Garden Club Volunteers

Garden Club Volunteers. . , The concepts that landscape architect Jens Jensen used for Lincoln Memorial Garden grew out of almost 50 years of experience. In his plan, he specified that paths through the Garden should curve. The lanes were to showcase dogwoods, crab apples, redbuds, and other small understory trees. Large white oaks and other trees native to the states where Lincoln lived were to be planted along the ridgelines of the higher elevations. He intermingled light and shadow by placing sunny prairie landscapes next to forested areas. The banks of the newly created Lake Springfield provided the setting for sun-loving flowers. Using Jensen's plan as a guide, volunteers and members of many Illinois garden clubs planted the trees and filled the Garden with wildflowers from throughout the state. Mrs. Harriet Knudson, founder of the Garden, helped supervise the work. She frequently exchanged lively correspondence with Jensen, whose letters were filled with detailed suggestions and personal anecdotes.