The most beautiful gardens often tell a story, but what can a garden with its roots in the past tell us about history? The Wilmette Historical Society hopes to answer this as it hosted the 2023 Historic Garden Walk this past Sunday.
Although the Society’s first garden walk was held during the summer of 2021, this year offered four new Wilmette gardens, three private residences and one iconic public venue offered together for a nature stroll sure to capture the imagination.
Wilmette Historical Museum Director Rachel Ramirez said the garden walk is a way to reach out to a whole new audience.
“We are always looking at ways to attract new community interest in the museum and an event like this one helps us reach those people who may not even realize they have an interest in history,” Ramirez said.
Wilmette Historical Society Docent Leon Zar said Saturday’s walk featured many garden types with gardens for prayer and spiritual reflection, gardens as soulful oasis, prairie style, hobbyist gardens, full sun or shade gardens, herb, woodland and aqua gardens. Wilmette has them all.
A new highlight on this year’s schedule was the highly-acclaimed gardens of the Bahá’í Temple, attracting visitors from all over the world since the building and gardens opened in 1953.
Landscape Architect Carol Yetken, president and founder of CYLA Design Associates, Inc., said the nine gardens surrounding the Bahá’í Temple include a diverse ensemble of plant materials.
“Each garden is different, representing the beauty and diversity of the human family, diversity among cultures seen as a source of harmony,” Yetken shared in an email.
The garden walk highlights included espaliered apple trees, a small greenhouse, examples of creative screening methods, interesting mixtures of both native and non-native plants, water features, and other gardening design diversions fit for avid gardeners, history buffs and curious nature lovers of all ages.
Docent Ann Hughes said she grew up in Wilmette in a gardening family.
“Trees are often the center of the garden and where the landscaping begins – fruit trees historically were given as wedding gifts to newlyweds settling into a new home,” Hughes said.
This fundraising event offered tickets for members at $40 and to non-members at $50, with special student rate of $25. Ticket proceeds will go to benefit the operating budget and special projects of the Wilmette Historical Museum.
Museum event sponsors Bartlett Tree Experts, Boilini Company, De Giulio Kitchen Design, Morgante Wilson Architects, Nature’s Perspective Landscaping, North Shore Community Bank, Scott Simpson Design + Build, and The North Shore Weekend provided support to this year’s historic garden walk.
Wilmette residents Michelle Taylor, Kathy McCorkle and Paddy Seymour said they saw the event listed in the newspaper and, as avid gardeners, are always on the lookout for plant inspiration.
Amateur horticulturist Hedy Helfand of Evanston attended the garden walk with family.
“Gardens are places that we need, they feed the soul, they are places of beauty and creative expression meant for curvilinear exploration,” Helfand said.
Gina Grillo is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
