Yesterday morning our office in Villa Park experienced a devastating fire.  Thankfully, everyone is safe, and our crews are operational. As we figure out next steps and pivot our operations, our staff will continue to answer calls and emails to the best of their ability.  We are working diligently to restore full functionality as soon as possible. We thank you, in advance, for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.   Please feel free to reach out to Sweeney’s.  As always, your support is appreciated, and we are grateful for the Villa Park Fire Dep ..read more

Sweet, tender Summer was becoming a bit more brazen and fierce as desiccated leaves scraped and scratched their way along the ground.  Although not in a drought, DuPage County and much of Illinois have been behind in precipitation year over year.  Whether it rains or not, this doesn’t mean we should blindly let the tap run. Overwatering is a common cause of plant issues and their ability to flourish.  Plants may develop yellowing or brown leaves.  Spots and blisters may be seen on foliage and stems.  Stunted growth and soft, mushy stems may be evident.  What’s a ..read more

Summer marched forth to the cadence of the cicada, stumbling ever so often, as her rhythm slowly became out of sync.  Her easy going nature seemed strained, and her once verdant beauty disheveled and unkempt.  A kind word and a bit of support would again renew her spirit and loveliness.  The very same could be said for our yards and gardens. In addition to supplemental watering, flowers also require deadheading or “pinching”, and it’s not purely for aesthetic reasons. Removing spent and faded flowers helps encourage reblooming while improving the health of the foliage an ..read more

Every flower awaited its turn, like an eager dance partner, as the bees flitted and twirled amongst them. Summer’s arrival finds our gardens and landscapes in full bloom.  It’s no coincidence that Summer’s arrival coincides with National Pollinator Week.  A wonderful time to revisit the importance of pollinators and how best to support them. Pollinators include birds, bees, butterflies, bats and some moths and wasps. In addition to offering a diverse pallet of pollinator-friendly plants, including native species, that provide continual blooms from Spring to Fall, it’s also im ..read more

The Cottonwood’s downy seeds fell like snow.  Drifting and swirling upon the air, some suspended momentarily as they sought the perfect landing place.  Soon, they began to snag and accumulate.  It was magical, slightly alarming, and a complete contrast to the summer heat. Contrast, in the landscape, is an important, and frequently overlooked element.  Foliage, for example, can be as interesting and unique as any flower.  Sure, there’s lots of green out there, but there are also plants that bear silvery, chartreuse, maroon, apricot, or leaves with a lacey, white ..read more

  The bee floated amongst the flowers, hovering and bouncing between the blooms, landing and lingering upon only the most appealing.  He made several passes, returning to some, while ignoring others.  He seemed discerning in his quest, much like today’s home buyer. Landscaping, or the lack thereof, can help or hurt the value of a home.  In fact, studies have shown that professionally landscaped homes sell quicker, and often for more money (an average of 14% higher). Curb Appeal Most people are initially drawn to the exterior of the home, and its general outward appearanc ..read more

The delicate, silvery strand caught a splinter of light, momentarily shimmering and glistening in the early summer sun.  As the wind began to roil and swirl, the spider’s silk became untethered, taking flight upon the breeze.  An almost invisible moment became apparent.  A shared secret to keep. What surely is no secret are the health benefits of green spaces, more specifically trees and woods/forests.  Recent studies have found that exposure to trees and woods/forests reduces depression and the reliance on medication, while reducing stress and anxiety and improving cogni ..read more

She stood slender and tall, majestic and noble, clad in her sapphire gown of petals and glittering diamonds of dew.  She was, at once, royal and proud, yet demure and gracious.  Posturing amidst the wind and rain.  A beacon of loveliness and tenacity.  A sign of Summer’s emergence. This weekend we’ll be celebrating Memorial Day –   a day of reverence and gratitude.  A day to celebrate our patriotism and thank those who have served and sacrificed, so we may enjoy the freedoms our country, the greatest country on God’s green earth, ha ..read more

  With Mother’s Day just behind us, our “safe” planting date has finally arrived!  This generally marks the beginning of warming temperatures, which in turn means my outside exposure gradually begins to decrease as temperatures and humidity rise.  When I do find myself outside, I tend to seek out the cool, reassuring comfort of shade.  And I am not the only one. Much like myself, there are certain plants that not only prefer shade but thrive in its cool, dark bliss. I know what you’re probably thinking – Hosta, Hosta, Fern, Hosta. Alas, no! There are so many viable, inter ..read more

With May’s prudence and seeming benevolence, we will finally be able to exhale as warming temperatures mean we can soon begin to plant.  May, after all, means Mother’s Day, and Mother’s Day means flowers, so what better way to honor Mom than with native plants and flowers that are as unique and beautiful as she?  Think and shop outside the box with some of these amazing options: Sand Coreopsis Cheery, bright yellow, daisy-like flowers with golden centers bloom on slender downy stems June – September.  Prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soil.  Grows 12-18″ tall and 1 ..read more