My ‘Grown and Flown’ kids recently all descended on our home at the same time. It was 24 hours of pure bliss! Laughter could be heard echoing through the halls. Friendly bantering between the kids and joking amongst us all was good for our souls. Mary, my daughter, is convinced that her younger brother is our favorite child. While I will freely admit to buying way too many Pokémon cards for him, I don’t think that earns him the status of ‘Favorite Child.’ Although I honestly don’t have a favorite, defending that position is a losing battle.
I do have favorites when it comes to seasons of the year. Fall is such a glorious and wonderful season. For many, it is their favorite season bridging the gap between a hot summer and a cold winter. It could be considered just right! Gorgeous colors on leaves and ripe fruit on trees and vines are present throughout these final few months of the year. Fall offers us all a time to commune with nature and each other simultaneously. Here are a few other favorites.
Favorite Trail for a Hike – Marengo Ridge through the McHenry County Conservation District offers 5 miles of hiking with a beautiful scenic overlook. The park includes the Marengo Moraine which was initially created 24,000 years ago by a glacier that came down from Wisconsin. The park area is primarily comprised of oak and hickory trees but also includes pine, spruce and fir.
Favorite Farm Market – Tom’s Farm Market-Go for the Apple Cider donuts and stay for the gift shop! Three generations of the Halat family have been welcoming patrons to their farm market, garden center, gift shop and café for decades. It is a McHenry County treasure whose fall on the Farm event includes a 6 acre corn maze, petting zoo and pedal tractor track. Be sure to check out their website for more information. www.tomsfarmmarket.com
Favorite Fall Drive – Autumn Drive-Clear your calendars for October 15-17th and plan on spending the time enjoying the bounty of goodies that this experience has to offer. The drive is comprised of 14 stops that feature antiques, hand crafted items, local artists, fresh flowers and live entertainment. More information may be found at www.autumndrive.net
Favorite Fall Pumpkin Farm – Goebbert’s Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchard in Pingree Grove- This is truly a family’s dream fall destination. The Pumpkin express train, jumping pillow, carousel and pumpkin plus 11 more items will create memories that will last with you for a lifetime. Want something to talk to your children and grandchildren about when they are ‘Grown and Flown’? Take them to Goebbert’s! Better yet, bring them back. There is fun for everyone, no matter your age.
Favorite Apple Orchard-Royal Oak Farm – Want farm fresh apples? Pick your own at this orchard just up the road in Harvard. They grow well known varieties such as Red Delicious, Honeycrisp and Granny Smith in addition as well as newer varieties such as Pristine and Jonagored. Their gift shop includes delicious treats such as fresh and frozen pies, baking mixes, syrup, salsa and preserves.
Favorite Fall Destination – Galena, Illinois – Need to leave behind your cares and concerns for a weekend? Drive two hours west to Galena. The rolling hills envelope you in their warmth. The 11th Annual Fall Harvest Festival is taking place on Saturday, September 25 at Galena Cellars Vineyard and Winery. Want to use your feet to stomp grapes, just like the infamous ‘I love Lucy’ episode? This is your chance to experience grape stomping, horse drawn wagon rides, live music and much more.
Favorite Trees with Beautiful Fall Color – Just like my kids, I love all trees equally. Here are a few that have outstanding fall color. First is Tricolor Beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Roseomarginata’) This tree has amazing green, white and pink-variegated foliage. A true statement tree that adds interest to the landscape in all four seasons. Princeton Elm (Ulmus Americana ‘Princeton’) is a fast-growing tree that is tolerant of a wide variety of soil types. American Elm is a native to our area. The yellow fall color offers a diverse look to the red fall color of many maples.
Favorite Flowers – Perennials that look good in the fall – Want to add a bit of fall color to your garden? Consider filling in open areas with these beauties. Asters, Coralbells (Huechera), Hardy Hibiscus and fall blooming Sedum.
Favorite Ornamental Grasses – Purple Love Grass (Eragrostis spectabilis) is a native plant that grows about 2’ tall. The leaves turn a bright red color in the fall. Golden Hakone Grass (Hakonechloa) prefers moist soil and does best in full to part shade. The clump forming grass grows about 18” tall.
Kathleen Carr is the owner of The Growing Scene, Inc., a landscaping company. She can be reached by calling 815-923-7322 or emailing her at Kathleen@thegrowingscene.com. Have a gardening question? Please contact her. She may address it in an upcoming column.
