The Gardener Wife

The Gardener Wife Helping & inspiring you to GROW SOMETHING, something beautiful—even better, something to eat! Here is what I'm growing in my garden and how I'm using it.

My name is Debbie Rea, and I want to help everyone GROW SOMETHING, something beautiful-even better, something to eat!

06/07/2026

Shrubbery X 4!
Unboxing plants from Proven Winners ColorChoice Flowering Shrubs —

3 Mop Top® Fountain Butterfly Bush
(Buddleia alternifolia)

1 Whip It Good® Arborvitae
(Thuja occidentalis)
🟰
Happy Gardener Wife
😊

Today's Harvest
06/06/2026

Today's Harvest

06/05/2026

Asian Lady Beetle Eating Aphids on Milkweed

06/02/2026

End of May Flowers

Last week's featured flowers include:
💮 Mock Orange - Philadelphus coronarius
❇️Illuminati Arch® Mockorange -
from Proven Winners ColorChoice Flowering Shrubs
🌸Sonic Bloom® Pink weigela Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs
🪻Diamantina™ clematis from Donahue's Greenhouse
❇️ Goat’s Beard - Aruncus dioicus, shared by a garden friend
💠Blue False Indigo - Baptisia australis



Music: Float by Geographer. YouTube Audio Library License: You can use this audio track in any of your videos, including videos that you monetize. No attribution is required.

Garden photos from Brookfield Zoo Chicago —I spotted milkweed growing in the outside edge of the bison area (first photo...
05/28/2026

Garden photos from Brookfield Zoo Chicago —

I spotted milkweed growing in the outside edge of the bison area (first photo). Last photo shows the Pollinator Garden, which really didn't look like much at this point.

A brilliant idea!❤️💯😎
05/26/2026

A brilliant idea!❤️💯😎

“Don’t cover our fields, cover our car parks instead.” That message is becoming increasingly important as countries search for cleaner energy solutions without sacrificing valuable farmland.

Across the world, large solar farms are being built on open land to generate renewable electricity. While solar energy is far better for the environment than fossil fuels, many people worry about productive farmland disappearing under rows of solar panels. Fields are essential for growing food, supporting wildlife, and protecting natural landscapes. As populations continue to grow, preserving agricultural land is becoming more important than ever.

At the same time, there are already millions of unused spaces sitting under direct sunlight every day car parks. Huge parking areas outside shopping centres, airports, offices, schools, stadiums, and public buildings absorb heat for hours while contributing nothing to the energy system. Instead of leaving these spaces empty and exposed, many experts believe they could become smart solar power hubs.

Solar canopies placed above parking lots can generate clean electricity while also providing shade for vehicles. Cars stay cooler, people are protected from harsh weather, and the land beneath remains fully usable. In some cities, these solar-covered parking areas are already powering nearby buildings, charging electric vehicles, and feeding extra electricity back into the grid.

This approach offers multiple benefits without taking land away from nature or agriculture. It reduces pressure on rural areas while making better use of spaces that already exist. It also helps cities lower temperatures in urban “heat islands,” where concrete and asphalt trap heat during summer months.

The idea reflects a larger shift in thinking. Building a greener future does not always mean using more land sometimes it means using land more intelligently. Innovation is not only about creating new technology but also about reimagining the spaces around us.

By transforming car parks into energy-producing spaces, communities can support renewable energy while still protecting forests, farms, and open landscapes. Instead of choosing between clean energy and nature, smarter planning allows both to exist together.

The future of sustainability may not lie in covering every empty field with infrastructure. It may lie in recognizing that many solutions are already right in front of us hidden in the spaces we use every day.

First harvest of the cool crops I sowed on March 30th—
05/22/2026

First harvest of the cool crops I sowed on March 30th—

05/21/2026

Sorry for the last minute notice, but here's an opportunity to learn more about invasive in Illinois. As always, I recommend registering for online events like this even if you can't attend the live session. In most cases, you get access to a recording later.👍

Here's some of what was blooming in my garden yesterday on my 64th birthday.🎂💐😊
05/21/2026

Here's some of what was blooming in my garden yesterday on my 64th birthday.🎂💐😊

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Homer Glen, IL

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