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Robert Milani, of Chalet’s landscaping division, has installed thousands of gardens in North Chicago for over a decade, but has only recently produced his first labyrinth. Deborah Donovan, of the Daily Herald, covers the completion of the Park Ridge home garden labyrinth on Apr. 18, 2009. The proud owners, Martha and Tom Durham seized the opportunity to build one next door to their home when they were able to purchase the land next door, “I’ve always wanted a labyrinth but I wasn’t sure how it would fit in this space,” said Martha, a deacon at St. Mary Episcopal Chuch in Park Ridge, referring to the new lot roughly 48 feed wide by 173 feet deep. They said they consulted Milani because Chalet installed their existing patio and garden beds 10 years ago. Within a couple days, Milani and his team provided several patterns to choose from.

The new area obtained by the Durhams, tripled the size of their gardens and contained several trees and shrubs, which were saved. The new, 24-foot diameter labyrinth, called Chelsea, is based on a template from the Labyrinth Company in Riverside, Connecticut. According to the company, its design captures the experience of 13th century Gothic cathedral patterns. Milani and his team excavated the site, leveled and graded. The giant pattern was printed onto a permeable fabric, which was then laid out over the prepared space. They laid out hand-cut, custom clay bricks and backfilled with soil and sod for the pathways. The entire process took Milani about two weeks. Milani said, “The labyrinth adds a unique dimension to the outdoor rooms we’ve created for the Durhams. It fits their lifestyle, provides a quiet place for retreat or personal introspection, and can be used for family entertaining as well as for church retreats and functions.”

Martha said, “When it feels like the world seems to be falling apart, the labyrinth forces you to slow down, breathe and concentrate on the beauty that surrounds you.”

Read this article and see pictures of Milani building the labyrinth on the Daily Herald website.

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.

Earthwise Environmental’s new web site has drawn the attention of the Daily Herald. In the Sunday business section on Aug. 31, 2008, Anna Marie Kukec reviewed some of the features including the new project photos and case studies on water management. The company was founded in 1995 by Robert S. Miller and now has 11 employees working in area hospitals, hotels, food processing plants and other companies. The new web site is geared toward company growth and serving the needs of their clients.

The Conservative Foundation wants to help you reduce your carbon footprint. They recently held their Spring Membership and Awards Luncheon and the then-upcoming event was highlighted in the Naperville Sun article, which you can read, here.

One of the ways The Conservative Foundation hopes to raise awareness of your effort to reduce your carbon footprint is by taking an interest in the trendy rain barrel. In a May 13, 2008 article by Mick Zawislak of The Daily Herald, TCF’s Jim Kleinwachter says “green is hot,” and the rain barrels - “people were fighting over them.” Now that’s the kind of enthusiasm we love to hear about!
Click here to read the full article.

Rain barrels save water AND money. The Conservation Foundation is supporting a local rain barrel public art project in Lisle and teaching a free Rain Barrel Workshop from 10 a.m. to noon on April 12 in Naperville. Workshop participants will learn how to water their gardens with rain water, reduce water bills, keep rain barrel water free from debris, and paint terra-cotta colored barrels. Rain barrels will be available for a special one-day discount of $50 each.

To read more about these events and the benefits of rain barrels on DailyHerald.com, click here.

GreenMark’s very own Lauren Greenwood was featured in a local business story for SpiceStack. Congrats to all the Greenwoods!

“Nearly two years ago, [Mark] Greenwood, 51, invented the SpiceStack. Produced in Elk Grove Village, the product features three pull-out, drop-down drawers that make spices easy to find and reach. The spice bottles are stored horizontally in the drawers with the labels clearly visible.”…

Click Here to read the full story on DailyHerald.com