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Chicago Tribune contributor Barbara Mahany’s report, “Gardening is dirty work, here’s how to come clean” was featured in the July 26, 2008 edition of Myrtle Beach Online (South Carolina) Home & Garden section. The article features confessions and advice by gardeners who just can’t resist diggin’ in the the dirt. One piece of advise on how to stay clean comes from horticulturalist, Jennifer Brennan, at Chalet Nursery. She suggests slathering her hands with petroleum jelly or goopy lotion, “You have to use so much you think you’re using way too much,” says Brennan. “Rub it in your cuticles, so you seal the cellular walls, and then the dirt can’t get in.”

For more simple solutions and simply great advice, read the rest of the article here.

In the July 24, 2008 Grayslake Review, Ken Goze interviews Chalet’s Tony Fulmer and Troy Ripley about the rise of the pesky pest terrorizing North Shore, Illinois residents: the gypsy moth. These critters will eat anything leafy and green and are laying eggs in backyards, to hatch next spring. Ripley says he’s been waging war with the moths in his own backyard, nearly covered in tiny caterpillars. Fulmer advises using soybean oil-based pesticide to suffocate the eggs and advises against just knocking them to the ground - since they will survive and hatch in the spring.

Click here to read the full article.

Chicago Tribune contributor Beth Botts suggests reading “Roy Diblik’s Small Perennial Gardens: The Know Maintenance Approach” (American Nurseryman, 132 pages, $24.95) in the July 13, 2008 Home & Garden section. With a design like that of a cookbook, Botts says the book will help with one of the trickier tasts for gardeners: combining perennials. The plants are all tested at Diblik’s Northwind Perennial Farm in Burlington, Wis., near Lake Geneva. Northwind supplies many of their plants to Chalet nursery in Wilmette.

With summer underway, Chalet is the go-to place for Chicagoans to get supplies for their garden. It is no surprise to us that it was recently featured in the North Shore Magazine as one of the best local businesses (July 2008, pg 53).

The Sunday, July 6 edition of the Chicago Tribune featured Chalet twice in their Home and Gardens section. The first mention was an article titled “The dirt of cleaning up dirty gardeners,” by Barbara Mahany, featuring Mud Gloves available at Chalet (Section 15, page 4). The second mention was in “Fleur du jour,” featuring Steve Kooyenga describing why he loves the Echinacea Purpurea ‘Fatal Attraction’ cone-flower (Section 15, page 8).

Of course, there’s more to do than just shop at Chalet’s Garden Center. The July/August issue of Chicagoland Gardening features several listings of Chalet in their “Calendar of Events” (page 78). These events include: “Cooking with Herbs,” featuring Dave Esau, Dave’s Specialty Foods, on July 10-11; “New, Better Shrubs for the Home Garden,” with Dave Wanninger, July 17-18; “Watering Instructions,” Tony Fulmer, July 24-25; “Harvest Lecture,” July 31- August 1. Also, Pioneer Press promotes lectures with Dave Wanninger, Tony Fulmer and Jennifer Brennan in their July 3 issue in “Items: Home & Design briefs.”

The title of this blog comes from an article by Ideal Bite. Posted on their website, July 7, this “short but sweet” article features mid-summer planting tips from Chalet’s Jennifer Brennan.
Click here to read this article.

For more information on Chalet, visit their website by clicking here.

In the Chicago Sun-Times Sunday, June 8, 2008 section of “Real Estate & Homelife,” a planted grill from Chalet is prominently displayed under the title, “Dad’s Day: Show your father some love along with a sense of humor with gift ideas for the garden,” written by Susan Randstrom. The article also mentions Chalet’s container planting service.

Nina Koziol’s article, “Garden Tips from the Experts,” first published for The Chicago Tribune on May 18, 2008 (read the article here), reached the East Coast in the July 3, 2008 publication of the Lower Hudson Journal News (West Harrison, New York). Koziol asked the garden gurus “what next?” after a trip to Chalet, and features Tony Fulmer’s mulching tips from the GreenMark PR news release. This is a Chicago Tribune syndicated article.

Click here to read the PDF of our news release.

The June 2008 issue of Chicago Home Improvement Magazine featured an article titled “Decorating Basics: Create and Care for Your Perfect Deck, Porch or Patio,” (pg 29-33) by Stephanie Lauritzen. She said, “If you are looking to extend your living space, there is perhaps no better place to turn than outdoors.” We agree, but how do you choose between a patio, deck or porch? Chalet landscape designer Nate Robinson says when in doubt, consider the geology of your back yard. Robinson noted “built-in barbecues, fire-pits and entire outdoor kitchens are in demand. Along with these elements come lighting, speaker systems and even outdoor TVs.” The sky’s the limit when it comes to your back yard. Dream big, think smart and start digging.

In the Evanston-Review May 22, 2008 article, “Leisure Business Owners Ride Out Economic Bumps,” Larry Thalmann III of Chalet Nursery and Garden Shops said during economic downturn people turn to do-it-yourself gardening. Market analysts predict the do-it-yourself trends will continue, with retail shops remaining key areas for revenue.

Horticulturalist Jennifer Brennan was interviewed on 91.5 WBEZ for a short wrap on cute and cuddly plant munching gardening nightmares… the bunny rabbit.

Click the link below to hear the Mp3.
cityroom_20080526_ccahan_174938_bunn.mp3

Chalet has been named the most innovative garden center in America by Garden Center magazine, and with tips like these from garden expert Tony Fulmer, there’s no question why they received such honors.

GardenIllinois.com, the Illinois Green Industry Association, features “Much Ado: Tony Fulmer’s 10 Good Reasons to Mulch.”
Click here to read the article.

And that’s not all: Nina Koziol of The Chicago Tribune asked some of the garden gurus “what next?” after a trip to the local garden center. Tony Fulmer suggested to keep the 1-gallon pots and plunk ‘em in the ground - he also emphasized the importance (and usefulness) of composting.
Click here to read the whole article.

Beth Botts describes in her “Chicago Gardener” column in The Chicago Tribune the raging popularity of succulents this summer using Chalet’s 10-inch topiary in the form of a purse as an example - perfect for Mother’s day.

Click here to read the complete article.