#1 Mike Helstrom and Dan Marsh Garden
Our garden is about the average size for a city lot (approximately one-quarter acre), but with a pie-shaped configuration that is wide in front and narrow in back. There are many mature trees in the garden, including maples, spruces, pines, and firs, which makes things predominantly shady. Being a collector at heart (some may say hoarder), I have added many ornamental trees, including beech, weeping cypress, hinoki cypress, weeping evergreen, yew, dogwood, crabapple, and about a dozen Japanese maples.
There are also many shrubs and perennials, including roses, viburnums, barberries, hostas, fifty or so hydrangeas, and another fifty or so boxwoods.
My collecting also spills over into birdhouses, sculptures, wall hangings, and other garden art and decorations. Perhaps my favorite elements in the yard are the numerous paths—approximately 500 feet worth—that meander, loop, and criss-cross throughout; in the west front yard there’s a flagstone path with stone bench, watched over by three large trees. From there you can glimpse (but please don’t walk on) our neighbor’s beautiful moss garden. In the back yard, more paths run down the west side, up the east, and in many directions in between.
These all offer easy access for gardening chores, a variety of views and perspectives, and most of all, FUN!
#2 Rosie's Garden
I’m a Rockford native who “ran off to see the world” never planning to return, yet I’ve been home for over thirty years. The only home my husband and I owned before this property was a third-floor condo with a rooftop deck covered in Astroturf hosting one flower box I filled each year with whatever annuals were available at the corner market. That is the only gardening experience I brought with me to 700 Coolidge Place.
You might say I am an enthusiastic novice gardener. I enjoy experimenting with plants of all textures, sizes, and colors. I’m especially fond of trees and rocks. My garden is a collection of planting areas that wrap around our yard whenever I could steal a spot from my husband’s
precious grass. I would start with a tree and some boulders and then, little by little, plant until the mulch started to spill into the grass and Brian would have to start edging around it.
Acknowledgements: Carol Hunter- for the first garden plan in 2001; John Carlson - a great tree resource and advisor; Andrew Barelli- boulder mover and family farmer; Tom Johnson- plant, tree and boulder resource and pruning advisor; Min Wang- for pruning our crazy old juniper and making it the star of our front yard; and Brian Belida- for building our gazebo and new fabulous privacy “trellis,” as well as digging holes, moving rocks, hauling mulch and keeping the lawn always perfect!
There are some garden maps available at the house to help navigate the confusion. There was no “urban planning” here. Sorry in advance. Please enjoy!
#3 Bill Lengjak and Min Wang Garden
Our garden is a shaded woodland retreat designed to invite exploration, reflection, and discovery. Mature trees create a cool canopy overhead, while shifting patterns of dappled sunlight illuminate winding paths, textured foliage, and carefully layered plantings throughout the landscape. Native and non-native trees, shrubs, and perennials are blended together to create a naturalistic setting rich in color, form, and seasonal interest.
Throughout the garden, artistic touches appear around every turn. Sculptures are thoughtfully placed among the plantings, creating moments of surprise and whimsy while complementing the tranquil woodland setting. The soothing sound of moving water can be heard throughout the garden from seven separate fountains, each adding its own unique character and sense of calm.
Three handcrafted wooden footbridges inspired by Asian garden design span gentle transitions within the landscape and encourage visitors to slow down and take in the surroundings. Moss, shade-loving plants, ornamental shrubs, and woodland textures combine to create an atmosphere that feels secluded and peaceful despite being within the city.
This garden is intended not only as a collection of plants, but as an immersive
experience celebrating nature, art, water, and serenity.
#4 Daniel and Alicia Salazar
Our love for gardening runs deep—rooted in a profound appreciation for nature, beauty, and the quiet joy that comes from nurturing life. Over the years, we have worked diligently to cultivate more than just a garden; we have created a whimsical sanctuary designed to transport visitors into a world filled with peace, wonder, and natural harmony. Every winding path, blooming flower, and thoughtfully placed plant has been chosen with intention, creating an enchanting escape where time seems to slow and the soul can truly rest.
At the heart of our garden is a commitment to native cultivars and sustainable planting practices that honor the natural landscape. By incorporating native flowers, grasses, and shrubs, we have created a thriving habitat that welcomes an abundance of
butterflies, busy bees, and graceful hummingbirds. Their presence brings the garden to life—fluttering wings, gentle humming, and vibrant movement weaving magic into every corner. These pollinators are not only essential to the health of the environment, but
they also add a sense of wonder and connection to the natural world.
Our garden is meant to be more than something beautiful to admire; it is an experience—an invitation to breathe deeply, wander slowly, and rediscover the simple serenity found in nature’s embrace.
#5 Gary and Joan Ollmann Garden
Our garden sits on six and a half acres of wooded rural property, where mature white oaks and hickory trees create a naturally peaceful and shaded setting. Beginning in the parking area along our south property line, visitors may begin by exploring the oak savannah restoration to the right, a project we have been gradually developing by hand over the past fourteen years. Straight ahead, the main yard features a mix of open lawn and landscaped beds that border the woods and surround the home. To the left, two prairie areas include mowed paths that invite closer views of grasses and native plantings, with the grasses especially prominent in early July. While much of the landscape is intentionally natural, several more manicured garden beds near the house provide contrast and structure. These feature a variety of hostas,
ornamental grasses, dwarf conifers, and small trees, including redbuds, Japanese maples, and dogwoods. A dry creek bed marks the transition to the woods, and a brick patio and walkways offer spaces to sit and enjoy the surroundings.
Over the past fifteen years, nearly all previous plantings have been replaced with new plants selected and installed by us. The result is a quiet, evolving landscape shaped by both intention and the character of the land.
#6 Jamie and Maura Flanary Garden
What began as a blank slate—a former corn and soybean field with just three trees and no grass—has evolved into a deeply personal garden retreat on nearly two acres. Over the years, we have planted hundreds of trees, transforming what was once full sun into a rich tapestry of sun and shade. Along the back of the property, a complete willow wall now creates privacy, movement, and a beautiful natural backdrop.
At the heart of the garden stands a Bald Cypress, our first true “investment tree,” which sparked a passion for collecting unusual conifers and Japanese maples. Today, the landscape features an extensive collection of both, woven throughout garden rooms, pathways, containers, and seating areas. Our “we shed” serves as a favorite gathering place for entertaining family and friends.
Many of the garden’s decorative touches and plants have meaningful stories—sourced from local small businesses, discovered during road trips, found through unique online shops, or gifted by friends. Gardening here has been a journey of creativity, patience, and trial and error, with many plants moving from bed to bed before finding their perfect home. The result is an ever-evolving garden filled with personality, memories, and a sense of peaceful discovery.
We welcome you to our garden, have a seat, grab a drink, and enjoy!
#7 Tom and Pam Johnson's Garden
Our home and gardens are on five acres that we purchased in 1995 as a flat, treeless hayfield. As owner of Johnson Design Landscaping, Tom saw the property as an opportunity to develop a park-like setting for relaxation and entertainment. Because Tom loves the beauty of the woods while Pam enjoys open sunny spaces, the landscape was designed to blend both.
We began by reshaping the land, moving thousands of yards of soil to create berms, swales, and terraces that add visual interest and accommodate a walkout basement and patio. Boulder retaining walls support planting beds filled with perennials and groundcovers, while walking paths, garden borders, benches and sitting stones connect the various garden spaces and create inviting places to relax.
Tom traveled throughout Wisconsin and Northern Illinois in search of the unique stone and boulders featured throughout the landscape.
Today, the gardens contain a diverse collection of plants, including hostas, ornamental grasses, hybrid coneflowers, peonies, hydrangeas, Japanese maples, sedums, lavender, Asiatic lilies, thirty varieties of conifers – including dwarf and weeping, and more than fifty varieties of deciduous trees.
Part of the property remains in its natural state, with mowed paths winding through native grass and forbs. Forested areas of white pine, fir, and spruce have been established along Orth Rd. and the property line creating a sense of privacy. We welcome you to our gardens!
