October is here which means my friend Ben Lenhardt’s new book, Gardens of the North Shore, published by Monacelli Press, is almost here! Ben, a resident of the North Shore of Chicago and Charleston, has an intimate knowledge of the special gardens featured in this book – and the stories behind them. Luckily for us, he dedicated himself to the monumental task of preserving them in his book so generations may enjoy these gardens for many years to come. With Ben’s high standard for quality and passion for the gardens in this region, I know we will all want to have his book. You can pre-order it through the link above or sign up for his virtual Garden Conservancy talk on October 22 and get his book with your participation. Thanks to Ben’s generosity, all of the proceeds benefit The Garden Conservancy with its mission to preserve, share and celebrate America’s gardens.
I was on the Garden Conservancy trip to the North Shore of Chicago that Ben curated for all of us in 2016 and we were lucky to see some of the most stunning gardens I’ve seen anywhere – even with their short growing season! This trip remains a highlight in my mind of all of the garden trips I’ve participated in, so I know this book will be very special.
Our Garden Conservancy group in a North Shore garden in 2016
More about Ben’s book, directly from his press release:
In Gardens of the North Shore of Chicago, avid gardener and preservationist Ben Lenhardt explores the rich tradition of gardening along the shore of Lake Michigan from Evanston to Lake Bluff, including the well-known towns of Winnetka, Highland Park and Lake Forest. This new book offers an insider’s glimpse at the creativity, diversity and beauty of these gardens, showcasing a region not often publicized for its landscaping talents, but rich with extraordinary examples.
Gardens of the North Shore of Chicago features twenty-five private gardens—many published here for this first time—organized by design into four thematic chapters: Classic, Contemporary, Country, and Naturalistic. Engaging descriptions based on detailed interviews with the garden owners provide personal and historical context and background about the properties and their designers. More than 250 lush photographs by noted landscape photographer Scott Shigley create a rich visual narrative.
A book about outstanding gardens on Chicago’s North Shore would not be complete without the Chicago Botanic Garden. The last garden highlighted in the book, the Botanic Garden has inspired many of the featured gardeners and has contributed to the high quality of private gardens on the North Shore. With a foreword by Barbara Whitney Carr, former president and chief executive officer of the Chicago Botanic Garden, and an introduction by Lenhardt surveying the history of the North Shore, this new book is a must for Chicago and Midwest residents, as well as garden enthusiasts and professionals worldwide.
Documenting gardens is one of the best forms of preservation. All the royalties from the publication of Gardens of the North Shore of Chicago will go to the Garden Conservancy to support their mission to preserve outstanding American gardens.
About Ben Lenhardt:
Benjamin F. Lenhardt, Jr. began gardening in the Carolinas when he was young and over the last thirty years has gardened passionately in different climates in Winnetka, Illinois, and Charleston, South Carolina. Following a successful investment management career, he has concentrated on gardening and historic preservation. Lenhardt served for seven years as chairman of the Garden Conservancy, where he continues as chairman emeritus, and is a board member of the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Shedd Aquarium, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago and Drayton Hall Preservation Trust, Preservation Society of Charleston and Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston.
About Scott Shigley:
Scott Shigley has photographed the gardens and landscapes of prominent landscape architects, including Michael Van Valkenburgh, Doug Hoerr, Stephen Stimson, and Craig Bergmann. In addition to residential gardens, his landscape portfolio features parks, public gardens, and cultural institutions from coast to coast. Shigley’s photographs are regularly published in national and regional design publications.
Reserve your book today, enjoy learning about the North Shore of Chicago gardening world, enjoy some fabulous photography of gardens – and make a difference at the same time!
