A little change can do your garden good

Change seems to be the watchword across the nation, but what about in your own backyard?

If you're voting for change in your garden, but not sure where to find good candidates, the Morton Arboretum's Midwest Gardening Symposium March 7-9 is a great place to start.

Innovation is the theme of this year's event, which highlights trends in plants, designs and garden function. A star-studded cast of garden designers, plantsmen and luminaries in the horticulture field will bring their insights on new plans and uses for your garden.

Jan Little, the arboretum's assistant director of education, says there are as many reasons to change a garden as there are ways to do it.

"Life events often are catalysts for change," Little says.

New parents may reevaluate their yard for children's activities, just as empty nesters might want to reclaim the old swing set area.

Nature may have reworked a garden with overgrown shrubs, storm-damaged trees or flowers past their prime.

Seeking change, many gardeners might buy a flat of the newest garden novelty and call it a day. But Little suggests a bolder approach.

"You can start at the very beginning and think about how you can use your garden," she says. "Step back and say, 'How could this space make my life more fulfilling?' "

With today's challenging economy, gaining more outdoor living space might be cheaper than remodeling a home. Instead of devoting your front yard to public space, for instance, create a private niche for a quiet, reflective corner.

Maybe fashion a variety of interesting garden nooks with winding paths rather than an uninterrupted expanse of lawn.

Little suggests you also can get more from your garden by thinking of ways to expand your time there. Make your garden appealing both day and night, throughout all seasons.

But the best reason to consider change in a garden is because it's fun.

"Let's say you've been in a house for 40 years," Little says. "What would happen if you put a light on the patio? Then what would happen if you added some fragrant plants?"

Sometimes small changes can lead to an entirely new appreciation for your garden.

One of the symposium's featured speakers, Anna Ball, president of Ball Horticultural Company, will discuss traditions of innovation and ways to make your garden greener.

Ball, whose own family has a long history of horticultural invention, will explain how perceptions of garden space change with each generation.

Symposium participants also will be able to hear from a panel of distinguished landscape architects, including Christy Webber of Webber Landscapes in Chicago, Craig Bergman of Craig Bergman Landscape Design in Wilmette and Jim Hagstrom of Savanna Designs in Minneapolis.

"The designers will discuss their own projects using new ideas," Little says, "Then audience members can ask questions and engage in dialogues about their own garden ideas."

Sometimes all it takes to revitalize a garden is moving things around. Todd Jacobson, the arboretum's manager of horticulture, will offer his thoughts on interesting plant combinations.

"He's got such a good eye," Little says of Jacobson, "He combines plants very creatively."

Daryl Beyers, assistant editor of Fine Gardening magazine, the symposium's co-sponsor, will pose thought-provoking questions and images to jumpstart your imagination.

What if you created an English-style garden using just native plants? What if your garden were an impressionistic painting?

Experts will explain new varieties and new uses for old plant favorites, such as witch hazels and hellebores.

"For example, we'll display samples of many varieties of witch hazel in bloom," Little says, noting the wonderful fragrance of these plants.

A plant in bloom. Now there's a change for winter weary eyes!

Information on the Morton Arboretum's Midwest Gardening Symposium can be found on the arboretum Web site, www.mortonarb.org.