PHOTOS: Chicago’s 10 finest bungalow gardens, chosen by locals

CHICAGO – Chicago has chosen 10 of the perfect bungalow gardens as a part of the ninth annual Bungalow Garden Contest. 

What we all know:

Homeowners from throughout the town submitted photographs of their gardens to the Chicago Bungalow Association to compete in 5 classes: Best Curb Appeal Gardening, Beat Backyard Oasis, Best Pollinator Garden, Best Vegetable & Herb Garden, and Best Bungalow Window Box.

After receiving 72 entries, the CBA selected the strongest entries for the general public to vote on on-line. Nearly 3,500 individuals voted for this 12 months’s winners in July.

Each winner acquired $500 money and an award plaque handcrafted by Craeft LLC. 

Two randomly chosen entrants acquired a free rain barrel donated by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.

CBA donated $25 for each eligible entry acquired to South and West Side group gardens, leading to $1,800 being break up equally among the many CCA Academy’s PermaPark Food Forest in North Lawndale, Englewood Veterans Garden and Heritage Community Garden in West Englewood, Rosie’s Peace within the Valley Garden in Austin, Rosemoor Community Association Garden in Roseland, and Urban Growers Collective in Bridgeport.

Best Curb Appeal: Heather and Johnny Costello in Norwood Park

In 2023, the Costellos eliminated the grass from their entrance garden and changed it with a no-mow yard, together with a tiered design.  

“Much of what we planted was propagated from other areas of our property and has formed a sort of patchwork quilt of perennial groundcover,” Heather mentioned.

Best Backyard Oasis: Josephine Christopher in Dunning

When Christopher moved to her nook lot, the aspect and backyards solely had grass and a big spruce tree. The transformation started with Christopher buying chickens, then alongside got here ponds, geese, koi fish, tortoises, bonsai bushes, a greenhouse, and far more.

“Living in Chicago, I wanted to create a sanctuary that I could step outside and enjoy nature,” she mentioned.

Best Pollinator Garden: Scott Gerwitz in Belmont Cragin

Gerwitz began his native backyard in 2020 as a technique to get out of the home through the COVID-19 lockdown.

“It helped me to finally get out of the house after the lockdown and allowed me to meet so many of my neighbors,” Gerwitz mentioned.

He was impressed by a neighbor’s backyard, and after researching native vegetation, he added them to his entrance yard and parkway.

Best Vegetable & Herb Garden: Raúl Cruz and Casimira Nuñez in Gage Park

Raúl Cruz and Casimira Nuñez have spent 25 years constructing their vegetable backyard, full with tomatoes, chili peppers, rue and basil. And all the things they do is pure and natural.

“We make our own compost. My husband burns firewood and makes a bucket full of ash. The ash is very good for the vegetables. I put all the vegetables and everything that’s left over from the kitchen in a little bowl. We don’t buy anything to put on the plants. We make everything ourselves.”

Best Bungalow Window Box: Nancy Dietz in Austin

Dietz constructed her personal window field planter two years in the past to enhance her authentic wooden home windows.

“It’s just meant to be on the house,” she defined, “The corbels were built when the house was built so that flowers could be planted on it.”

Runners-up

Runners-up acquired $250 money.

Best Curb Appeal: Krystal Isler in Portage Park

Best Backyard Oasis: Heidi Hockberger in Albany Park

Best Pollinator Garden: Alexya Aguilera in Portage Park

Best Vegetable & Herb Garden: Auriel Abdullah Choudhry in South Chicago

Best Bungalow Window Box: Kara Leon in Portage Park

Check out each profitable and runner-up backyard at www.chicagobungalow.org.