The program celebrates the rich native plant and gardening history of Evanston by focusing on three influential Evanstonians: Margery Taylor Carlson, Anna Rew Gross, and Donn Werling, with presentations at the library followed by a tour of the Lighthouse Beach gardens.

About Jens Jensen

Famed Danish-American landscape architect Jens Jensen's design work can be seen in both the city of Chicago (Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, and Douglass Park among others) and in Evanston. Jensen's most notable design in Evanston was the Shakespeare Garden (pictured above) on the grounds of Northwestern University and the Wildflower Trail on the grounds of the Grosse Point Lighthouse. Both were commissioned by the Garden Club of Evanston. His largest and most ambitious landscape in Evanston was the 4.7 acre landscape designed in 1927 for the Harley Clarke mansion, located at 2603 Sheridan Road.

About his influences

Anne Rew Gross (1864 – 1946) and Jensen worked together to shift attitudes about residential plantings to center designs around the use of native plants. In May 1916, Evanston's first Raymond Park plant sale, influenced by their collaboration, was held and has continued to be an annual event to this day.

Margery Carlson (1892 – 1985), an early member of the Garden Club of Evanston and the first full-time woman faculty member of Northwestern University, traveled throughout the world collecting botanical samples (some of which are still archived at the Field Museum), organized Victory Gardens, and was one of the founders of the Ladd Arboretum.

Dr. Donn Werling was the first and only person with the official title of City of Evanston Naturalist. He also served as Director of the Ladd Arboretum, Evanston Ecology Center, and the Lighthouse Nature Center from 1973 – 1982. He is now retired from the University of Michigan where for 19 years he served as Director of the Henry Ford Estate, one of Jensen's largest and most recognized works, and serves as an advisor to Jens Jensen Gardens in Evanston.

Dr. Werling will give the keynote address during the June 25 program.

About Parks, Plants and People

Parks, Plants and People: The Impact of Jens Jensen on Evanston's Natural Environment begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 25, in the community room  of the Evanston Public Library Main Library, 1703 Orrington Ave. 

• 10 a.m. Program, EPL Main Library, 1703 Orrington Ave.
• 12 p.m. Lunch break
• 1:15 p.m., Travel by bus to Lighthouse Park for Q&A with Dr. Werling and tours of the landscape rehabilitation work underway, native plant demonstration garden, Alfred Caldwell Stonework, and waterfall, plus guided tours of the historic Lighthouse wildflower walk by the Garden Club of Evanston.

The program and tour are free. Light refreshments will be provided. The morning program will also be available via Zoom. Further information can be obtained by emailing info@jjge.org or on the website www.JensjensengardensinEvanston.org.