A Grand Garden Indeed

If you’ve spent some time on this site, you’ve probably noticed that I teach at The Morton Arboretum. I also volunteer, so I’m there quite a bit. It has been a pleasure to watch their new Grand Garden grow into itself.

Installed in 2022 to replace the aging Hedge Garden, it was designed to be a color garden of succeeding rooms. It’s also meant to be an outdoor classroom and an event space. The Arboretum doesn’t have a great deal of formally landscaped areas, so this meets a lot of needs.

What I’m enjoying most about it as the plants mature and grow in, is the many textures.

Especially in the Celebration Garden which features plants that are primarily white, green, and silver. The designers have done an excellent job with the interplay of different sizes and shapes of flowers and foliage to create a rich textural tapestry.

The Joy of Plants Garden leans on purples and is meant to be a colorful garden of hardy plants. I’m looking forward to the hedges of yew growing up along the arbors to really be the walls intended. The benches provide a nice respite and are opportunities for people to stop and enjoy.

Check it out when you’re in the neighborhood!

This Eastern tiger swallowtail is eagerly diving into the Jeana phlox.