Frances Willard House Museum
1730 Chicago Avenue Evanston, IL 60201
A National Historic Landmark, in Evanston
May 2, 2011 pictures
After the yews and other scruffy shrubs were cut down, we started working on the design and planting of the beds East of the Admin Building. Here's a view from the entry looking South...
...and looking North. Not really much to look at now, but you just wait!
We also added some interest to the South side of the porch of 1732.
What's that growing in the barren patch beyond the porch? Ugh, Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica), an invasive plant. Invasives are much worse than just "weeds" - they can destroy native ecosystems by outcompeting the plants that grow there naturally. Sorry, the only way to get rid of them is to cut-and-poison - you have to kill the roots and trying to dig them out is virtually impossible (you'll miss dozens of little pieces which will just continue to send out new roots and shoots).
Speaking of plants where you don't want them... Here's a hydrangea that's grown under the porch at the back of the Cottage. This is one of the considerations you should think about when you site plants. Plants will often grow into new areas that could end up being unsightly, start to crowd out other plants, or, at worst, cause damage to your building structures. Think about what's going to happen to a plant by the time it's mature - especially trees and shrubs.
...and looking North. Not really much to look at now, but you just wait!
We also added some interest to the South side of the porch of 1732.
What's that growing in the barren patch beyond the porch? Ugh, Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica), an invasive plant. Invasives are much worse than just "weeds" - they can destroy native ecosystems by outcompeting the plants that grow there naturally. Sorry, the only way to get rid of them is to cut-and-poison - you have to kill the roots and trying to dig them out is virtually impossible (you'll miss dozens of little pieces which will just continue to send out new roots and shoots).
Speaking of plants where you don't want them... Here's a hydrangea that's grown under the porch at the back of the Cottage. This is one of the considerations you should think about when you site plants. Plants will often grow into new areas that could end up being unsightly, start to crowd out other plants, or, at worst, cause damage to your building structures. Think about what's going to happen to a plant by the time it's mature - especially trees and shrubs.