Secret Garden Tour 2023
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Thank you for visiting our
2023
Secret Garden Tour
“Gardens In Progress!”
We look forward to seeing you at our next tour!
They designate those gardens that made it onto the tour!
Photo: M Ernst
6 Gardens
Walk, Bike or Ride
All within City Limits
2 Community Gardens
Maintained by the Garden Club
2 Days!
Jun 9 – 4 till 8
Jun 10 – 9 till 1
It all started at the Lebanon Visitors’ Center
Members of the Garden Club of Lebanon were at the Lebanon Visitors’ Center during our Garden Tour hours. They gave out a map of the tour, as well as our garden description pamphlet as the tour ticket. Donations for our scholarship fund were accepted at the Visitor Center.
Members of the Garden Club and additional volunteers were at each of the home gardens. They answered questions and assisted where possible. Though not required to be present, the garden owners tended to be available throughout the tour. Thanks to all!
The Mini Park and the Mermaid Inn gardens (two of our Garden Club maintained “Community Gardens”) were a great place to sit back and take in Mother Nature’s beauty.
221 West St. Louis Street
Lebanon, Illinois 62254
Many followed our tour using the printed version given out at the Visitors’ Center, and even more followed our online version. QR Codes were located on the map given at the Visitor’s Center for the page you are reading. QR Codes were also located at each of the gardens to view the information online.
Since 2013, We Have Given a Scholarship Yearly to Deserving Students
Congratulations to
Savannah Webster,
our 2023 recipient.
Thank you to all our Garden Tour Sponsors!
Please Choose A Garden to View
Garden “A”
Are you interested in attracting birds, bees, and butterflies to your property? Come visit this garden to see for yourself how to get started.
When the homeowners moved here in 2021, their garden boasted only sod grass and a prominent swing set! Concerned of the alarming decline of native insects and birds, these homeowners wanted to try to make a difference. In less than 2 years, they are nurturing rich native pollinator gardens on all four sides of their home.
40+ different native perennial flowers, trees and shrubs with attractive colors, plentiful nectars, pollens, berries, seeds, and nuts are now bringing Gold Finches, Cardinals, Hummingbirds, Chickadees, Monarchs, Swallowtails, Skippers, Painted Ladies, Buckeyes, Sulphurs, Honeybees, and more—the food “web” is whole and healthy in this garden actively feeding parents and babies alike.
The beautiful scents and sights that ALSO co-attracts the human senses and minds too!
Garden “B”
Find peace and tranquility in nine acres of green space set with a myriad of trees, bushes, eclectic gardens, and a waterfall.
The gardens are tended by both children and adults alike who understand nature’s connection to one’s soul.
Come and sit on one of the benches while you gather your thoughts, surrounded by mature trees, rows of Hostas, an eclectic collection of pots filled with both sun and shade loving plants next to a beautiful waterfall, surrounded by Prairie Grasses.
Enter a secret garden guarded by a swinging, metal gate and find trees, bushes and various shade loving plants in pots and perennials. You may find a Hummingbird or two visiting as well.
Take in the creative placement of Tall Grasses, Azaleas, and Mandeville throughout the property to brighten the view and the xeriscape plantings that take full sun with gusto!
Garden “C”
“Gardening is my therapy,” is evident as you walk throughout Betsy’s entire secret garden—and not to miss “She-Shed!” A beautiful dragonfly warmly greets all visitors and nature alike.
Note the moss-lined brick pathway which leads to colorful Impatiens, Coral Bells, Hostas, Astilbe, Bleeding Heart, Hydrangea and other shade loving perennials under the striking 70-year-old Sweet Gum trees. Creeping Phlox nestle within the retaining wall showcasing purple Bee Balm, Yarrow, Day Lilies, Coreopsis, Coneflower, Primrose, and a reblooming Dwarf Pink Lilac. A large Pin Oak and Maple lend wonderful shade to the back patio along with rocked flower garden and entertainment area.
Thanks to the bright and colorful varieties of flowers to include Milkweed and nectar feeders, you just might see a few Monarch Butterflies, Honeybees, Hummingbirds, Gold Finch, and yes, Betsy alike, call this garden, “Home Sweet Home!”
Garden “D”
Nestled on a beautiful knoll, this quaint farmhouse style home, along with a giant covered front porch and hanging flower baskets, warmly welcome you to “come and sit a ‘spell’!”
Out back, just a few steps from the kitchen, are several containerized fresh herbs as well as an expansive raised vegetable bed—truly a chef’s delight!
Imagine relaxing and enjoying the veranda, terrace, and fire pit with your family and friends while the kids play a friendly game flag football on the expansive back meadow. Peach, Birch, Red & White Redbuds, Sugar Maple and a prized Buckeye along with Japanese Pencil Hollies, Roses, Azaleas, and strategically placed perennials and annuals add great dimension and visual interest!
Garden “E”
This classic mid-century modern tri-level home and garden is situated on a slope lending to several landscape features serving both esthetic and erosion control purposes—including berms and rain garden!
Jim’s passion is rocks, and Sandy’s is flowers, so they’ve mixed it up and try to have a wide variety of 100+ different ephemerals, perennials, and annuals blooming from early spring to late fall in their “rocky” garden on every side!
A closed canopy of mature Sycamore, Copper Beech, Sugar Maples, and Tulip Poplars make shade the norm and sun exposure a pleasant surprise to plants and to even a include a watchful tree sloth!
Note the expansive windows on all four sides of this beautiful home along with an entertaining-sized veranda and imagine how these gardeners wonderfully bring the inside out and the outside in…365 days of the year!
Garden “F”
Lebanon’s historic “Georgian Style Colonial” home (circa 1887) along accompanying gardens are quite a treat. This home was first owned by a young single woman who bought the home to feed herself and her baby via her horse and carriage service—yes, no misprint—in 1887!
A stately 130-year-old American Beech, along with several White Oaks, soar high above the iconic four-tiered fountain and lush Hosta bed path. Adjacent to the sunroom, is a wonderful bed of Lavender and Fox Glove.
Now, you will be in for a further treat to see over 40 Roses in three different areas—First, take peek around the corner for to see a secluded rose bed. On the South side, pause and reflect on the several rose varieties within a formal raised bed.
Finally, imagine yourself in having a cool glass of lemonade in the covered family gathering veranda overlooking more roses, the lush green lawn, and several island vignette perennial plantings!
Garden “G”
First established by the “Lebanon Beautification Committee” Lebanon’s Mini City Park is quite a comfortable spot to pause and reflect as upon strolling up and down West Saint Louis’ cobble stone street.
A majestic American Holly prominently stands straight and tall in the park’s center along with accompanying town-gathering gazebo where many weddings and other important gatherings have occurred.
Within the park, you will see tall Sugar Maples, Dogwood and Prairie Fire Crabapples, along with a variety of perennials to include Hostas, Purple Cone Flowers, Peonies, Shasta Dasies, Hydrangea, Lillies, Iris, Cannas and yes Milk Weed and Butterfly Bushes for our visiting Monarchs too!.
Garden “H”
This garden was first established by a team of volunteers in 1992 and continues to be cared for by the Garden Club of Lebanon. This garden adds warmth and beauty to the historic Mermaid Inn (circa 1830) built by Sea Captain Lymen Adams.
This inn was made famous by Charles Dickens when he came to Lebanon to visit the Looking Glass Prairie in 1842.
The garden boasts brick pathways lined with evergreens as well as perennial Hostas, Salvia, Cone Flower, Blackeyed Susan, Lambs’ Ear, Boxwood, Sedum, Peonies, Iris, Ferns, Tansy, Spiderwort, and Lenaria “Money Plant”.
Take a moment to rest on the bench and see the beautiful Dogwood. On the site is also the monument to the Sea Captain.
Please also take a moment to go inside the Mermaid Inn for a tour offered by the Lebanon Historical Society. (Saturday 10 till Noon. A $5 donation per visitor to the Historical Society is requested for the Mermaid Inn tour.)
