Nancy LeBow and Joyce Skoglund of the Garden Club, and myself, planted three Winterberry bushes down at the Commons yesterday. They will add some color in the winter. They are kind of invisible in the pictures below due to the lack of leaves, but that will change in spring!
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The Country Hills Garden Club judges drove through the neighborhood on Wednesday night admiring the holiday decorations. The enthusiasm of our neighbors was inspiring. We were particularly struck by how colorful the displays were this year. To everyone who strung lights, hung wreaths, put candles in their windows, and featured inflatables in their design, thank you for your contributions to the Holiday Spirit of Country Club Hills! In no particular order, here are this year’s winners:
First up are Andrew and Catie Bishop at 3410 Park Hill Place:
We especially liked the bright snowman, the spray of blue lights in front that created a tree form, and the balance of different kinds of lights (cool and warm) used throughout the display.
Next we celebrate Steve and Pam Caruso at 3420 Park Hill Place:
Once again, the focal point is a tree created by strings of lights radiating down the hill from a large, bright star on the house. Pretty red and white candy canes are scattered about, and a family of reindeer stands behind a brightly lighted pathway through the yard.
Roman and Margarita Diaz at 10109 Cornwall Road also are winners:
We liked the variety of elements: lighted reindeer and spiral tree forms on the left, softer blue lights surrounding a bright white angel on the right.
Our next winning neighbor is Bob Keith at 10005 Spring Lake Terrace:
There’s a lot to like here: At the top of the driveway there is a bright inflatable Santa on his sleigh, along with his reindeer; multi-colored lights are strung around the shrubs and along the roofline; and in front is an illuminated Rudolph with his bright red nose.
Finally, we honor Kirsten Youngren and Phil Miller at 10003 Blackthorn Court:
This yard is a true “winter wonderland” of delights! (The photo provides only a small sampling.) There are cute inflatables, a profusion of colored lights woven throughout the trees, and a brightly lighted Christmas tree clearly visible in a window.
Thank you to everyone who participated and made this year so festive, merry, and bright. And to all CCH residents, be sure to drive through the neighborhood and experience the wonder for yourselves.
Happy Holidays to one and all!
Jennifer Judelsohn, Joyce Skoglund, Nancy LeBow, and Joan Phillips
(with special thanks to our honorary member, David Stearman, for his wordsmithing skills)
The Country Hills Garden Club has been decorating the neighborhood for the holidays!
At each entrance.
And down at the Commons.
Below are the pictures from the Halloween event. Thanks to Katy Johnson for the awesome pictures! It was nice to see such a large turnout of neighbors. So many good customes!
Thanks to all who came out for the clean-up at the Commons last weekend, as well as those that came out earlier in the year. It’s been a very successful season. Thanks to Betty Russell and the Garden Club for leading the never-ending effort.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get pictures before the leaves started falling all over the freshly laid mulch. But you can still see how nicely our plants are nestled in for the winter.
Steve Lescure – CCHCA President
The November, 2019 Beauty Spot of the Month will surely turn the heads of residents and visitors in Country Club Hills. Craig and Lingling Green’s landscape at 3419 Andover Drive demonstrates a winning design with pleasing balance, proportion, and color palette. Its special eye appeal this month is achieved through the harmonious blend of the natural shape and earth tones of stone with the bright shades of autumn. At the side property lines, sunlit golden maple trees glow like torches. The unique rockscape rising across the lawn area creates an attractive screen against traffic at the broad intersection in front of the house. Dry-stacked stone walls accentuate the beauty of a moss-covered bolder and the turning leaves of young ornamental trees. A purple-leaf Japanese maple, a magenta chrysanthemum, plump, orange pumpkins and variegated winter squash serve as a resplendent centerpiece in the yard. This welcoming fall landscape conveys a warm holiday greeting to all!
Happy Thanksgiving from the Country Hills Garden Club!
Anita Johnson and Nancy LeBow
Come out to the CCHCA Halloween Party! Free pizza and lemonade! Gift cards!
Thursday, October 31st (rain or shine)
5:00 – 6:00 P.M.
at The Commons – Spring Lake Terrace & Andover Drive
Pizza Lemonade
Bring a side to share!
Contact: Nate Hussell, social@cchca.org
And don’t forget the Food 4 Thought food drive! All donations will help feed Daniels Run students in need. It’s a great cause and we hope many will be able to contribute.
Thanks to everybody who came out to the going away party for Betty Russell. We had a nice turnout! It was a fitting tribute for all the work Betty has done over the years at the Commons. She has done a tremendous job. Thanks to Nancy LeBow and Joyce Skoglund of the Garden Club for organizing.
A few pictures below. Note the new bench in honor of Betty. Thanks to the CIty for working with us to obtain it.
Steve
When the Frost is on the Punkin
…They’s something kindo’ harty-like about the atmusfere
When the heat of summer’s over and the coolin’ fall is here—
Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossums on the trees,
And the mumble of the hummin’-birds and buzzin’ of the bees;
But the air’s so appetizin’; and the landscape through the haze
Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days
Is a pictur’ that no painter has the colorin’ to mock—
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock….
No doubt the extreme heat of this summer and fall has caused many CCH gardens to lose their vibrancy. The Country Hills Garden Club discovered an attractive October Beauty Spot at 10011 Cornwall Road where Michele and Michael Rogers have kept their landscape looking colorful with seasonal flowers and decorations. Tall evergreen trees and low-spreading dogwoods have protected the yard from beaming sun and plant stress. Along the house’s brick walls, rhododendrons, azaleas, hostas, and ferns still show off their unique green foliage behind a border of white rocks. Garden ornaments of life-like birds and woodland animals are interspersed in the greenery. To welcome the arrival of autumn, Michele has placed eye-catching arrangements of sugar pumpkins and chrysanthemums near the house entryway and lamp post. At the center point of the garden between containers with yellow cushion mums, smiling scarecrows hold hands in friendship and express appreciation for “Harvest Blessings.” This cheerful, harvest-themed landscape makes us eager for a “coolin’ fall” and celebrations with tricks, treats, turkeys, and trimmings!
Respectfully submitted,
Anita Johnson and Nancy LeBow
Country Hills Garden Club
