Glencoe Historical Society
at the
Eklund History Center & Garden

To enhance the beauty, health and longevity of the Eklund Garden at 377 Park Avenue, the Glencoe Historical Society has launched a year-long fund-raising campaign.

The society is hoping to raise the $150,000 necessary to restore the salvageable elements of the Eklund Garden to their original beauty, enhance these elements to make the garden have four season appeal, make the garden accessible to all in the village and to do so without changing the garden's early 1900s character.

The garden, part of the donation to the Glencoe Historical Society by Sara C. Eklund in 2000, fronts on Park Avenue and has been part of the community since the late 1880s. The garden showcases iris in the spring, the hydrangeas in the summer and fall and the lush open green space in the downtown district all summer. Visitors enjoy seating, a place for leisure and contemplation.

The Glencoe Historical Society began last spring to have the garden evaluated with an eye toward restoration.

Participating in the evaluation were Village Arborist John Houde, Glencoe Park District Superintendent Rick Bold and park district horticulturist Tom McDonald.

Joining them were the owners of Nels Johnson Tree Experts, Inc. and Mariani Landscape. All landscape/tree professionals were in agreement as to the work that should be completed before a garden plan might be created. Diseased trees were removed and healthy trees were trimmed. Mariani Landscape donated its services to create a new garden concept plan: one that features a series of smaller specialized gardens that will be handicapped accessible (under the terms of the American for Disabilities Act), one which creates an understory layer of screening materials that use trees and shrubs that would be appropriate to an early 1900s garden, and one which is bird and butterfly friendly in order to provide another century of pleasure for the Glencoe community.

The garden plan can be divided into stages with the first stage proposed to begin next fall. The first stage is to regrade and amend the soil, install a gravel pathway lined with antique pavers, transplant existing plant materials and install new large plant materials that are to be used to screen adjoining buildings.

This stage of the renovation project requires the use of large machinery and will be the most expensive portion of the garden project. The second stage will be the installation of herbaceous plant materials into specified garden areas such as a medicinal garden. The final stage includes installation of security and garden enhancement lighting.

Contributions are now being accepted. Call Garden Chairman Vivian Zahniser for full details, a tour of the garden or for answers to questions about the renovation plan. Contributions can be mailed to the Glencoe Historical Society, 377 Park Ave., Glencoe IL 60022.

Comments

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2. On September 22, 2004 2:47 PM, Nello Lucchesi said:

   This press release was published in an article titled, “Glencoe Historical Society seeks Eklund Garden help” published in the December 4, 2003 issue of the Glencoe News.