We have had some of the typical urban problems - squirrels, bunnies, birds, dogs - each wreaking their own particular havoc. Perhaps the challenge most specific to a rain garden was making sure the swales were capable of carrying and absorbing the water. Because we seem to be having extreme storms these days, we had to make some adjustments to divert rain onto the lawn that was flowing down our front walk.

For several months last year after the garden was planted, some of the leaf mulch was washing away during heavy rains (the yard slopes down to the sidewalk).  As the plants filled in, and with additional plantings to reduce this erosion, this is no longer an issue.

A more fun kind of challenge began this spring and continues now - it's not always possible to distinguish newly sprouting native plants from weeds!  Our philosophy is to assume it's a native plant unless it is clearly a weed (e.g., dandelion or baby maple tree!) and see what grows. The leaf mulch seems to keep weeds to a minimum, and as the plants grow and spread they too will discourage weed growth.  We're also challenged to change our definition of weeds:  are violets and fleabane weeds or native plants that sustain butterflies, moths and bees? Read the full interview here >>

Our partners at the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) recently launched CNT's Rain Ready initiative - offering a suite of policies and practices to help residents, communities, and states plan for weather events associated with global climate change. Visit RainReady.org to learn more.

HCBA had a record breaking attendance for our Spring Seminar Series- close to 500 Chicago homeowners came out to take advantage of the variety of topics designed to help improve the beauty, sustainability and safety of their homes through simple and affordable repair projects. If you haven't joined the party yet, come and check it out for yourselves this coming Fall (schedule to be announced in August). Not only do we invite top local professionals to present, you have the opportunity to engage in person with fellow vintage homeowners (and HCBA staff). More often than not, our seminars end in a conversation between neighbors, asking one another questions, sharing common issues, and giving one another feedback, with specialists in the field right there to moderate. 

Topics for March through June included: Basement Flooding; Bungalow Maintenance 101; Rain Barrel Installation Workshop; Simple Estate Planning; Navigating Property Tax Appeals; Planter Box Gardening; Planting a Rain Garden; Interior Wood Restoration; and finally, our very popular Window Repair Workshop.

We'd like to keep up the momentum of our successful Spring Series and bring you topics most helpful to you for the coming Fall season. Whether it is energy efficiency, repair, maintenance, or design related, please take one minute to help us understand your needs as a homeowner and we will do our very best to bring you the experts in the field.