Chicago Gardener

Chicago Gardener I garden on my rooftop deck in Chicago, zone 6A

The greenhouse is in transition from spring to summer 🌺 I’ve swapped out pansies and tulips for flowers that can handle ...
05/28/2026

The greenhouse is in transition from spring to summer 🌺

I’ve swapped out pansies and tulips for flowers that can handle the summer heat. Amongst the pots of flowers are also compact tomatoes and raspberries.

I have strawberries growing inside the greenhouse along with petunias. I’m hoping by having the petunias in here the budworms will be too confused to find them 😆

There is still more planting to be done, but I love how this space is transforming!

The end result of a day full of planting on the rooftop deck. Many bags of soil, pots, and plants were carried up and I...
05/26/2026

The end result of a day full of planting on the rooftop deck.

Many bags of soil, pots, and plants were carried up and I can already tell I’m going to be sore tomorrow 😆

Not all the pots are in place as the parts of the deck not in camera frame are a completely disaster, but my plan is get everything planted and then figure out where it’s going to go!

My overall color scheme was inspired by the color of the sky up here at sunrise and sunset and I think I’ve done a pretty good job capturing that 💚

The walkway to our garage deck is planted! 🩷I went with a color scheme of pink, white, and deep purple this year. There ...
05/23/2026

The walkway to our garage deck is planted! 🩷

I went with a color scheme of pink, white, and deep purple this year. There are two pale blush dahlias that will be in the center of the rectangular beds and they are surrounded by part-sun annuals.

I never had irrigation on this part of the deck, so I decided to switch to self-watering containers from so I don’t have to keep up on watering as much as I did last year.

I can’t to see how this fills in this year! 🍃

05/20/2026

Many were sad to learn I was pulling my pansies, especially when they looked so good. I was planning to give them a few more days but got the urge to remove them today.

Have no fear though! The pansies will live on. Some I replanted to shade for the summer to see if I can keep them blooming.

Others I pressed to use in crafts and of course I had to make myself a beautiful pansy bouquet.

I’ll keep you updated on how they do during the summer!

The FINAL photos of the pansies around my greenhouse 🌸I’ll be pulling these and replacing them with warm season flowers ...
05/19/2026

The FINAL photos of the pansies around my greenhouse 🌸

I’ll be pulling these and replacing them with warm season flowers in the next couple days. They have been such a delight and added some much needed color to the early spring garden!

I planted two mixes, delta shades blue and delta shades pink, that I got from

I planted the flowers right next to each other and fertilized and they really took off.

I’m sad to see them go, but know it’s time. I will be pressing some to save and use in crafts over the winter.

The rooftop garden is in transition from spring to summer. 🌼 I’ve pulled all the pansies to make room for warm season an...
05/16/2026

The rooftop garden is in transition from spring to summer. 🌼

I’ve pulled all the pansies to make room for warm season annuals. The alliums just started opening in the last week. Once they are in full bloom, I’m going to cut and dry the flowers and dig up the bulbs.

My color scheme for this garden is going to be inspired by the sunrises I got to see up here, so a lot of orange, pink, purple, and yellow flowers.

I can’t wait to get everything planted and watch it grow!

Spring time in the garden 🌷 These flowers will only be here for about another week before I swap them out for warm seaso...
05/06/2026

Spring time in the garden 🌷

These flowers will only be here for about another week before I swap them out for warm season flowers.

The tulip bulbs will be pulled up and replanted in the parkway to see if they flower again next year.

For the pansies and violas, I’m going to replant them in a shaded area in an attempt to keep them alive over summer to see if I can get them to flower again in the fall.

The heat of summer will cause the pansies to stop flowering but im going to keep them well watered and cut them back. We’ll see what happens this fall!

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