Ela Library Gardens
In 2002, the newly designed Ela Public Area Library was built near the downtown area of Lake Zurich. The surrounding habitat in and around the site consisted mainly of natural marsh and grassland plants with many of those plants lying undisturbed in their natural settings for years. With the construction of the new facility, the former library now stood vacant to the east, along with the beautiful gardens formerly established and maintained by the Garden Club of Lake Zurich.
Following the dedication of the library, plans to establish the once glorious gardens now at a new site began to grow. After recognizing the public need to beautify the unadorned area around the newly constructed library, the Garden Club stepped in to help. They reviewed the Library and Village’s design plans and offered to help establish and maintain the garden beds. Each year the Garden Club performs annual maintenance of the gardens. The Board of Trustees, library employees/volunteers, and patrons recognize the Club’s efforts and service to the community for the continued beautification and maintenance of the library gardens. They comment that the gardens are truly an inspiration and welcoming sight for those that visit the library. Patrons often stop and ask questions of the Club members as they tend the gardens throughout the growing season thereby providing an opportunity to introduce the Club, extend an invitation to be a guest at a meeting, and to offer garden tips when requested. The comments are always generous and appreciative from the community.
Each Club member takes great civic pride in knowing that the many individuals and families who visit the library gardens year after year come to view them as a place of beauty and wonder, as well as a place for learning about gardening. In 2025, the Club was featured in the Library’s Footnote newsletter spring edition to highlight the beautiful gardens and to introduce to the community the Garden Club of Lake Zurich whose members maintain them.
Following the dedication of the library, plans to establish the once glorious gardens now at a new site began to grow. After recognizing the public need to beautify the unadorned area around the newly constructed library, the Garden Club stepped in to help. They reviewed the Library and Village’s design plans and offered to help establish and maintain the garden beds. Each year the Garden Club performs annual maintenance of the gardens. The Board of Trustees, library employees/volunteers, and patrons recognize the Club’s efforts and service to the community for the continued beautification and maintenance of the library gardens. They comment that the gardens are truly an inspiration and welcoming sight for those that visit the library. Patrons often stop and ask questions of the Club members as they tend the gardens throughout the growing season thereby providing an opportunity to introduce the Club, extend an invitation to be a guest at a meeting, and to offer garden tips when requested. The comments are always generous and appreciative from the community.
Each Club member takes great civic pride in knowing that the many individuals and families who visit the library gardens year after year come to view them as a place of beauty and wonder, as well as a place for learning about gardening. In 2025, the Club was featured in the Library’s Footnote newsletter spring edition to highlight the beautiful gardens and to introduce to the community the Garden Club of Lake Zurich whose members maintain them.
