Known for attractions such as Navy Pier and Cloud Gate, Chicago is a popular place to visit and live. Home to well-known faces such as Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey, the city is a hub for politics and culture. Chicago also has a reputation for great food, think Italian beef and Chicago dogs, and great music, think blues and jazz.

But, one thing you might not readily associate with Chicago is gardening. However, Chicago’s Latin motto, Urbs in Horto, translates to City in a Garden. This motto is upheld by the many public parks, including Lincoln Park, which rivals the popularity of NYC’s Central Park. You can carry on Chicago’s garden tradition at home by adding pleasing container plantings to your urban courtyard or by transforming your suburban property into an outdoor retreat.

Chicago is a city with four distinct seasons. Spring is often rainy, summer is humid, fall is pleasant and winter is cold. This weather pattern makes autumn the best time of year for outdoor living. Whether you live near the Magnificent Mile and have only a balcony, or you’re in Naperville, Arlington Heights, Schaumburg, Evanston, or Highland Park and have a large property, you can create an outdoor space that you’ll love spending time in. Maybe you’d like an outdoor fireplace to keep you warm on crisp fall evenings, or a fountain to mask the sound of city traffic. Perhaps a rooftop garden with views of the downtown skyscrapers is a possibility, or maybe a small space where you can grow your own vegetables suits your needs.

Whatever your desires, there are many options when it comes to landscaping in the Chicago area. An excellent resource is the Chicago Botanic Garden. Frequent classes are offered in the areas of Horticulture and Gardening as well as Garden and Landscape Design. Topics include sustainable gardens, front yard design for bungalows, small space food gardens and more. Each spring, the Chicago Flower & Garden Show takes over Navy Pier for a week. This is another great resource for those considering landscape changes or upgrades. You may also want to check out local garden centers for ideas and resources. Gethsemane Garden Center, Pasquesi Home and Gardens and Chalet Landscape Nursery & Garden Center have all received national recognition. Once you have your ideas straight, there are numerous landscaping professionals throughout the city who can help you turn your vision into reality.