The weather was perfect this weekend, as hundreds got a taste of Forest Park’s gorgeous gardens –  and tea as well – part of the 9th annual  Forest Park Garden Walk.  

Two public spaces, eight private gardens and one interior were showcased along the walk.

 The theme “Tea time in the Garden” encouraged visitors to sample tea from Todd and Holland, coffee from U3 coffee roasters, admire tea pots, sample honey and enjoy home-grown pickle relish and hot sauce along the way. All proceeds went to support the local Historical Society of Forest Park. 

The garden walk attendees bestowed the “Best in Show,” designation to a well-established curated pollinator garden at the handsome 1888 home of Christian Altman and Enrique Zuniga. It featured a pergola, deck and a collection of native stunners including maiden grass, joe pye weed, wild bergamot, butterfly milkweed, an Illinois columnar white pine as well as hydrangea, hosta, and tomatoes.   

Kristen Lyons,  the chairperson of the walk,  scouts for homes and gardens all year round.  “Some people approach us and ask to be on the garden walk, some people recommend neighbors and friends,” she said., “I drive really slowly casing homes that would be great to feature.”   

She added: “This year was a perfect divide of north and south side of Forest Park with four north of Eisenhower and four locations south of the  Eisenhower. I was so proud of the collaboration between the public services, library, Park District, non profits like Arts Alliance, and Historical society and local businesses “ including April Baker Homes,  Jeanine Guncheon’s Gallery Etcetera, U3 coffee and Todd and Holland Tea Merchants.

Among the homes was that of Gallery Etcetera and James Robinson, who opened their home for visitors to admire their artistic and eclectic interior and their welcoming yard space.

 The engaging outdoor space of artist Gretchen Jankowski was back on the walk,  designed using transplants from her grandmother’s garden in Dixon, IL, ceramic art and pocket oasis areas for people, bees and butterflies to rest and restore.   

Kate and Mark Linne’s deep back yard offered flowering beauties like hydrangea, blue globe thistle, native culver’s root, echinacea, milkweed, calendula and a show stopping fragrant plumeria.  

Overseeing the hollyhocks and tall grasses is a captivating armadillo on Dunlop which welcomed visitors to a stunning yard filled with vegetables, fruit, a beehive and an active green house. 

 Mr. Lee and Dr. Lory Maltby guided guests through a teapot collection among a healthy canopy of cantaloupe, swiss chard, squash and zucchini.  

Around the corner Shannon Sandlin and Adam Hubell engaged explorers through a delightful flagstone path that lead to a treasure trove of hot sauce and pickles. This was among a thoughtfully appointed yard with pear trees, lilacs and Japanese meadowsweet shrubs which work together for beauty, food, reflection, and fun for a pair of energetic dogs.   

Returning to the walk was the storied garden of Tom O’Connell and Cameron Wilson whose exploration of color, movement and texture fills the yard’s pallet which delights and surprises from every corner.   

The Arts Alliance artists shared their garden posts among the “Art of Landscaping” design by IZZO at the Park District of Forest Park maintenance facility, which features a blend of urban meets nature. 

 Large tree trunks become the accents and features among an inter play of blend of plants and shrubs. While the Wild Ones of the Forest Park Library feature  attract more than people – visiting humming birds, butterflies and finches joined in the hustle and bustle of corner of Des Plaines and Jackson. 

The Hoopers on Des Plaines have built a stunning garden over the past decade using local seed swaps and whimsical touches. Prairie dock, black eyed Susan, dill, edible bergamot and a large hosta from mom’s cottage garden in Pennsylvania grace the sanctuary that surrounds a generous patio that was filled with locals when I stopped by.