North Suburban Pond & Garden Walk Features Ponds, Whimsical ... - Journal & Topics Newspapers Online
The North Suburban Pond & Garden Walk this Saturday and Sunday (July 22-23) provides a self-guided walk from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or during hours stated by the homeowners. Some gardens may be open for one day only. There is no fee, though donations are accepted to continue these special walks. Bathrooms are not available at the homes.
The following ponds and gardens included in this year's walk include:
1129 McDaniel Ave., Evanston – Fern
Visit this shade garden, described as a backyard oasis, where paths wind around four water features. Various plants and other items are featured. Those interested in a free jumpseed plant need only ask.
838 Leyden Ln., Wilmette – Patti & Sheldon
The evolving garden has vegetables, rain barrels, and native perennials. Additions have been new paths, a meditation area, and a planter area. The pond remains the focal point. Guests should park on the west side of the street.
2748 Norwood Terrace, Glenview – Bob and Marsha
Enter the yard from the right side of the garage. A 2,000-gallon collection pond, which frogs love, drains into the larger pond with a waterfall. Walk past the little pond towards the gazebo to get a better view of the larger pond and all the fish. The wooded and floral landscape includes a butterfly garden. Garden viewing is open Saturday from 9 to 3 only. Park in their driveway or the street, but be careful not to block their neighbors' driveways.
8201 Norma Court, Niles – Vicki & Bert
This backyard paradise has a 2,600-gallon pond, home to friendly koi, and frogs always eager to be hand fed. Wander around and view the whimsical yard art and fairy garden. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.
3404 Meadow Ln., Glenview – Delores & Dave
Here you will find a 4,000-gallon pond with Koi fish which have been adored for over 25 years. There is also an elaborate garden. Sunday viewing only, noon to five p.m.
1237 Longmeadow Dr., Glenview – John & Lynne
There have been a few changes to this garden. The owners lost their beautiful 25-year-old Japanese maple tree. In time, this area will be updated. As always, the garden is filled with plants that attract local wildlife. The backyard rain barrels keep the garden watered, bringing the water bill down. The center of the backyard paradise has a tri-colored beech tree. There are four active beehives that provide spring honey, which they sell.
3123 Brandess Drive, Glenview – Mark & Julie
This mature, mostly sunny, 4,500-gallon, 4-½ ft. deep fully landscaped pond is home to 10 large koi all over 15 years old. There are also eight new koi from the spawn two years ago. The natural look of the pond features marginal plantings such as Iris, hibiscus, creeping jenny, forget-me-nots, and cattails, which highlight the artistic placement of large, varied boulders. The 5-foot waterfall is vibrantly planted with canna, calla lilies, caladium, hyacinth, and additional tropical-themed plantings, all of which change yearly. The pond is served by a bead filter, high-performance skimmers, and a bottom jet system for easy care. This pond is the result of the great work of Larry Carnes of Reflections, with consulting and fish care by Rich Heimberger of Healthy Ponds. Check out the cone flower garden. Saturday viewing only.
1901 Oakwood Rd., Northbrook – Pat
This is a pollinator-friendly garden. The homeowners said it was an exciting challenge to incorporate native plants into an existing garden and add beds to provide more wildlife habitat while keeping the garden feel. They removed the lawn and planted native plants and shrubs for pollinator-friendly shade and sunny gardens. It's a friendly retreat to walk in or sit and enjoy the flowers and pollinators. Saturday – 1 to 5 p.m. and Sunday – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Park on the south side of the street – facing east.
3410 N. Ellen Dr., Arlington Heights
The public is invited to see what a couple of amateurs can do with an old driveway. The homeowners turned it into a koi pond. They had many years of trial and error but loved every minute of it. This is their first time allowing it to be viewed.
3025 Huntington Dr., Arlington Heights – Doug & Katherine
The homeowners consider their garden their little slice of paradise. They have a 27,000-gallon koi pond with nearly 200 koi of all sizes, waterfalls, fountains, piers, decks, and flower gardens. They have a filter shed that contains two separate filter systems. Open both Saturday and Sunday for visitors.
2020 E. Rosehill Dr., Arlington Heights – Ken & Sandy
Here you will find a 1,300-gallon pond that was built 28 years ago. It has a waterfall and an island fountain. The pond has 40 fish — assorted goldfish, eight koi, four large colorful butterfly koi, and several large bullfrogs. Sometimes large red-eared slider turtles will come and go from the pond and a few times they laid eggs nearby. Next to the pond, separated by a bridge and trellis, was a 600-gallon pond, which has been turned into a bog pond with a fountain due to leaks. The pond pumps, as well as their home, are powered by solar. The mound between the two ponds was made by the soil removed from the two ponds and 2-½ semi-truck loads of topsoil. All the soil was wheel barreled from the driveway to the backyard. The view on top of the mound looks down onto the ponds and out over Lake Arlington.
1321 N. Peartree Ln., Mount Prospect – Charleen
The homeowner said that when she moved to Mount Prospect 59 years ago there was only mud. It took her years to achieve the garden she has today. There are numerous trees, plants, a pond, 20 bird baths, 20 birdhouses, wind chimes, and other ornaments. Many have called her garden "magical." Open Saturday only.
403 S. Main St., Mount Prospect – Charmaine
She invites you to tour her secret garden enclosed between a pergola, brick-walled ivy, trumpet vines, and phlox hanging baskets of fuchsias, colorful petunias, and begonias. There's a hammock for a few restful moments. Maybe a goldfinch, cardinal, or hummingbird will fly by. The second-floor window boxes are filled with geraniums, which decorate the front of the home. Located a short block away from the Mount Prospect Train Station. Open Saturday – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday – 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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