Weekend's garden walks to showcase yard artistry
Michael Stopka of Arlington Heights likens tending his many gardens to decorating rooms in a house.
There's the Asian-themed garden with its full-sized terra cotta Chinese warrior, the hosta garden, the cattail garden marsh and the blue spruce meditation garden with its marble bench, among the annuals and perennials that surround the perimeter of his Scarsdale Estates home.
And that's not to mention its centerpiece: two ponds connected by a stone bridge with multitiered waterfalls, bronze statues representing his three children, and featuring water lilies and other water plants, as well as goldfish.
"To go from gardening to water gardening, is a whole new challenge," Stopka says.
Stopka knows something about decorating. By day, he owns Design Toscano, the Arlington Heights gallery and mail order company which specializes in historical replicas for the home and garden.
His own garden contains some of his favorite statues, fountains and other water features found on his buying trips to Europe and Asia that will make for a top draw on this weekend's Arlington Heights Garden Walk & Unique Boutique.
The event offers tours of six gardens in all, from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. While its boutique - filled with garden art pieces, and master gardeners available for questions - takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday on the grounds of the Arlington Heights Historical Museum, 110 W. Fremont St.
"I just think it's nice to see what people can do with their gardens, like developing a shade garden, ornamental garden or with statuary," says Arlington Heights Garden Club member Peggy Georgalas. "We're hoping to inspire people."
The walk aims to offer a diverse selection of residential gardens, including one in Prospect Heights designed by a master gardener who transformed a half acre into an eclectic mix of plants and flowers, with touches of whimsical rabbit figurines.
Judy Otis of Arlington Heights will open her garden railroad to visitors. Designed by her late husband, the layout features as many as six trains, but will run three on the day of the tour, including his first one, a replica of the 1928 Milwaukee Road, making stops at lumberyard, western town and wedding chapel.
Look for authentic train lanterns and kerosene marker lamps to accent the perimeter gardens, including a lantern rescued from the old Arlington Heights station.
"The emphasis is on the trains," Otis says, "but I like to add color with my gardening."
Proceeds from the walk benefit the club's scholarships and conservation efforts. To find out more, visit: www.gardencentral.org/illinois/arlingtonheights.
Arlington Heights Garden Club Walk & Unique Boutique
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. for boutique, and noon-5 p.m. for garden tours
Where: Boutique takes place at Arlington Heights Historical Museum, 110 W. Fremont St.; gardens in Arlington Heights, with one in Prospect Heights
Cost: $10 donation for tours; boutique is free
More information: www.gardencentral.org/illinois/arlingtonheights
Other garden walks
Mount Prospect Historical Society and Garden Club of Mount Prospect
When: Noon to 4 p.m., Sunday
Features: Eight gardens including The Courtyard at Trinity United Methodist Church located at 605 W. Golf Road, and Moehling Park at 10 S. Pine St., located next to Capannari Ice Cream. Also featured are gardens with pond and other water containers, a woodland retreat, handmade birdhouses. Moehling Park has a butterfly garden.
Cost: $10; in advance from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and Friday at Dietrich Friedrichs Museum, 101 S. Maple St., Mount Prospect; and day of at Trinity United Methodist Church and Moehling Park.
Benefits: Mount Prospect Historical Society educational and preservation programs
Call: (847) 392-9006
Long Grove-Kildeer Garden Club
When: 9:30 a.m. July 14
Check-in: Reed-Turner Woodland Nature Center, 3849 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove
Features: Four residential gardens with perennial, native, annual and vegetable gardens, sprinkled with "eco-green" features, ponds, decks, gazebo, mosaic, statuary and more
Cost: $25; reservations required and includes boxed lunch to follow at nature center
Call: (847) 847-7207