West of the Lake Gardens

I lived on the lakeshore for many years.  And yet, I had never visited this garden.  There's not a lot of advertisement for it.  It's just there.  A garden that is protected and maintained from funds set up by the late Ruth and John West.    It's free and a great place for pictures and a short stroll.

It's strange really to see a place like this in town.  The structure, type of plants used, and design all reminded me of things we used to see in the 70's and 80's in older people's gardens around our neighborhood.   It was clean and well kept BUT it felt like we went back in time to the 1950's

But there is no denying the beauty of a rose.  Ageless.  And so many of them here at the gardens!!!

This 6-acre estate of the late Ruth and John West was created in 1934 and features a rose garden, Japanese, sunken and formal gardens, with more than 900 feet of herbaceous borders with colorful annuals. The gardens are located along Lake Michigan's shoreline and the new Mariners Trail.

If there was an event, this would be a great place to host one! So how does a memory like this get preserved?

The groundskeeper, who is very friendly, helped us out with several questions I had. But check out this interview from the Wisconsin Gardener.  "We are privately owned and operated by the West Foundation. It's a philanthropy that John and Ruth had set up back in the 1950s. I've been fortunate enough to be here. I help design the gardens, is what I do. And John West's contribution to all of this was his picture taking. There's a slide library that I'm able to refer to. That is where I get a lot of my ideas and enthusiasm as far as putting this garden together."

While you're in the garden, look for all the fun wildlife hiding out on the sidelines.

Look closely at this piece of succulent art.   Can you spot the flash of color?

The gardens are open from 10 AM to 5 PM daily.....weather permitting.  Admission is free.

And check out these views!  If you like today's post, you may want to check out Gardens at Waters East.  It's a fantastic blog with similiar views from the same area....just East:)  Hopefully, one of these days I'll have some time to meet up with this fellow blogger.  I have a big family back home and so I have limited time for these little adventures:)

The colors in the garden are lovely.  And again I'm reminded of my youth.  This color found in the fountain reminds me of the pier and cabin color at my Grandparent's old cabin in Minnesota.  I don't see this blue often.  The gardens use a lot of blues and pinks in the various areas.  I enjoy how these succulents have a pink tinge to them and contrast nicely with the blue of the bird bath.

This is perfection below.  Look at the tiny detail of the plantings.  It's like fancy icing on a cake.

And of course, we have a little fun with photography as well.  Here, King Tuzigoot goes crazy.  Apparently the weather along the lake is right up his alley.   Those Arizona summer days can be quite daunting!  Hope you enjoyed the tour. 

Thank you Jill from Welcome To....

Yesterday I was awarded the Blog on Fire Award which is a cool sounding name especially since I'm coming from the desert:) And the rules state that I must write 8 things unknown about me. Okay, let me try this out.

1.  Sometimes I'll blast pop music when I'm home alone and just dance.  I don't know where the energy comes from.....

2. I get bored with routines, but if I don't follow them, I get antsy.

3.  I'd be a night owl because I like the evenings....especially during monsoon season. 

4.  Sometimes I dream about space travel.  I'd give my life for exploration. I'd love to volunteer on that first Mars mission.

5.  I wish I could be a teacher, park ranger, librarian, director of photography and film, and travel guide all at once.

6.  If I could time travel, I'd go to Egypt or the age of the dinosaurs.

7. I bite my nails(really bad habit).

8.  I crave taco salads.

Hope you have a great day.  Thanks for stopping by!  More tomorrow....