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HELLO !

Welcome to Art and Linda's Wildflowers. Thank you for visiting us. We would like to make your visit special.

Art receving the first annual Conservation Foundation's "Conservation@Home" Award at the Fall Membership and Awards luncheon, November 4, 2009. Pictured are (from l to r) Alex Ragland (Designer, Art and Linda's), Brook McDonald (President/CEO, Conservation Foundation), Art, Jim Kleinwachter (Land Preservation Specialist, Conservation Foundation). Art was honored for his "outstanding efforts to support and further the mission of The Conservation Foundation and its Conservation@Home program, and to build more eco-friendly landscapes throughout the Chicago region."

"I feel so very grateful to be honored with this award by such a wonderful organization, the Conservation Foundation. Over the last so many years they have purchased to preserve forever land, watersheds, wetlands and rivers. They have outreached to thousands of people and numerous organizations, as well as government bodies, to inspire and educate us on the need to preserve our natural heritage. They and all their members are simply wonderful people.

"I only wish that my beloved mother and father (Bessie and Herbert) and my brother and sister (Melvin and Fay) would have lived to see this.

"For many years Linda and I would take our dogs (King and Luke) for long walks exploring the forest preserves around Chicago and other beautiful areas such as rivers, lakes, beaches, prairies, wetlands, waterfalls and so on in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. We were awed and inspired by the beauty and intricacy of the natural world.

"We wondered if it would be possible to capture the spirit of the natural world and transform people's homes and gardens to reflect the beauty we have seen and enjoyed."

Art and Linda's Wildflowers was started in 1997 and Yes It Is Possible !!

The 2009 Conservation@Home Award

LATER SECTIONS ON THIS PAGE (Click on the section name to jump to it):
        A Great Garden Begins With A Great Conversation
        Stewardship
        Wildflower Gardens for Sacred Places

REALTED TOPICS INCLUDE: (Click on the topic to jump to it):
        Price Structure
        About Us
        Our Friends And Family

At Art and Linda's Wildflowers, we really enjoy talking with our customers about their vision. We've also learned something over the years - a great garden begins with a great conversation. Your decision to have a wildflower garden is a creative one. The enthusiasm and interest it generates will be exciting to share. So, spend some time with us just describing your dream garden. What does it look like in your heart and mind? Do you see places for meditation, special features, rain gardens, birdbaths and feeders? Maybe you’d like your garden to provide you with privacy as well as natural beauty. Perhaps you have a special love for birds and want to attract and nurture them.

If you have children or grandchildren, you might like to attract butterflies and interesting insects. A native garden is an excellent place for teaching children about the natural world and its role in our environment. If you’re confused or stumped or just don't know what you want - then we will talk about that! We’ll find ways to bring you on board, based on our many years of experience and our shared love of nature. So, start now and let’s have that great conversation soon! Your Friends, Art and Linda Art and Linda's Wildflowers www.artandlindaswildflowers.com art@artandlindaswildflowers.com (708) 785-2943

When you spend time weeding and pruning, cutting back and carefully tending your plants you are, in fact, stewarding your garden. The actual meaning of the word “steward” is: The action of watching over and maintaining of something that has been entrusted to your care. At times though, our might ask yourself - “Why should I bother weeding? Aren’t these native plants? The answer is that if you don’t or can’t apply at least some stewardship, native plants may become aggressive and your wildflower garden could be in danger of losing its diversity. Many of us start out with the intention to always watch over our new garden, but not all of us actually have the time and energy to do the best job that the garden serves.

At Art and Linda’s we feel that one needs to work at their stewardship, as you would at a relationship with someone you care for. It’s not just a once-in-a-season kind of attention given to family and friends, but more of the on-going and thoughtful process. So, once you have established your garden, you might want to familiarize yourself with its special needs to maintain its look. Or, you might consider the services of someone like us - a trained steward. We will have the materials, knowledge, and tools we need in order to do the best job possible. We’ll also know how to watch out for certain plants that have become too aggressive.

We are trained to know what’s a weed and what’s not a weed and when plants need to be thinned out or cut back. So, when you are considering the stewardship of your home garden, consider a “steward’s” thoughtfulness to watch over it and maintain it in a healthy state for your future use, and continued enjoyment.

Click here to see examples of STEWARDSHIP.

For more information, landscaping ideas, or to schedule an appointment, contact Art at 708-785-2943

In creating our gardens, we take our cues from the beautiful things and places we have seen in the natural world. The location - the earth - tells us what goes where. The conditions, such as the amount of sun or shade, the type of soil, the amount of moisture an area will get and retain all dictate what types of plants will be happy, will thrive and will coexist there. The native plants we use - the wildflowers, grasses, sedges, ferns, shrubs, and trees - will all belong together there, as they have since ancient times. Otherwise there will be a sense of disharmony, discordance, and uneasiness.

Now, having said all that, how do we create a sacred place for you? The answer is, we really don't!!! The sacredness can only come from the relationship that develops between you and the place, unless it was sanctified previously. Perhaps it is the place where you buried your pet or plan to dedicate in honor or memory of someone that you hold dear. What we can create for you is a place where harmony, place, ease, calm, beauty, and life will abound; where you can focus, think, meditate, remember, relax, play or worship, being one with your surroundings.

The placing of favorite artifacts of your own choice or from the natural world, such as old gnarled logs or rocks and stones can draw you in and hold your attention. You can have the garden blessed or dedicated thus affirming its specialness. We create a place for you, which, upon entering, takes and holds you by its unique attraction and sanctuary. The rest is up to you. Click here for GARDENS FOR SACRED PLACES.

For more information, landscaping ideas, or to schedule an appointment, contact Art at 708-785-2943