Two important public sites on the North Shore are being designed by Mariani Landscape as part of our mission to better the communities in which we are involved.

The Hugh Falls Healing Garden at Lake Forest Hospital is being designed by a Mariani team headed by Deirdre Toner with Dustin Goering, John Mariani, Carrie Woleben- Meade and Jim Osborne. They are working with staff members of various hospital departments associated with patient garden use and members of the Junior Garden Club of Lake Forest to create a place to soothe and heal the mind, body and spirit. The garden is being built in association with the Hunter Family Center for Women’s Health.

“The site will be a rounded, cathedral-like setting carved out of an existing hill,” says Deirdre, who wanted to include the Jens Jensen naturalistic garden tradition that has a strong presence in Lake Forest residential design.

A white limestone retaining wall will encircle the garden. Three spouts at the rear of the cedar pergola will drop water into a small pool below. Fragrant vines such as wisteria, clematis and antique roses will accent the pergola and add shade for hot summer days.

Gray interlocking pavers adhering to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards will be used and large elms will shade the four central garden beds. Wild flowers in the Women’s Center maternity colors pink and blue will blanket the landscape behind the new garden. Entrance piers will reflect the architecture of the hospital’s traditional red brick and limestone construction.

These landscaping elements, according to Deirdre, accomplish the goals for the garden as a place for engaging with nature; creating social and spiritual well being; captivating the senses, and providing restful privacy.

Lake Forest hospital staff members collaborating on this project are Pam Gerard, vice president of philanthropy; Dr. Anne Nagle, emergency physician; Rob Sacramento, manager of environmental services; Sue Skinner, philanthropy and head of the garden project; Sandy Sommers, Westmoreland activities director, and Carol Sweigert, director of rehabilitation services. Junior Garden Club of Lake Forest members working on the project are Yvonne Day, Posy Krehbiel, Joanne Miller and Cassandra Lowe Vermillion. Construction is expected to be complete by 2006. Deirdre is the project director.

Ekland Garden , part of the Glencoe Historical Society property, is being renovated by Mariani Landscape. Sandwiched between two commercial buildings in downtown Glencoe, the new garden, 100 by 150 feet is classically designed by John Mariani. “We’re phasing it in, one section at a time,” he reports.

“We saved some of the old trees and plan to add large evergreens to screen the commercial building to the west,” he continues. “A winding gravel path, antique street pavers in a herringbone pattern, a garden walk and terrace will all be part of the project.” Vintage flowers will be planted, including heirloom iris and foxglove, old fashioned roses, ferns, hostas and forsythia. A sitting area with benches will provide a quiet and restful place within this green sanctuary in the downtown business district. Much of the work will be done by volunteers, according to John, and completion is expected in the next couple of years.