“O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?”
Perhaps he was hiding somewhere in the shade on that hot June day!
Earlier this week, I shared a look at the historic sunken garden connecting two homes built for sisters in Wilmette, Illinois. Today, we’re taking a look at another beautiful garden and a little Shakespearean history.
Tucked away on Northwestern University’s campus, the Shakespeare Garden has been around for more than a century! It all started in 1915, when the Garden Club of Evanston decided to create a garden to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death and celebrate the ties between England and America during World War I. They brought in renowned Danish-American landscape architect Jens Jensen to design the space, and by 1920, the club had completed planting a collection inspired by more than 50 plants mentioned in Shakespeare’s works. How neat! The garden was officially dedicated in 1930 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
The Garden Club of Evanston still cares for the garden today, and it’s a wonderful little place to visit. Enjoy!
While wandering the shady paths at the back of the garden, I came across this natural doorway formed by the trees. What a beautiful view of the central lawn and sundial! Jensen wanted the formal garden to feel like a clearing in the woods, and I think he achieved just that.
The garden measures just 70 by 100 feet and is made up of eight planting beds originally arranged in a formal knot-garden design. (If you’re not familiar with knot gardens, look them up! They’re amazing!) In 1990, English garden designer John Brookes recommended removing some of the boxwood (Buxus cvs., Zones 4–9) to make room for more perennials and a more relaxed planting style. He also had the sundial moved to the center to create a stronger focal point.
The garden underwent a renovation in 2016 to restore several of its historic features, including the wooden obelisks seen here, stone benches, and pathways. The project also included replacing declining plants to help preserve the original design.
My favorite view of the garden! Formally informal.
Jensen’s original planting list included everything from columbines (Aquilegia vulgaris, Zones 3–8) and violets (Viola spp., Zones 3–9) to poppies (Papaver somniferum, annual), peonies (Paeonia officinalis, Zones 4–8), and lavender (Lavandula angustifolia, Zones 5–8), all plants mentioned in Shakespeare’s writings. The plantings have changed over the years, but the garden still celebrates that connection.
Last, but certainly not least, this Elizabethan-style stone bench was installed in 1929, along with the garden’s memorial fountain. Nearly a century later, it’s still a beautiful spot to sit and enjoy the surroundings!
The Shakespeare Garden is open to the public, and I highly recommend stopping by if you’re ever in the area! You can learn more about its history and plan your visit through the Garden Club of Evanston’s website.
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