I've finally managed to take a photo of the garden (I can't call it landscaping) outside of the Palatine Inn restaurant in, unsurprisingly, Palatine, Illinois. All summer I admired it while driving past on our way to the girl's Irish Dance class. Finally, I went there for breakfast last week and, even though it was raining, I got a photo. There is more garden around the corner too. In keeping with the restaurant idea, I swung by The Onion Pub in Lake Barrington to get a photo of their parking lot plantings, which are filled with native plants.
Unfortunately, the day I went, there was a work crew with a large vehicle blocking the main bed. I've been wanting to take photos at The Onion all summer, as they also have a lovely deck with vines and a large waterfall visible from the deck. But I kept forgetting the camera. Next summer, go to The Onion, see their parking lot, eat on their deck, drink their microbrewed beer. You won't be sorry.
Unfortunately, the day I went, there was a work crew with a large vehicle blocking the main bed. I've been wanting to take photos at The Onion all summer, as they also have a lovely deck with vines and a large waterfall visible from the deck. But I kept forgetting the camera. Next summer, go to The Onion, see their parking lot, eat on their deck, drink their microbrewed beer. You won't be sorry.The following photos reflect what I've been doing lately. The first two were taken at my doctor's office, a short distance from The Onion.
It's amazing that after several hard freezes, this Daylily is still blooming. But it's the grasses that make the planting.
Above, another view, this one with Burning Bushes. (Click to enlarge to see the grasses.)
It's amazing that after several hard freezes, this Daylily is still blooming. But it's the grasses that make the planting.
Above, another view, this one with Burning Bushes. (Click to enlarge to see the grasses.)And finally, from the parking lot of the girl's orthodontist in Long Grove, Miscanthus.
You just can't beat grasses for fall interest.
You just can't beat grasses for fall interest.OOTS is the brainchild of our favorite Chippingham (England) blogger at Veg Plotting. I've been trying to participate all summer and even had some photos from July and August, but time slipped away, and I missed the September deadline too. Communities and businesses in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago have made great strides in improving their plantings over the last couple of years. All along Route 14, from Mount Prospect to Barrington, communities have planted the areas abutting the railroad tracks, so they now sport grasses, Roses, and Hydrangeas. Businesses also have incorporated grasses and Knockout Roses in their plantings. It's all very encouraging.
24 comments:
It is nice to see businesses take more of an interest in the landscapes around them. I walk by a dentists' office at lunch sometimes and they have planted a lovely garden all around the building, so that when people are in the chairs they can look out and see a garden in all directions. If I didn't already have a good dentist (who likewise tried to plant around the building for the views outside the windows), I'd be tempted to try the other dentist out.
Well I really like their grasses and burning bushes. Looks very Atumn like. All I've had is cereal for supper so made me want to go inside and eat. I won't go where it's not pretty too.
It must be the that the Chicago city planners/gardeners spaces are oozing out into the burbs. It is marvelous that more businesses are gardening. All of those plantings are sure to help our world.
Here there is an ordinance that businesses that have space are to have plantings. Most adhere to the ordinance. I will have to pop around and get some photos to show.
Businesses that maintain attractive plantings show respect for their community IMHO. Concrete looks very institutional and not at all inviting. Some business just don't get it.
Marnie
Wow, fancy plantings! My own take is that the burning bushes and viburnum steal the show, but the grasses are nice, too. :)
These are very pretty...most of our businesses around here have some type of plantings around them.
Thank you so much. The Operation Christmas Child Widget looks grand on your sidebar. I'm not believing how well that red is going with the colors on folks blogs. but I can see it's blending nicely with your purple. And the gold def. works. I'm so proud you have it right up here at the top. The little kids will be happy you displayed it so nicely. Big hugs.
Very nice plantings MMD! It's exciting to see plantings that are well thought out popping up around our towns....native grasses, even small trees are very big here. I am so very tired of the same old same old daylilies (need not name them) and Otto Luykens! gail
Hi MMD, me again. Replying to the comment on my blog. Interesting about the bus driver wearing a clown suit. Kind of Stephen King-ish;) I had never heard that before. You know how rumors grow, pretty soon they have no resemblance to the original stories. I'm glad you saw the video, doubt if I will have an opportunity to see it since I don't get cable or dish.
Marnie
MMD, I know I commented here yesterday. Humpfh! At any rate, it is so encouraging to see businesses that add beautiful plantings... it somehow makes one feel a bit better about the surrounding streets, sidewalks, buildings, etc. Our town has been doing downtown landscaping improvements these past couple of years. I should create a post! :-)
Somehow I missed the fact that OOTS was a meme that you were participating in this year. It requires that you bring a camera on your daily travels, something I don't usually do.
It's never too late for OOTS MMD! Especially when you've got such good quality to show :)
I'll add your post to the list right now and make sure you get a special mention when the next OOTS kicks of in December.
And Kathy - you don't need to have a camera with you all the time to take part. If you see something one day which you pass by on a regular basis (which is what OOTS is all about), then you just need to remember to take it with you another time. It'll be great to see you sometime :)
Carol - all dentists should have garden views. It would help calm the nerves of those patients who fear the dentist.
FGG - I took the photos when the color was about at peak. I'm glad the widget finally worked. You have a great idea. I hope the goal is reached soon.
Lisa - I've wondered about that too. Everybody's into beautification, which is a good thing.
Marnie - hopefully, other businesses will see how their neighbors are sprucing up their properties and will be shamed into doing something. I wouldn't credit the video. They claimed that Blood hanged his children from the railroad underpass. I found the video online. Haunted Illinois or Illinois Haunted House or something like that.
Shady - I'd love to see what your town is doing. Post about it!
Kathy - I bet an iPhone would work too, but I don't have one so I couldn't say. If I had an iPhone, I could have had summer shots of The Onion.
VP - I can't imagine what I could take for December. It depends on if we get snow.
Gail - who is Otto Luykens?
Monica - I'm just on a grass kick right now.
Don't worry MMD, I've been puzzling over that one since I kicked off OOTS back in March. I now have a couple of ideas hidden up my sleeve which should be helpful ;)
Otto is an evergreen shrub that is used to excess and often planted with the daylily Stella in front of buildings all over the Middle South!
I must have been multi-tasking when I commented~~and not doing it well, I might add. g
You are so right about the Onion Pub! I hope anyone reading this in the area makes it there soon! And I agree that business and municipal plantings have come a long way around here. I love the prairie border that follows the train tracks along Rt. 14 for miles.
Such gorgeous fall color and how lovely that it's in public and/or commercial plantings!
Really nice, MMD. I like the use of the grasses the most. I've noticed more attention being paid to landscaping around here and I love it. It just makes the whole community look better.
Hi MMD, you are very resourceful to take photos while doing these errands! Way to multitask. The grasses are wonderful, but the mix of colorful foliage and the flowing grass is so pleasing to the eye. Since VP started this meme, I am always looking around town for suitable areas to shoot. Now if I can remember the camera, we'll be in business.
Frances
I've become a bit of a menace with my camera, which I now take everywhere. And whenever I forget, I'm *sure* to see something that will make me say: always. bring. camera.
I like your OOTs postings. It's great that all these businesses have such great looking beds with such interesting plants. Not the same ole.
Good for you for publishing this, MMD! I've had a post planned for a month and haven't had a chance to get it together yet. You've persuaded me to go ahead and post it whenever, though it may be January before I get around to it:)
I've noticed more interesting commercial plantings in the past few months, too. Apparently, business owners are realizing that having an attractive outside appearance involves more than just a nice sign.
The Chicago area has just so much going on in the way of public plantings. I love that.
My nieces take Irish Dance lessons too (in Houston). :-)
I thought I was the only one who took pictures of parking lot plants!
I'm glad to see that there are others just as plant-obsessed. LOL.
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