Explore some of St. Charles's best gardens

How does your garden grow? While I can tell you about the weeds I've embraced as natural prairie plants throughout my garden and other tales of gardener's denial, you will be more inspired and informed when you visit the six participating home gardens in this year's garden walk presented by the Pottawatomie Garden Club of St. Charles.

All participating homes are located in St. Charles.

"We've been doing this for several years," said walk co-chair Susie Anderson. "The variety of gardens is astounding, from professional landscapes to do-it-yourself."

This latter category is magnificently illustrated throughout the gardens of Ed and Jane Gabrielse.

Surrounding their 1890 landmark home are gracefully curving flower beds filled with a multitude of colors, shapes and plants of varying heights.

Fox glove, monk's hood, pig's snout, Maltese cross and more are found throughout the gardens in front of and behind the house, as well as an herb garden, replete with basil, rosemary and more, which the Gabrielses enjoy using when cooking on the grill.

Three kinds of alliums (Ed's favorite) make a statement throughout the gardens, including what he calls "firecracker alliums, which we saw on a garden walk in England. As they dry out, they add a structural element to the yard."

Creating a masterful palette of plants takes a lot of time and patience, especially when tending to those that take a while to mature, such as the climbing hydrangeas circling the deck, which took seven years to bloom.

"We started about 25 years ago," said Ed.

"But we didn't do a lot before the kids moved out 15 years ago," said Jane. "I think when Ed built the deck we did a bit around that, then we tore down the old shed and did some there and put in a pond, then we planted the mound left from digging out the pond. And we put in the fence."

"Then we ran out of space and started in the front," Ed said.

Everything from the landscape design and plantings, to the addition of two ponds, to the unique small gazebos and wood fence complete with gates, even the brick walkways which wind around the gardens, all emerged solely through the minds and hands of the Gabrielses.

The two ponds, complete with water lilies, water hyacinths, and the requisite goldfish and koi, feature unique filtration systems designed and installed by Ed. The water for the pond on the south side of the yard actually runs through a bog, which, he said, "helps keep the water clean and clear."

The Gabrielses participated in a garden walk about eight years ago but were asked to be in this year's walk after neighbor Susie Anderson saw all they had created during a block party.

"We have a committee that goes around; we get recommendations; there's word-of-mouth from people who've seen gardens; and people call us who want to have their gardens included on a walk," said Anderson, a member of the Pottawatomie Garden Club and co-chair for this year's walk.

This Garden Walk, which is held every other year, is a boon for avid and would be gardeners. It is also well attended each year by "people who want to support the community, because the money (from the tickets) furthers funds for education in the horticultural world," Anderson explained.

Frank and Pilar Stompanato of St. Charles have a lush garden in this year's walk, which also includes a pond put in by Aquascape, four years ago.

"We've been in on pond tours in the past," said Frank Stompanato. "I think someone in the pond walk expressed interest in (the garden) to the garden club."

Plenty of evergreens, ornamental trees, statuary, a three level deck, and walkways of natural flagstone are just some of the highlights of this garden.

The designs and plantings were all done by the Stompanatos, with assistance form their four young children.

"We have a natural garden, and a vegetable garden with herbs and tomatoes, pots with annuals, lots of different shrubs," said Stompanato. "The neat thing about gardening is it's so different for everyone. I think words don't really describe it. If people are interested, there are lots of different things for different folks. I love to garden; it's my peace and serenity."

Come look, learn and enjoy each of the magnificent gardens on this year's walk. Master gardeners will be on hand at each garden to welcome visitors and answer any questions.

Pottawatomie Garden Club of St. Charles was founded 80 years ago, in 1928. Club members plant and maintain flowers on bridges and around downtown St. Charles, and help local groups with their own garden projects.

The club's biennial walk is one way this club raises funds, along with the annual Arbor Day Tree and Shrub Sale.

Funds raised through these and other events are used to award scholarships to residents of St. Charles High School District 303, who are engaged in studying botany, horticulture, ecology, and related subjects.

Club members meet monthly, February through October, and anyone interested is welcome.

If you go

What: Pottawatomie Garden Club of St. Charles 2008 Garden Walk

When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday

Tickets: $15 in advance; $18 day of the walk, includes a booklet with listings and map. Tickets are available at: Heinz Brothers Greenhouse Garden Center, 2010 E. Main St. (Route 64); Blue Goose Super Market, 300 S. 2nd St.; Hallmark East, 3543 E. Main St.; Hallmark West, 1601 W. Main St.; Wasco Nursery & Garden Center, 41W781 Route 64; Shady Hill Gardens, 42W075 Rt. 38, Elburn

Information: Call (630)-377-5890 or visit www.pottagardenclub.org.