Features

Defining Shade
From dappled to dense, dealing with a lack of light is a defining challenge. Plus 110 plants for Chicagoland shade gardens. By Annette T. Roos. Page 36, Pamela Wolfe highlights hosta companions.

Spotting Colors
Frank Bodnar's award-winning garden sparkles by careful positioning of sun-loving plants. By Carolyn Ulrich

Finding Treasures
With more than 160 years of horticultural history in the area, preserving gardens of a former era is catching on. By Cathy J. Maloney

Departments

Editor's Page - Select to read now!

What To Do In the Garden
Compiled by Ron Wolford

Q & A
Pamela Wolfe tackles buckthorn and other thorny queries.

University of Illinois Forum
Entomologist Fredric Miller suggests various ways to foil vegetable-loving insects.

Guest Editorial
Designer John Ploss argues for a partnership between garden designer and builder.

Native Notes
Backyard ecologist Sara Stein brings her "un-garden" philosophy to a local audience. By Carolyn Ulrich

Greenshopper
Alice Joyce surveys the many choices for ornaments and statues that may be appropriate for the garden.

Edible Garden
Noted chef Michael Foley says tomatoes should be on the menu for every meal at this glorious time of year.

Under Our Fingernails
Senior Editor Kate Jerome tells how to increase your iris collection by division.

Letters to the Editor

Travel
Mackinac Island By Kate Jerome

Book Review
A Long Grove resident turns her camera toward her hometown and its gardens. By Alice Joyce

Tree Talk
Finding the right oak and what to plant under it. By Pamela Wolfe

Calendar of Gardening Events

Stepping Stones
Kate Jerome finds compost issues a personal statement about the gardener.