A year in an Elowen garden
Spring
Bulbs under the dogwood, then ferns unrolling along the path. We plant so that something is always starting.
Garden design and build, west of Chicago
Gardens that grow into the house.
Marta draws every garden herself. Her crew plants it, and she comes back each spring to see how it's doing.
From Marta
"I ask to see your kitchen window before I ask about your budget. That's the view you'll have every day."
MartaFounder and garden designer
- Gardens planted
- 210
- Native species share
- About 60%
- Crew
- Seven, all on staff
- Spring return visit
- Every garden
A year in an Elowen garden
Summer
Hydrangeas take over in June and hold until frost. Shade trees do the rest, and the patio stays cool at five o'clock.
A year in an Elowen garden
Autumn
Grasses go gold, seed heads stay standing, and the fire pit gets its first real use of the year.
A year in an Elowen garden
Winter
Stone, bark, and evergreen shapes carry the garden through snow. A good winter garden is mostly good bones.
Recent gardens
All gardensEach one started as a walk.
"Three years on, it looks better than the drawing did. I didn't know that could happen."
"She talked me out of the boxwood, and she was right."