ALGONQUIN, Ill -- As autumn approaches, many may be scratching their heads, wondering if summer ever arrived this year.
While unseasonably cool temperatures and wet weather made for plenty of available lounge chairs at local pools, landscape and garden centers have had a frustrating season.
Late starts on landscape projects and recurring delays due to rain provided unique challenges this growing season.
Sheena John, owner and proprietor of the Algonquin-based Garden Landscapes, said the wet summer has put many of her projects behind schedule.
Garden Landscapes offers design and planning services, mainly for residential and condominium projects.
"The rain early on made it difficult to break ground," John said. "It slowed down the installation of things. Installation is not in our line of work but it's like a pack of cards. If someone further up is delayed, it impacts us."
Last week was no exception to the rule this summer. John said jobs were canceled due to rain delays.
She said spring is typically the "crazy" time of year, but this year her staff hasn't slowed down because gardening interest and projects were delayed due to the early wet weather.
"A lot of project completions were stretched out because of the wet weather," she said. "Also, when we have to be on site longer, that costs more because then we are running into time we could spend on other projects."
Carol Lund, customer service manager at the Barn Nursery and Landscape Center, 8109 S. Route 31, Cary, said gardeners who got a late start with summer, or got too frustrated or busy to ever plant at all this year, still have time.
"You can plant all year long, from the time the ground thaws until when it freezes," she said. "Around here it may be that the ground doesn't freeze until December. It's actually kind of nice that it has been cool this summer for homeowners or even landscapers. It's nicer to plant in cool weather rather than really hot and dry."