden of woody plants that will mirror the perennials in the other gardens. It will be planted with native trees and shrubs in various growing conditions.
If you’re interested in getting started in gardening, the park district offers four, two-hour, free workshops in April. Then stop by the Idea Gardens and get some IDEAS for your own garden.
