Garden Walk Saturday Opens Gardens For Viewing, Veneration and Inspiration

Jack and Marjie Ridge have some last minute work to do around their garden before hundreds of people pass through Saturday as part of the Glen Ellyn Garden Walk.

The couple, who live on Ellynwood Drive, will be sharing their garden, which is designated as a natural wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation and the Glen Ellyn Backyard Wildlife Program, with Garden Walk visitors.

The Glen Ellyn Garden Walk is sponsored by Bridge Communities and is one of the nonprofit’s major fundraisers for the year. All money raised from the walk will benefit Bridge’s Transitional Housing Program.

The Ridge’s garden is one of six on display for those who attend the event.

Jack Ridge said the work on the garden began back in 1981, when the couple moved into the home, and has been the vision of his wife, Marjie, along with his sometimes back-breaking effort. She adds the whimsy, while he does a lot of the work.

The garden is meant to mimic a woodland setting and has deep shade, partial shade and some full sun gardens. As a designated wildlife habitat, the garden must provide food, water, shelter and coverage for wildlife, which varies from birds and toads to deer and even a red-tail fox.

At his wife’s urging, the couple applied with the village for the designation about three years ago and then followed up two years ago with the National Wildlife Federation, Jack Ridge said.

Why did the Ridges seek the designation and create their garden to benefit wildlife? “To improve the environment and live in harmony with wildlife,” he said.

The garden beds feature a variety of plantings from 25 types of Hostas to strawberries, butterfly bush to impatients.

A wide variety of birds stop and visit the Ridge home, including Cardinals, Blue Jays, Wrens, Balitmore Orioles, Silver Tailed Hawks, Mourning Doves and three species of Woodpeckers, he said.

And, then there is the balance of nature, which takes place in the garden with deer visiting and sometimes finding things to munch on, and the resident toad who finds a meal with a nearby ant colony. The hawks sometimes pick off a bird and the birds eat the worms turned up in the rich, fertile soil. 

It’s a balance and all the critters work to live together in harmony, including the Ridges who realize that they may have to share their strawberries—and plants—with the animals.

Jack Ridge has been tending the garden for years and has moved things, tried new things and added new plantings. Some beds have taken years to develop, while others are young.

“Any true gardener is always rearranging,” he said. “I’m always moving the ‘furniture.’”

He tries to keep natural vegetation mixed in with the plantings. What some might consider weeds, he works to tend and keep under control. Some of those plants are found naturally in a woodland setting, such as Trillium, Jack in the pulpit, elephant ears and Pachysandra.

The couple refrain from using chemicals in the garden and use natural amendments to the soil to keep it fertilized, Jack Ridge said. He also consults with a soil specialist.

Throughout the garden the whimsical additions can be found from gazing balls to the potting shed, a windmill to benches. There are numerous bird paths, fountains and a small pond, all which draw in the wildlife and birds.

The garden takes a lot of work and effort, but Ridge said he doesn’t mind.

“It’s my element. I can spend countless hours and never get tired,” he said.

For those who pass through the garden, Jack Ridge said he hopes people are inspired to be creative in their own spaces and, “to be closer to nature.”

The work has its benefits, he said.

“The sweat equity is being able to stand back and look at it and that is the reward.”

The Glen Ellyn Garden Walk will be held June 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $30 beginning June 14. Children’s tickets for children 12 and younger are $15. Learn more and purchase tickets online.  And, beginning May 14 buy tickets at Glen Ellyn retailers: McChesney, 460 Crescent Blvd., BMO Harris Bank, 405 Pennsylvania Ave., Just the Bookstore, 475 N. Main St., Stacy’s Corners Store, 800 N. Main St., 7-Eleven, 3S035 Park Blvd., Keller Williams, 45 S. Park Blvd., and Glen Ellyn Bank & Trust, 500 Roosevelt Road.