Pottering Around is not taking on any new landscape design or landscaping projects at this time. Continue reading

Since we began our landscape design business in 2003, our name Pottering Around has generally been well liked and understood (Marina is from England and we pottering around in our client's yards until everything is just right). However, we have been asked more than a couple of times if we make and sell pots! Continue reading

If you haven't yet discovered Pinterest you are missing all the fun, not to mention a great way to organize your home & garden ideas and picture reference. Pottering Around is now pinning like a couple of over-caffinated accupunturists! Continue reading

We are seeing extremely early blooms and leaves on the trees and shrubs in Riverside, Oak Park, River Forest, LaGrange, Hinsdale and all the villages in the western suburbs of Chicago where Pottering Around does landscaping work. Continue reading

As with most forms of arts and crafts, the degree of skill and mastery of floral arrangement varies from the casual hobbyist to the legendary artists. This, together with the natural beauty of even a single bloom, makes the genre interesting. You don’t have to be a professional to stroll into your yard and snip these ephemeral works of art for your home. Continue reading

Continuing our virtual and literal trek through the western suburbs of Chicago, Jamie had the chance to dig right in (or at least haul right out) by volunteering some maintenance work at Wolf Road Prairie Nature Preserve. About 20 nature enthusiasts showed up to help stop the advancing wooded area by cutting back rogue trees and brush from the edge of this important piece of the Illinois landscape. Continue reading

Glaciers provided a way for the original native American settlers to reach this land, gave us our familiar flat landscape, great lakes and much more local natural history. We've taken a look and compiled pictures of the Illinois native plants past and present. Continue reading

The 2011 Chicago Flower & Garden Show is now on. As designers, we always look forward to the event because not only is it a chance to see lovely landscaping displays and ideas, it’s also a sure harbinger of spring. Continue reading

We just made it to the cinema in time to see The King's Speech before last night's Academy Awards Show. Like a lot of people, we thought it was a beautiful movie and deserved the Oscar. Impeccably acted, crafted and produced and despite us all needing a break from the weather right now, it also perfectly captured the cold and damp of winter in England. So to jolly things up and bring a little color to the ongoing gray, we dug up this photo showing a garden location from the film in a much warmer light! Continue reading

The Oak Park Conservatory was built in 1929 and is owned and operated by The Park District of Oak Park. It has over 30,000 visitors annually, an interesting history and many friends and supporters. But facts and figures were not really what we were there for on this day and plenty can be found on the Conservatory's website. We came to get out of the cold and see some plants and flowers! Continue reading

A follow up on our last post about Riverside, IL. Local artists Susan Hong-Sammons and Walter Monastyretsky have immortalize Grumpy's Coffee Shop in oils. Continue reading

Pottering Around set off on a treasure hunt of creativity in our backyard and beyond, we were very interested in the idea of exploring the real world and sharing it in this online journal. First stop, historic Riverside, Illinois. Continue reading

Join Pottering Around on our journey to discover the very best in creative design, art, craft and style in our local areas. Everything will be experienced in real life and shared here online. Continue reading