Thank you to Linda Ricker for organizing the membership picnic and tour of the newly renamed Esta Barrett Manor and Gardens on Saturday, July 19th. Also, thank you to Brian Reis, Executive Director of the foundation that owns the manor and gardens for hosting the event and leading tours of the historic house. About 20 people enjoyed the formal garden, tours, and picnic lunch.
The manor grounds were designed by noted landscape architect O. C. Simonds, who also designed Sinnissippi Park in Rockford, Lowell Park in Dixon, and several private estates along the Rock River. Simonds was an early proponent of using naturalistic plantings of native plants to create scenic spaces to harmonize with the character of the Midwestern landscape. His landscape designs featured broad views of the sky and created patterns of light and shade that added an element of mystery to the gardens. Showy ornamental plants, such as roses, irises, peonies, and phlox, were hidden from view in formal gardens.
Last year, the foundation began a year-long project to rehabilitate the formal garden on the manor grounds using all native wildflowers, ferns, grasses, and sedges. More than 5,000 plugs of native plants were planted in formal garden beds in the sunken garden under the direction of Jens Jensen of Jensen Ecology, the great-grandson of Jens Jensen, well-known naturalist and designer of many parks and private estates, and a contemporary of O. C. Simonds. The new flower beds were in full bloom for our tour, showing that native plants can be just as beautiful as the showy ornamentals found in most gardens.
The foundation will use the formal garden to teach visitors about incorporating native plants in their own yards and the beauty of the Midwestern landscape. To arrange a tour of the manor and gardens, go to www.estabarrett.com or email Brian Reis at breis@estabarrett.com.