Victory Tree Garden

03/12/2026

We ❤️ pollinators 🐝 and welcome the Urban Wildlife Institute yearly pollinator count. If you live in the neighborhood and would like to start a garden, you can contact us for seeds, trees and gardening tips! 🪴 🌳

Something unusual just happened in North Carolina — and it wasn’t driven by politicians or corporations. It was regular people showing up for nature.

The state’s annual North Carolina Pollinator Count just shattered its previous record, with 5,067 pollinator counts submitted in 2024 — a 113% increase from the year before.

The community science event invites residents, schools, farmers, and gardeners to spend 15 minutes observing bees, butterflies, and other pollinators and report what they see. The goal is simple: help scientists understand how pollinator populations are changing across the state.

But this year something bigger happened.

Alongside the record participation, communities across North Carolina also created more than 160 new pollinator gardens — small habitats filled with native flowers that provide food and shelter for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.

Why does that matter? Because pollinators are responsible for helping produce about one-third of the food people eat, yet many species are facing pressure from habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change.

Events like the Pollinator Count turn everyday residents into community scientists, collecting data while also restoring habitat right where they live.

It’s a reminder that conservation doesn’t always start in national parks or research labs.

Sometimes it starts with a backyard, a patch of flowers, and 15 minutes of paying attention. 🐝🌼

03/03/2026

I'm apartment hunting right now. Flying from box to box, tree cavity to tree cavity, inspecting every potential home in your neighborhood.

I stick my head inside, look around, test the entrance size. If it's dirty, I leave. If the hole is too big, I leave. If it faces the wrong direction, I leave. My babies' lives depend on getting this right.

I used to nest in old fence posts and dead trees. Most of those are gone now. I depend on nest boxes that humans put up. And most of them are wrong — too big, too dirty, facing the wrong way, with a perch that helps predators more than it helps me.

I almost disappeared in the 1960s. Nest box trails brought me back. The same species that removed my habitat built the boxes that saved me.

Here's what I need from yours.

🐦 The box that works:

- Entrance hole exactly one and a half inches — any bigger and starlings get in, and starlings don't share
- Facing east or southeast — morning sun warms the box early and the entrance stays sheltered from afternoon storms
- Height five to eight feet — higher attracts house sparrows that compete aggressively for the cavity
- Clean inside — last year's nest material holds parasites that can kill nestlings. A quick cleanout takes two minutes
- No perch below the hole — I don't need one, and predators use them to reach inside

If you have a box up, clean it out this week. If you don't have one, a basic bluebird box costs ten to fifteen dollars and takes twenty minutes to mount on a post or fence.

I might be checking it tomorrow morning 💙

12/15/2025

We have spruce, white pine, juniper and arborvitae available for adoption. Contact Us for Your Free Tree 🌳 here:
https://www.chicagoneighborhoodsolutions.com/community-garden

12/06/2025

12/06/2025

We did it! We had wonderful conversations with community members and stakeholders. Families and kids enjoyed apple cider, cupcakes and Christmas cookies. And we shared these words of dedication...

Thanks Everyone for joining us on this momentous occasion, the unveiling and dedocation of our Victory Tree Garden sign on this beautiful kiosk, from Neighbor-Space.

Natalie, thank you so much for working with us to restore this public space for community use. Neighborspace has been an incredible partner to us and to communities across Chicagoland. From marketing to fundraising, Natalie has been a tireless advocate for green, community led spaces. It was Neighborspace who stepped up 34 years ago to protect this garden and Community Exchange Garden, up the block.

For 34 years, these gardens have long been a symbol of community led hope, perseverance and resilience. It was neighbors here on Exchange Avenue who fought back against slumlords, drugs houses, violence and disinvestment.They fought to have drug houses closed, torn down and lots cleaned up and protected for community use evermore. Many of these community advocates worked with Centro Comunitario Juan Diego, including our beloved late neighbor Arnold Mireles.

As we continue to honor the memory and spirit of those who came before us in a quest for peace and community, it's crucial that we maintain these Gardens for generations to come. That we look to nature for solutions to ongoing problems of violence, poverty and industrial fallout. Our hope, and mission now is to provide an urban oasis where community members can join in building skills and connections that inspire new generations.

And, we've already started. Last year, Greencorp students from Bowen High School and CVS helped clean up and revitalize the grounds and mulch the trees, paving the way for new growth opportunities. This year, we partnered with Lincoln Park's Wildlife Institute and the Field Museum to install new perennial plants while also monitoring heat, wildlife and pollinators. We're also working with other garden leaders to raise trees that we can offer to the community for free. Trees that can offer shade, beauty and habitat for our furry, feathered and winged friends. Next, year we look forward to providing activities and events that educate and inspire people mentally and spiritually.

As we stand here today, to install our new sign, we thank Miracle for her beautiful vision and carpentry in creating this accessible kiosk to help keep community stay informed. Lastly, I'd like to thank environmental advocate and prominent local artist Mark Banks for designing and painting our beautiful sign that will welcome all to this space.

Thank you all for being here on this cold December day for the unveiling of our new sign.

If you read this far, please like and follow. We need at least 100 followers so we can go live during future events. ❤️

11/23/2025

We are currently accepting donations of Christmas Cookies 🎅 🎄 🍪 . For details on donation pick up or drop off, please message or contact us online at https://www.chicagoneighborhoodsolutions.com/contact
Thank you 🙏🏽

10/29/2025

Thanks to BuenGrow for the hardy mums, asters, ferns, coneflowers, and edible pansies! These will help build our flower borders and fill in our boxes. Thank you!

10/11/2025

Thanks to Neighborspace and our new sponsors and volunteers from Associated Bank, the community garden was blessed with beautiful quality wood chips from EZ Tree. We added two new, small garden beds in the front and prepared our wildflowers bed in the back. 🌿 🌾

09/05/2025

Community Exchange Garden