A Grand Landscape Along the

Nina A. Koziol

Not far from the Mississippi River, tucked on a quiet street in one of the four stunning historic districts in Quincy, Illinois, sits an elegant house with a garden to match. Some 25 planters and sweeping beds boast seasonal color changes. Sound-cancelling speakers prevent the tunes from leaving the property and potentially disturbing the neighbors. There’s a lighted regulation bocce ball court with oyster shells and an in-ground Olympic size trampoline. And, with a heated paver driveway, patios and stone tile walks, there’s no snow to blow.

Kellie Schmidt, ILCA’s statewide director of development strolled the private garden last November. “I was visiting some of our Quincy members and Carol Rakers took me there to see the seasonal changes. It’s hard to separate the magnificence of the home and the garden, it’s so grand and regal. I loved that there were so many plants.”

“The homeowner loves color so we do a lot of mixed colors,” said