4 of 5 W. Chicago gardens featured on walk are on same cul-de-sac

A green thumb isn't required to live on Woodboro Drive in West Chicago.

It just seems that way.

This year, the pretty little cul-de-sac is home to four of the five residential gardens on the West Chicago Garden Club's garden walk Sunday, Aug. 1.

Gardens at 200, 205, 211 and 213 Woodboro Drive are featured on the free tour.

Behind the townhouses, the gardens flow into each other without fences, giving the impression of a continuous - but varied - landscape.

"We all enjoy it back here," said Mary Anne Young of 211 Woodboro, the 2009 winner of the garden club's award for best small garden.

Eleven years ago, several homeowners who love to garden moved into just-built townhouses on the cul-de-sac. The builders had already landscaped the complex, but the gardeners envisioned much greater possibilities.

"All of us had gardens at our other houses, and when we moved here there was nothing," Young said. "They put in grass and evergreens, but there were no flowers. So we just started (planting)."

Today, the sunny cul-de-sac is splashed with color: vibrant pink Knock Out roses, yellow sunflowers, lime hydrangeas and purple petunias. And in the shady rear yards that back up to woods, hostas of every size and shade flourish next to ferns, lamium and feathery Japanese maple trees.

The townhouse complex takes care of the grass and mulches the flower beds. That gives the homeowners more time for the more satisfying, creative garden tasks. There's always room for one more new plant.

They always check out each other's new acquisitions and water each other's gardens when someone is away.

"We take care of each other," said Char Kellstedt, who lives at 213 Woodboro Drive.

Kellstedt, a Wheaton transplant, knew she wanted to buy the townhouse the instant she saw the back yard with the woods behind it.

"When I came back here and I saw this," she said, "I didn't even care what was inside. (I thought), 'I want this.'"

<p class="factboxheadblack">If you go</p>

<p class="News">What: West Chicago Garden Club's Open Garden Day features tours of the Kruse House Secret Garden and five residential gardens </p>

<p class="News">When: 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 1</p>

<p class="News">Where: Kruse House, 527 Main St.; maps to the other gardens will be provided</p>

<p class="News">Admission: Free</p>

<p class="News">Details: Refreshments will be available at the Kruse House; parking in nearby municipal lots</p>

<p class="News">Info: <a href="http://westchicagogardenclub.com" target="new">westchicagogardenclub.com</a></p>