John’s Getaway Garden in Illinois, Part 1

Hi GPODers!

This week is kicking off with some master classes in landscape design. Yesterday we saw a stunning front garden transformation designed by Bas Suharto in Ottawa, Ontario (Bas Designs a Front Yard Garden in Ottawa), and today we’re heading to Manteno, Illinois to get inspired by the the home garden of John and Lee Algozzini. John is a recently retired garden designer of 44 years, and the winner of multiple design and construction awards. He has crafted countless gardens for his clients, but today he is showcasing the thoughtful and serene scenes that he created at home.

John has selected a sensational palette of plants with a wide range of interest, but has also composed a design that is calming and cohesive. A continuous, curved border around the backyard fence creates an easy path for the eye to follow, but a stunning Summer Charm® Chinese lilac (Syringa pekinensis ‘DTR 124’, Zone 3–7) stands out as the central focal point.

At dusk the landscape becomes even more magical as lights scattered throughout the garden cast certain vignettes in a warm glow.

While the overall feel of the garden is calm and controlled, there are still moments of whimsy and fun. ‘Karl Foerster’ feather reed grass (Calamagrostis × acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’, Zone 5–9) is always a striking backdrop and Russian stonecrop (Sedum kamtschaticum, Zone 3–10) creates a lush carpet of green, but the planter head with a pop of chartreuse easily steals attention.

In the spring, an eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis, Zone 4–8) brings a pop of pink to this shady green border.

More berry shades arrive in summer. John has planted a wonderful collection of daylilies, including the vibrant purple cultivar ‘Indian Giver’ (Hemerocallis ‘Indian Giver’, Zone 3–9).

Another photo at dusk shows off how carefully placed color make John’s plantings dazzling. The peachy hues of Caramel coral bells (Heuchera ‘Caramel’, Zone 4–9) around this big limestone bird bath make this vignette of diverse foliage even more dynamic.

There is, of course, plenty of floral color, too. ‘Solar Flare’ baptisia (Baptisia ‘Solar Flare’, Zone 4–9) adds some warmth and pairs well with the ‘Blue Totem’ Colorado spruce (Picea pungens ‘Blue Totem’, Zone 4–8) behind.

However, the areas where green reigns supreme are anything but boring. A range of foliage shapes and textures make the subtle changes in color more exciting, and limestone bed edging ties into the many other limestone elements in the garden.

It’s no surprise that the patio is equally stylish and colorful. In fall, annual flowers and bold foliage plants get an autumnal twist with many bright orange pumpkins added to the container displays.

Lastly, John has created another calming, but captivating combination of Jacob’s ladder (Baptisia ‘Solar Flare’, Zone 3–8) and Korean feather reed grass (Calamagrostis brachytricha, Zone 4–9). The blooms of Jacob’s later provide color for the earlier part of the growing season, while the Korean reed grass will take its turn to shine when plumes emerge in late summer.

John shared so many spectacular photos of his garden that we will be returning to Illinois tomorrow to enjoy more of his incredible designs and show-stopping plant selections.

Keep an eye out for GPOD in your inbox tomorrow, and consider sharing your photos to get your garden featured. Follow the NEW directions below to submit your photos to Garden Photo of the Day!

We want to see YOUR garden!

Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!

To submit, fill out the Garden Photo of the Day Submission Form.

You can also send 5–10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.

Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden, Revised and Updated Second Edition: A Natural Approach to Pest Control

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

This revised and updated edition of Jessica Walliser’s award-winning Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden offers a valuable and science-backed plan for bringing balance back to the garden. With this indispensable gardening reference—now updated with new research, insights, and voices—learn how to create a healthy, balanced, and diverse garden capable of supporting a hard-working crew of beneficial pest-eating insects and eliminate the need for synthetic chemical pesticides.

Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Featuring gorgeous photography and advice for landscapers, Planting in a Post-Wild World by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West is dedicated to the idea of a new nature—a hybrid of both the wild and the cultivated—that can nourish in our cities and suburbs.