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This question was asked by WGN Midday News (WGNtv.com) and may be on the minds of concerned gardeners as winter approaches. Chalet answered this question and addressed some of the myths and fables of horticulture during a free seminar Nov. 7 and 8. They said mid November is the perfect time to plant because as the temperature drops, the bulbs will root in the ground and grow in the spring. Daffodils and narcissus make great beginners bulbs since they multiply on their own each year and remain critter-proof. Chalet also recommends the blue scilla sibirica. It’s favored in their gardens and grows well in the springtime if planted in November.

Chalet offered some advice for winterizing a garden on the ABC 7 Morning News (Chicago) on Monday, Oct. 20. They recommended applying fertilizer to trees, shrubs and lawns before the weather drops. The plants will use that fertilizer to grow new roots for next year. Chalet recommends decorating the garden with cold temperature plants such as mums, asters, pansies and pumpkins. Protect the garden with pest-repellents. Keep the hungry rabbits and squirrels away with natural repellents that are cinnamon oil or Castor oil based. The experts at Chalet always have good advice and often offer free seminars on how to better your garden. Find out more on their website, click here.

Horticulturalist information specialist at Chalet, Jennifer Brennan, took a stab at some of the myths about planting tactics and jack-o-lanterns in an article titled: “Not so spooky: Stories from the garden” by Deborah Donovan in the Oct. 26, 2008 issue of the Daily Herald. Bloodroot or sanguinaria not only sounds scary, it’s toxic too. Oddly enough, it was used commercially in toothpaste and mouthwash. If one were to accidentally swallow a small amount, they might want some purple coneflower nearby. Purple coneflower is attributed to healing properties such as reducing fever and boosting the immune system. If one swallowed a lot of bloodroot, on their way to the hospital, they may want to pick up a handful of meadow rue, which the Lakota would burn, then run their hands through the smoke for good luck. Dressing wounds might be a good idea for people, but it’s not always the case with plants. When pruning a tree or if it’s wounded, it’s a myth to coat it with tar or pruning paint. Doing so could trap bacteria and fungus, so fresh air sometimes really is the best option.

Brennan says jack-o-lanterns come from Irish folklore. An Irishman named Jack played a trick and made the devil promise not to take his soul when he died. God wouldn’t take his soul either, so he ended up wandering the world. He found his way around by using a carved turnip as a lantern for his candle. When the Irish came to America, they found pumpkins much easier to carve.

For more myths and mysterious tid-bits, view the complete article here.

Deborah Donovan of the Daily Herald wrote a feature titled “Attracting Birds to your Garden” in the Oct. 4, 2008 issue. The article featured tips from Jennifer Brennan, of Chalet along with Ron Zick and Tim Joyce of Wild Birds Unlimited. Brennan said having eight cardinals to enjoy with your winter coffee makes living in Chicago worthwhile. Attracting one specific bird, especially pretty birds like cardinals are do-able, but difficult without the right bird feeders and bird seed. The experts recommend putting out fresh seed that all the birds can enjoy and then begin specializing once a “buzz” is created by your offerings. They suggest keeping fresh seed high in oils and to offer a variety of plants and shrubs for the birds who might want to make a home or who enjoy foraging for insects. A bird-friendly yard might also attract unwanted “friends” such as squirrels, but they can be discouraged from climbing up the bird feeder by installing a baffle around the pole. While most feeders need to be cleaned three or four times a year, some people recommend washing them at least once a month with a bleach rinse. One myth was debunked: a bird feed owner can go on vacation without worrying about the birds. They only get 15 to 20 percent of their calories from people and forage the rest.

On Sept. 29, 2008, on WGN’s News at Noon “Lunch Break” segment, Tony Fulmer of Chalet offered some autumn tips on maintaining one’s lawn, trees and shrubs and perennials, such as roses. This was also to preview his free garden seminar on creating an autumn bird sanctuary. Click here to view the clip.

Gold-Medal Olympic swimmer Matt Grevers signed autographs and met fans at Chalet garden center, Sept. 27, 2008. Chalet senior landscape architect Ed Grevers and his wife Anja welcomed their son back from the 2008 Beijing Olympics where he won gold medals in the 4×100m medley relay and the 4×100m freestyle relay, and a silver medal in the 100m backstroke.

A preview of the event was featured in the Sept. 11, 2008 edition of Pioneer Press North Shore.

Cooler weather gives grass a great boost of energy as it gears up for winter, making early fall a good time for lawn maintenance. In the Sept. 7, 2008 edition of the Chicago Tribune, reporter Beth Botts asked Bill Leuenberger, Chalet’s lawn care manager, and Paul Tukey, founder of safelawns.org, for “10 things to do by fall to keep (or get) your grass looking great.” The first piece of advice is to mow the lawn. Set the blade so that the grass grows three to four inches. Taller grass means deeper, stronger roots. It also shades out many weed seeds so they can’t sprout. After mowing, leave the clippings. They will decompose and return their nutrients to the soil. Fall is the best time of year to reseed and over-seed. Whether clearing a spot for new grass or scattering seeds over patchy places, make sure it is well watered for thicker grass in the spring. Click here to read the article.

Daily Herald and Pioneer Press featured Chalet’s free fall education series on gardening and garden design topics in their calendar of events listings. These include times and directions as well as information on “Fall Lawn Care,” a free demonstration by horticulture specialists Jennifer Brennan and Bill Leuenberger on how to fertilize, core-aerate and re-seed your lawn this fall. Listings appeared Aug. 28, 2008 in Pioneer Press and Aug. 30, 2008 and Sept. 6, 2008 in Daily Herald.

The summer 2008 issue of Garden Decor, a quarterly supplement to Home Accents Today and Casual Living, spotlights Chicago’s Chalet (page 8-12). Since taking root in 1917, Chalet has become a prosperous, award-winning operation located on 16 acres in North Chicago. The article by Susan Dickenson takes a look at some of Chalet’s history and some historical moments. Chalet was named the 2007 Innovator of the Year by Garden Center magazine, but innovation has always been a key part of the company. In 1954, L.J. Thalmann (founder) built a 9,500 square foot garden center, which was something almost unheard of at the time. L.J. (Larry) Thalmann III joined the company in 1984 and has since become, and remains, the store’s president bringing a vision of “excellence in service, quality and value in a culture that is supportive and rewarding to employees.” As part of his vision, Thalmann created the Chalet College, attended by staff members in the off-season for training and review. Thalmann said, “I take a great deal of pride in watching our company get a little bit better each year… I love working with people who share in that pride, and want to be a part of something special.” The article also mentions that Chalet has more Illinois Certified Nursery Professionals than any other garden center or landscape firm in the state. With a rich history and a promising future, we look forward to Chalet’s continued success and innovation.

Bill Leuenberger of Chalet visits WGN for a “Lunchbreak” on WGN News at Noon, Thursday, July 24, 2008. He shares the importance of aerating the lawn and says fall is the best time to do it. He advises hiring someone to come and aerate the lawn, as the machine tends to be heavy. Once the lawn is aerated, bring out the grass seeds and fertilizer, spray for fertilizer, give the yard a good watering and enjoy a fresh green lawn.

Click here to watch the video.
Click over to “Lunchbreak” and scroll down to “Lawn Maintenance.”