Author Archives: Tim Merello

In the late summer of 2016, I finally became a homeowner with the purchase of a beautiful brick bungalow in the Portage Park neighborhood of Chicago. For a landscaper like myself, the front yard stood as an open slate of … Continue reading →

I always know that Spring is around the corner when I first start seeing the Snowdrops bloom. Although we have been stuck in the cold and snow for the greater part of February, the end I hope draws near. In … Continue reading →

Once again the time has come for winter annuals. So much beauty can be created with the myriad selection of cut greens. The lovely textures of cedar, pine, juniper, holly, boxwood allow for such stunning winter holiday containers. Though the color options may but be subtle variances in the shades and hues of green, cut winter branches do shine in their aesthetic appeal. With the addition of other textural and color elements like red or yellow twig dogwood, birch branches, pine cones or berries, the options for one’s annual containers are grand. I find the winter containers I do to be equally as satisfying as the summer containers that burst with color. Achieving the right balance and blend of color, shape, texture and height is no simple task but so rewarding when finished. The way some greens droop and fall almost as if still on the branch makes the containers almost seem alive. Feel free to contact me for all your holiday decorating needs. Continue reading →

  For this project, the homeowner approached me to freshen up their front foundation bed. The existing plantings were very old evergreens that had long outlived their usefulness. Due to the extreme shade cast by the various street trees, said … Continue reading →

Winter containers are a wonderful way to celebrate the winter season. The variety of cut greens, boughs, decorative branches and berries really make the seasonal winter containers come alive. Though often related to Christmas decorations, the winter container can do … Continue reading →

I was approached  by Carrie Eccleston, science teacher, at McCracken School in Skokie, Illinois to help with two projects. The projects were more a joint project that involved taking a broad open space of turf grass that fronted various existing … Continue reading →

Even though we had a very cool and wet spring and early summer, the landscape can dry out fast. Plants out in the direct sun do not have the ability that we humans have of seeking shade and cool surroundings … Continue reading →

To some of you non-Chicagoans you may scratch your heads at the designation “parkway” for that seeming no-mans land between the city sidewalk and the street. My St. Louis mother used to refer to it as the easement. I heard … Continue reading →

Deep shade is a big challenge for annual container plantings. The usual suspects are new guinea impatiens, begonias, fuchsia, and coleus. Thankfully there are so many varieties of coleus in so many shades, hues and foliage colors that the opportunity … Continue reading →

My clients discussed their desire to remake their small front Bucktown yard into something of a quiet, Zen garden, a place of peace in the urban setting. Prior to the installation the yard’s lone memorable feature was the existing Japanese … Continue reading →