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| The Casual Gardener Visits The Gardening Community – Dwight and Vivian Lund’s Garden A garden is gift to the world. Dwight and Vivian Lund’s garden is that and more. This quote came to mind as I toured Dwight and Vivian Lund’s Warrenville, Illinois garden: “I think that if ever a mortal heard the voice of God it would be in a garden at the cool of the day. “ ~F. Frankfort Moore, A Garden of Peace. The Lund’s invited me to tour their 50 year old garden. The garden turned out to be amazingly diverse and beautiful. At every turn I was astounded by the care and detail given to every inch of ground. The garden is filled with various “garden rooms” built before the term was coined. Dwight explained a lot about their mature garden to me. The garden is large compared to most – atleast 2/3rds of an acre. They bought the property in 1953 for $400 and had a pre-fab redwood home built in 1956. The location is important as it is very close to the Lund family nursery business: R.C. Lund Greenhouses. Dwight was born and raised in Warrenville and worked most of his adult life in bringing the nursery business to life for the local community. For Dwight, their property is more than home – it is a multi-generational chronicle about community and family. He and Vivian raised their children there and his daughter, Jenny, still lives in a downstairs apartment. Without a doubt the joy they have given others with this incredible garden started as an expression of love for family. The garden has been a familial evolution as Dwight’s passion for gardening began when he was a child being raised by parents who owned a Warrenville nursery business located a stone’s throw from their home at the site where the Northstar Credit Union is currently. Dwight’s father, Carl Albert Raul Lund, was an interesting and inspiring man. He immigrated to the U.S. from Stockholm in 1885. He was of Swedish and Parisian descent and was raised in Chicago after he immigrated. He opened the nursery and in the 1920’s and became quite successful in selling Sweet Peas as cut flowers. In the 1920’s it was fashionable for men to wear Sweet Peas in their breast coat-pocket. Carl Lund caught the gardening bug when he lived in the city. A neighbor handed him a Firecracker Plant through the fence and told him to plant it. He had a passion for gardening from that point on and passed his passion on to the children he had with wife, Emma. Carl met Emma, who was a surgical nurse, at the Garfield Park Conservatory. He met Emma because Sears asked Carl to work for them during the phase when Sears sold Greenhouses through the Sears Catalog. Emma, at the time, was a nurse for Sears and apparently couldn’t resist this young, passionate gardener. Dwight was raised by Emma and Carl in Warrenville, Illinois which, during his childhood, had only 350 people, one car and no paved roads. Dwight is a Veteran – he went off to the Army as a young man. He was a Military Policeman and in the 90th Infantry in Europe. Upon his return from the War, Dwight went to the University of Illinois majoring in Flora Culture and Greenhouse Management. He met a lovely young girl at college, Vivian, who was the Food Chairman at the Canterbury Club and fell madly in love with her intelligence and her feisty personality. Both had teaching careers as well as running the nursery. Vivan went on to be the Mayor of Warrenville. Both have brought much to the city and community during their more than 50 year tenure as Warrenville residents. Time passed and to better manage the family nursery business, Dwight and Vivian moved to Warrenville. They have been in the town ever since – building their garden and their community. At every turn in the garden Dwight can tell a story. Many of the stories are about loving people who gave the Lund’s a plant, or gardeners who toured the garden and offered education and commentary. Every perennial, tree and piece of nature within the garden is filled with meaning and inspiration. It is a thoughtful garden. A place where people gather to exchange ideas and where nature inspires simply by “being”. My favorite story Dwight told is about Dwight going to the American Horticultural Fair in Virginia 40 years ago. He listened to a speech by a famous horticulturist who said we have, “given away our front yards to mediocrity.” Of course Dwight was very inspired. He came right home and created a fantastic front yard landscape. Today the front yard is filled with a large Crab Apple Tree that’s over 30 years old. Beneath its sheltering arms you can find Birds Nest Spruce, Dragons Blood Sedum, Rudbeckia, Globe Thistle, Plume Poppy, Solomon Seal, Ginger and Hosta and many, many more varieties of plants. Every Spring Vivian and Dwight host a party to toast the elderly tree – Champagne and Hotdogs – the entire community is welcome. Their side garden is filled with ivy and a delicate climbing Blue Porcelain Vine which has a delicate variegated leaf. There are Eunonymus bushes of many varieties and hosta trailing through the underbrush of a giant Walnut tree. Simply beautiful! The diversity and loveliness of the trees on the property really caught my eye. As we walked around a particular bend in his lower garden, Dwight said, “Now this is my pride and joy!” He was speaking of a particularly gorgeous Copper Beech. The leaves are a dark burgundy and attract your eye as they wave in breeze. Other varieties include Mountain Ash, Lace Bark Elm, White Pine, Magnolia, Maple, Persian Lilac (started from seed), several other beeches and huge pines with 20’ arm lengths. The trees are mostly mature, which allow an interesting multi-level appearance happen within the garden. There is an “upper-story” of older, taller trees and an “under-story” of mid-height trees. It’s quite appealing to the eye and builds layers of shade. I was there on a very hot morning, but when I stepped into the garden it felt cool thanks to all the trees. I asked Dwight what his specific plan was when he started the garden. He chuckled and said, “I’ve never had a plan. I plant where I get an urge, not based on any preconceived scheme. Some trees come up on their own where their seeds land. These are welcome also.” It seems to me as I drink in the incredible garden that Dwight’s planting hand has been guided by a spiritual source. A quiet day in their garden is certainly a thought- filled and spiritual experience. Upon my exit I gratefully thanked the Lund’s for allowing me to visit and Vivian said, “We’re very lucky to have our garden and our health.” I thought about that quote for a long time. Three days to be exact. I’ve come to a conclusion contrary to Vivian’s (sorry Vivian, I hate to disagree, but I’m sure I’m correct): I think luck had nothing to do with it! Dwight and Vivian have put a lifetime of hard work and thought into their garden – which I believe is good for the soul and for long life. This garden is representative of Dwight’s love for his family, Vivian and for God. Vivian’s support and love of her husband and family are seen in every nook and cranny. This garden has been a labor of love and passion and is an inspiration to all. Dwight and Vivian have given the community much over their lifetime of living in Warrenville, but nothing exemplifies this generosity and passion for the environment as much as their community-centered garden. It is a shining example of their hopes for the future of Warrenville – that Warrenville will continue to be a friendly, welcoming place where all can find comfort and safety. After all, their garden is more than beautiful – it’s a safe haven filled with happiness, love and hope. It’s a family garden - a place we all can feel at home. As I see it – life is short – we only have our family and our community in the end. Dwight and Vivian Lund have lived life to the fullest and continue to do so – by giving and sharing – which is what gardening is all about. Please send your gardening questions for Shawna Coronado, The Casual Gardener to dearshawna@thecasualgardener.com or The Casual Gardener, P.O. Box 358, Warrenville, IL 60555. www. thecasualgardener.com |
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