Rockford Gardens: A City in Bloom Is a Thing of Beauty
The abundance of Rockford gardens has earned the city the nickname "city of gardens." New projects continue to sprout in the area. Here is a list of some of the best Rockford Gardens:
Anderson Japanese Gardens
With reflective ponds, strategically placed rocks, waterfalls and sculptural enhancements, the Anderson Japanese Gardens are a true gem in Rockford. An explosion of color and beauty welcomes visitors to the Anderson Gardens, with its profusion of ornamental plants and flowering trees and shrubbery. Begun in the late 1970s, the garden reflects Rockford resident John Anderson's lifelong appreciation of the Japanese people and culture. The gardens were designed by Hoichi Kurisu, a graduate of Tokyo’s Waseda University and designer of the Washington Park Gardens in Portland, Oregon.
Klehm Aboretum and Botanic Garden
This garden's beginnings date back to 1910, when landscape architect Lincoln Taylor established a 155-acre site as the Rockford Nursery. Taylor is credited with planting many of the rare trees that grow on the site. The Klehm family bought the nursery and operated it from 1968 until the mid-1980s, when they donated the land to the Winnebago County Forest Preserve District. The combination of native plants and those from around the world create a natural area unique in the United States.
La Paloma Gardens
Cultivated from rich farm land that dates back to the 1920s, La Paloma Gardens began as a patch for growing vegetables in the mid-1980s. Formal construction of the gardens was completed in 1987, with semi-permanent plantings of perennials mixed with annuals. Today, the gardens comprise about five acres and include such features as a fountain sculpture, a swan pond, a long staircase, a koi pond and Italian courtyard. The master plan was developed and implemented by landscape architect Thomas Graceffa and Associates of Rockford.
Sinnissippi Gardens
This garden is an inviting landscape of color, texture and fragrance located along the Rock River. The gardens feature some 2,000 rose plants of more than 60 varieties, including the newest award-winners. Another focal point to the gardens is a floral clock planted annually with thousands of colorful flowers and a shaded perennial garden that provides a placid place to sit.
Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens
The latest addition to Rockford's "great gardens," the Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens celebrates its grand opening in 2011. Adjacent to Sinnissippi Gardens, the Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens is a tropical oasis with an 11,000-square-foot plant exhibition area with water features, seating areas and sculptures -- all in a tropical setting. The conservatory features changing seasonal floral displays, special events and educational programs for children.
Leave a comment below to let us know your favorite Rockford gardens.
Posted on Oct 7, 2011 by Brian Bixler
