Pale echinachea or pale coneflower is an easy to grow native wildflower, found in our higher quality remnant prairies of the Midwest. Easy to plug into your sunny landscapes- good for native bees and butterflies.

Native species require little if any fertilizer, little water (once established), no need for pesticides, and are a huge benefit for local and endangered insect and butterfly species- such as our imperiled monarch butterfly. Simply incorporate such species into a sunny bed in your yard. Contact us for further info.

Native and ornamental witchhazels attract pollinators, which is especially important early in the season for these hungry bees, as seen in this colorful landscape in West Chicago Wheaton area. Seen… the hungry honeybee here……and  On March 12th.!!!

Seen: Hammemalis ‘Arnold’s Promise’

Landscape design services ( Glen Ellyn, Wheaton,  Winfield,  West Chicago, Lisle, Geneva gardens, St. Charles Il)  focusing on your likes and needs. Contact us now, the gardens as seen here have started popping! !!

Spring cleaning up and mulch time too!

* (for the record…1st blooms seen on 3/10 in this Midwestern woodland garden).

Potting up bulbs on a late February day. Sunny, but crazy, cold day !!!  Bulbs can sit unplanted, (but kept cold), and from my experience – once potted up, bloom nicely anyway. I prefer to pot my daffodils,  then set into the woodland shade gardens where I see fit and to fill in. Besides…

A before shot- March 1

Most of us cannot remember where they are needed until spring when things are in bloom anyways. I frequently plant on top of other plants that are not visible! So, give it a try- pot them up, force them early, then plant out where needed!

Once thought to have medicinal properties, quite toxic.

Many parts of this fleeting beauty are toxic. The root exudes a red-orange juice, once used for dyes, and the plant was used for many medicinal applications. There is on-going  research as to it’s possible benefits. Once pollinated – all gone, sometimes in as little as a few days. Great attractant for early pollinators!

Species crocus bloom quite early, and spread nicely (Oak Brook IL)

Species crocus, spring native wildflowers, daffodils, and aconites: all coming into bloom soon. The snows have finally gone, though there are STILL many areas here that are still frozen, but the bulbs have popped anyway!. The aconites have peaked by now, and the snowdrops are 6″ tall. Daffodils are up but need a warm day to pop. Soon!!!!

Helebores are unfurling:

Helebores, also called ‘Lenten Rose’, right on schedule!

We have an extensive clientele in Naperville and  the surrounding area. Call us or email to see our references and to see examples of our work go to   Maxlandscape.com

Lakefront (Hindsdale Il) natural stone staircase eases the transition to the lower portion of the yard (lake not seen).

Call soon for a consultation and quote!

Quite the look: a vintage – appearing paver from Unilock called ‘Copthorne’, one of Ed Max’s favorites

A new stone walk, landing and porch; all made of mortared stone plus lg.  Unilock pavers. A new landscaping gives a nice pop in this sunny southern facing drought tolerant garden, using many native species. West Chicago, Winfield, Wheaton area

Spring is upon us- time to plan for that new brick paver or natural stone patio and walkways. Drop us a note to get a unique design & quote today!

To think that at this same time both last year and in 2012 we had bulbs such as Aconite in bloom by now

Below: The garden a year earlier- and a only a month ahead of the pic above!

And six weeks ahead of top pic…… ah…spring…bring it on!!!!!

Aconites (non-native, but lovely all the same, and very early, naturalizes easily)

Massive 100’+ REDWOOD   Must have been planted sometime after this Napa res. was built? And to think- It’s only a youngster. Another 1000 years to go? 🙂

Coastal Redwood (Sequoia semp.)