Garden Walk: Rockford, Il (Post 5)

It's March...which to very far from May.
It was almost 60 degrees out last week and now the fever is high and I am eager to get my hands dirty.
During the unexpected heat wave I cleaned my tools, pruned some hydrangeas and group 2 clematis's.  I never really know if I'm doing it right.  Once it was too windy to function, I came in to look at photos and plan my Spring chores.
I have a lot of design work to do this year, so I wanted to re visit one of the Garden walks last summer that I never posted.    Actually, whenever I was working with the photos to post, I put my face as close to the computer screen as I could and was studying every minute detail.  And then I would just get lost.......This was my favorite spot of the Rockford, IL Garden tour.  I did not want to leave this home.
I must have walked through 3 times, seeing new vignettes each time.
I wish I could have met the homeowner.  I might have thrown her in the back of the car and whisked her 4 hours south, plopped her down in my backyard and said; "Ok.  Do it again - HERE."
Luckily, for her, I couldn't find her.
This is the Sunquist Garden in Rockford on Carmella.  The creative gardener has lived in her home for 25 years and when she started, there was nothing but a creek in the backyard.

Takeaway #1: You can have more than one trellis.  You can have more than one EVEN if they are in view of one another. YAY!!!!  This opened up a lot of options for me.

Takeaway #2: Different ways to use edging and boulders.  The beds' boundaries seem to be made of a number of different materials.  I liked it.  Boulders would be placed at the base of a structure, as an edging, or to show off a plant or pot...

Blacklace Elderberry underplanted with Catmint

This stop had so many individual garden rooms.  Instead of looking at the spans of an entire space, I can focus on combinations.  It was inspiring.

Clematis at the base  of the arbor with lambs ear and Summer Phlox held by boulders

I enjoyed the small brightly colored water feature.  The hostas and ferns seemed to be right out in the open - no tree cover.  Mine would burn to a crisp.  So many of the plant choices seemed to find their way into just the perfect spot of survival.  I do wonder if it was by research or trial and error.....

Iris, Lambs Ear. Creeping Jenny and a Blue Peacock in a bed of boulders

What a beautiful scene....

Ground covers, Iris, Ginger, Lambs Ear, Daylily, ferns Asitlbe

Boulders at the base of a trellis that beckons..."Come.  Sit.  Enjoy.  Be at Peace."

I really liked this area and it's sectioned off sitting room.  This is so much better than planting is a straight line along the perimeter of the given structures.  Like, straight down the fence line.  Make some curves.  Create space.  Design.  Embellish.

Ferns and Baptiste in background with pink Achillea and purple Double Clustered Bellflowers

Takeway #3:  I had no idea Achillea was anything but Yellow!  Pink?  Seriously?  Where have I been?  This Pink Achille is A-Dorable!  I love that it's paired with Double cluster Bellflower peaking through.  I simply must re create this.
It's fun and cheery.  Makes me want to chew bubble gum and blow big pink bubbles!  I took several shots to see the whole area

Here the smaller boulders mark a step, instead of going with the slope, and are purposed else where to form their own rock garden so the Creeping Jenny can creep



I would very much enjoy seeing this garden in each season.   I have been brewing a pocket full of ideas gained from this visit.