Native Plants Win Flower Show

Native Illinois plants are taking back their turf. At the Chicago Flower and Garden Show in March at Navy Pier, the first place "Gold Award" went to Pizzo and Associates, in conjunction with The Care of Trees and Batavia Plain Dirt Gardeners, a non-profit group. Pizzo and colleagues recreated a cottage setting with more than four thousand native Illinois plants, including bluebells, columbines, white oak and American elm.

Photo of Virginia Bluebells courtesy of Pizzo and Associates.

The Garden Show has always been dominated by ornamental plant displays. In fact, this year's winning display was the only one, out of twenty-five displays, using native plants. "We have been the sole native plant exhibitor at the show for many years," Jack Pizzo said. "Winning the Gold Award was pretty sweet."

— Ann Hanson