CHRIS FOX PHOTO
The Garden Club of Villa Park held its annual garden walk on July 15. The walk included the gardens of nine area homes. In addition to Villa Park, the homes on this year’s walk were located in Lombard, Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn, Oak Brook, and Bloomingdale.
The Lombard home on this year’s walk belongs to Cherry and Dustin Smith. Cherry Smith is pictured in her garden during the walk. The Smiths bought their home in 2008. Built in 1903, it was a honeymoon cottage to a farm in the area. A 2009 fire destroyed the home months after the Smiths purchased it. They rebuilt the home on a reduced footprint at the same site as the original house. The new house, which was completed in 2011, features two stories, while the original home had one story. They haven’t said yet if they will put in one of those custom sunrooms as a new addition to their home or build an extension, but it is not the end of their renovations as time will open them up to more ideas.
“It’s still a work in progress; we’re getting there,” said Cherry Smith, who is pictured in front of some sunflowers in her garden. Hopefully, Cherry will be able to add in extra gardening accessories as time goes on that will not only appeal to the eye but support her plants and vegetables. Additionally, she might consider purchasing some Landscape Rocks that can be used to hide objects such as old water pumps, electrical boxes, etc. This can help in giving the garden a clean and organized look. Further, these rocks can also be used to create a small garden fountain, which can further enhance the overall appearance of the garden.
On a similar note, the use of pathway pergolas and lattice fencing can show off the beauty of her color-filled garden. She noted that their garden includes broccoli, carrots, beans, cucumbers, peppers, onions, beets, tomatoes, rhubarb, squash, pumpkins, zucchini, eggplant, and okra along with some Flower Plants, wildflowers, and shrubs.
“We really enjoy it,” she said of their garden, where they spend time with their young son Josh. “It’s more than just the vegetables. It’s being in nature.” After rebuilding their home, the Smiths received a sustainability award from the Village of Lombard.
