Serenity Garden
The Serenity Garden is an oasis for pausing, finding a state of calm and peace. Surrounded by cool colors of blues and pastels, you can sit on the shady bench of the Meditation Station, under the fragrant "peach" rose arbor and maroon Japanese maple tree, perhaps to rest or read a book. Gaze across the creative Rock River and the blue blossom "waters" of the ground cover Evolvulus plants. Beyond the river, you can see the raised stone flower bed with lavender Denim & Lace salvia. This is flanked by blossoms of the white Mandevilla vines, curling upward within two gray obelisks. These compliment the upward thrusts of the center gazebo. The white floral bed on the west side, with lilies, verbena, salvia, butterfly bush, and more. can be refreshing on a hot sunny day or as a moonscape at dusk.
Highlights of the Serenity Garden:
Meyer lilac by the west entrance is the first to bloom in the spring. It has fragrant lavender flowers on stems with ruffled leaves.
Wine-colored “Purple Petticoats” heuchera winds its way across the “rock river” area.
Suwara false cypress tree, native to Japan, grows along the west fence. Its yellow-green threadlike foliage retains color throughout the four seasons. Normally this variety of cypress is cultivated to stay 20 to 30 feet tall. In the Serenity Garden, it receives an annual “mop hair cut” every spring to keep the conical shape approximately eight feet.
Rose campion grows behind the bench. This uncommon, self-seeding perennial has fuzzy silver foliage and masses of small deep rose blooms
The brilliant dwarf Pugster Blue butterfly bush sits near the “bank” of the rock river.
White flowers of the mandevillas wind their way upward within the tall gray obelisks on either end of the raised limestone bed.