Spend Lazy, Hazy Summer Days with a Walk in the Garden

Posted on Jul 21, 2005 in categories Garden, Press Releases

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Summer means birds, bees, butterflies and smelling the flowers. One of the best places in the village to enjoy those activities is at the Eklund Garden, 377 Park Ave., just in front of the Glencoe Historical Society’s Eklund History Center.

Having just completed a second phase of restoration, the garden is open for visiting—whether you’d like to follow the memorial plaques or peek in at the petunias. Phase II is one of a series of stages to restore and rehabilitate a garden that has been in the village for more than 100 years. While in the past, the garden was alternatively used as a loading dock for furniture produced in the workshop where the museum is currently located, a garbage dump and a paint lab for the Eklund Interior Design studio, since 200, when it was donated to the historical society by Sara C. “Sally” Eklund, work has been done to recreate a Victorian garden.

The first year was spent pulling weeds, removing rocks and eliminating remnants of the dump. The next year, trees that were dying were removed and the plan for the garden drawn up pro bono by John Mariani of Mariani Landscaping. Last year, three giant spruces were planted along the western edge of the garden and this year, with the completion of Phase II, arbor vitae were planted along the entrance with irises across the front walkway.

A plaque explaining the history of the Eklund family was been dedicated in May 2005 on the front wall and three other plaques are now displayed in specific areas, honoring Sara Eklund, Ingrid Rosenthal, a prominent gardener who aided in the early restoration; and H. Earl Hoover, memorialized by his wife.

While the museum is closed for painting and the installation of new exhibits, the historical society invites the community to enjoy the garden. Benches and chairs are placed around the garden for your comfort. Come on in.