Rob works for the Wheaton Park District as the Director of Planning and has a very strong background in land management and landscape architecture. He is also chairman of Friends of Warrenville Parks and is very interested in conservation and nature as it applies to the community.
After many years and a few homes, he has fallen in love with gardening, particularly gardening around his latest home—a
“This home and garden are perfectly suited for the two of us,” said Rob. Indeed, Rob has an expansive yard for entertaining, but he has filled his planting niches with a strong mixture of easy-to-care-for natives such as Prairie Dropseed, Native Black-Eyed Susan and Prairie Smoke and has mixed them with traditional drought-tolerant perennials such as Russian Sage, Yarrow and Hosta.
I was particularly taken with his giant nodding Native Black-Eyed Susan, blooming a sharp yellow color and spreading over six feet wide. Just beautiful!
The trees and shrubs on the property include Sumac, Holly, Cotoneaster, Pine, Maple and a delicate Japanese Maple against his front window. They offer shade, keeping the home cool in the summer and since they lose their leaves in the winter, they offer warmth from the sun, an environmentally sound plan which helps Rob keep his utility bills down.
Rob believes in being environmentally friendly and composts regularly. I was quite amazed at the 100-gallon trough he uses as a rain barrel. He dips watering pails into the deep trough and distributes the water throughout his yard. Follow Rob’s rule of watering before 10:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m. to prevent water evaporation. He does not cover his water trough, but does suggest “hitting” or “moving” the water regularly to prevent mosquito infestation.
My advice is to follow Rob’s environmentally friendly example with his simple tips when planning your next garden:
- Save on your utility bills by carefully planning your tree and shrub planting.
- Utilize a water barrel or water trough to collect rainwater and save water.
- Plant native plants so you do not have to water as frequently.
Happy garden planning!
