Lake Forest -- Carton Garden, The

The Carton Garden is a two and one-half acre property on a one hundred year flood plain, west of the natural ridge that extends from Chicago to Wisconsin, tiled land that was a marshy area of the original prairie. A contemporary house by architect Roy Binkley was built in 1984, with design elements derived from Bauhaus and New England saltbox. Large Palladian windows provide solar gain in the winter, and the garden maintenance regime is based on Integrated Pest Management (I.P.M.) to reduce the use of chemicals. The current Carton Garden and house were created after the owners subdivided their original holding of six acres. Landscape architect Anthony Tyznik, FALSA, began working with the owners in 1955 and on this property in 1984, and continues to consult with the owner.

Tyznik designed a semi-circular brick terrace to connect the house to the meandering lawn, which connects to all other parts of the rectangular property. There is a kitchen garden room, planted in both flowers and herbs, and a woodland garden of mature white pines under planted with deciduous trees, shrubs, and ferns and hostas on the garden floor. A shady area is used as an outdoor reading room in summer with the sculpture SeeSaw by Nenne van Dijk nearby which is the focal point of the garden; a secret garden next to the house has a treasured wooden mushroom from the garden of the Prince of Wales; the swimming pool and pool house in the modern international style were designed by Chicago architect Arthur Myhrum in the 1960's. A wall next to the pool house is criss-crossed by espaliered pear trees, and beyond the pool house there is a tennis court. A potager in the style of the 17th century has a fountain surrounded by medicinal herbs and raised beds for growing summer vegetables.

Anthony Tyznik designed a pond for one corner of the property, which attracts wild fowl and bullfrogs. A dog cemetery has inscriptions from Shakespeare and Whittier on its stones. There is an orchard of fruit trees and a campfire with rustic furnishings under spruce trees. The design extends to all four corners of the property, all of which has been thoughtfully planned, planted and tended.

In addition to the Carton Garden, Anthony Tyznik has designed The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois and The King Residence in Burr Ridge, Illinois.

Persons and firms associated with the garden include Corson and Roberta Ellis (previous owners, 1928-1950); Roy Binkley (architect, 1984); Anthony Tyznik, FALSA (landscape architect, 1955-2009); Julie Siegel (landscape designer); Nenne van Dijk (sculptress, 1992); Arthur Myhrum (architect of pool and pool house, circa 1960).