7th Annual Lincoln Square Garden Walk

“SEVENTH ANNUAL LINCOLN SQUARE GARDEN WALK IN A NEIGHBORHOOD FOCUSED ON GREENING AND RENEWAL:
SATURDAY, AUGUST 6th”
 

To the residents of Lincoln Square, this year is all about renewal.  New, progressive leadership has encouraged more participation, and the annual Garden Walk is no exception.  Becoming more green, growing your own, creating interesting environments, teamwork--it’s all caught on according to Garden Walk organizer, Nancy Benjamin.
 
“We like to think we’ve been a good influence,” says Benjamin, grinning in her backyard green oasis of organic vegetables, dwarf trees, flowers and small fruits.  “The garden walk’s in its seventh year now, and it’s attracted a following, as well more and more gardens.”
 
This year’s Lincoln Square Garden Walk, on Saturday, August 6^th, from 10am-4:30pm, will feature more than 20 innovative gardens.  The walk emphasizes city-size gardens that most owners have designed and take care of themselves.  Benjamin says that gives each garden great personality and the ability to showcase unusual creative solutions.  “This is a hands-on, do-it-yourself garden walk,” says Benjamin, “You can take these ideas home with you.  But that doesn’t make the gardens any less spectacular.”
 
Case in point, one garden is a fairytale shade garden from the parkway to the back alley, enveloping its Victorian house in roses and ornaments.  Another has Japanese cedar arched footbridge, a goldfish pond and a collection of Japanese maples.  Several are Mayor’s landscape award winners.  One front garden has a waterfall, while one backgarden features a production vegetable garden of raised beds.  Several were created to enrich the environment as a haven for wildlife and birds, while Benjamin’s own, she jokes, is an exotic test garden with one of everything.
 
As Lincoln Square grows and welcomes new residents, more of them are interested in green measures—from cycling to organic gardens to composting.  The Lincoln Square Garden Walk is at the forefront, encouraging greening and hoping it goes viral. “You can’t underestimate that joy, connection and pleasure of gardening and greening your environment,” says Benjamin.  “The fresh delectable food doesn’t hurt either!”
 
Join the movement, admire the handiwork and learn how to create your own green city enclave on August 6, 2011, from 10am-4:30pm.  The fee for the walk is $10 and goes to benefit the not-for-profit Lincoln Square Foundation’s young leader projects.  Programs and tickets are available in Giddings Plaza at 4731 N. Lincoln Ave. where Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions and there will be “how-to” demonstrations will help educate gardeners.  Call 312-286-0956 for additional information.