Eco(Fun)ctional Blog

Unlock the potential in your yard, even shady spots, and discover how to cultivate your own sustainable food garden with native & shade-tolerant plants. Learn practical tips for raised beds and natural pest control methods to create a thriving landsca

Explore how Spirited Gardener blends nature's wisdom with client visions, using native plants and a philosophy of connection to create truly special spaces. Click to learn more about our four core values and how we are transforming landscapes. 

We're delighted to share that Julia Bunn, the heart and soul behind Spirited Gardener, recently joined the Three Seeds Natives Pod for an insightful and inspiring conversation.

February is a key time to control invasive plants like buckthorn, barberry, and lesser celandine in Chicago area gardens. Click to find tips on identification, removal, and replacement native plants.

This summer, 17 year cicadas, Brood XIII, are emerging in the Chicago area. While their calls might be noisy, they are harmless to gardens and even help aerate soil. Learn how to protect young tress and appreciate nature's magic. 

Lesser celandine is a serious invasive plant threatening yards across the region. While there is no easy solution, landowners can make a difference with a variety of methods , including planting resilient native species. 

In 2024 we will continue to root for nature and grow our recognition of how our human spirit is such a powerfully interrelated part of that nature. That we always have an option to move toward connection and better understanding.

The more water we can keep in our gardens and out of the larger water shed, the better.

In October, 2010, The Spirited Gardener had the opportunity to walk The High Line on Manhattan's West Side in New York City. Open from 7AM to 8PM daily in the winter, the hours change with the seasons as do the vistas.