The Lincoln Memorial Garden in April
These days I have to spend a lot of time in Springfield, about 200 miles south of Chicago. Twice in the last two weeks I was able to get off work in time to take a walk at the Lincoln Memorial Garden, which is located on 100 acres along an artificial lake.
Let me stop here to apologize for the quality of these pictures. I took them all with my phone. During the first visit it was very overcast, during the second visit the light was better but everything was waving around in the wind. Both visits occurred during the last hour or so of sunlight. But it’s a garden with an interesting history so I wanted to do this post even without good photos.
This garden was created through a labor of love. A member of the Springfield Garden Club spearheaded the idea of a different sort of memorial to the 16th President, who lived in Springfield for most of his adult life. In 1935 she persuaded the City Council to donate the land, which initially consisted of farm fields along the newly created lake.
The landscape architect Jens Jensen donated his time to develop the garden’s design. He transformed the treeless fields into a mix of woodland and prairie. Only plants native to Illinois, Indiana, or Kentucky were used – all states where Lincoln spent parts of his youth.
Garden clubs from around the country donated funds for the wooden benches, each of which bears a quotation from Lincoln. Acorns were also contributed from many states, and several grew to become some very impressive oak trees.
In April, the Redbud (Cercis canadensis) are the stars of the Garden.
There are some unusually large old Redbud trees.
On my second visit, the Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) were also at their peak.
I know these are very common trees in some parts of the country, but I think they are strikingly beautiful. Springfield is right around the northern edge of their hardiness range. In Chicago they are a risky proposition.
Along one path Carolina Silverbell (Halesia carolina) were blooming.
There were also lots of woodland wildflowers to be found, including masses of blue and white Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica).
In many places the ground was carpeted with False Rue Anemone (Enomion biternatum).
Here’s a fuzzy closeup of the flower. The leaves remind me of Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis).
There was also a lot of Woodland Phlox (Phlox divaritica), and sometimes I caught whiffs of its sweet fragrance on the wind.
Many more wildflowers could be seen, some already blooming, others not. I hope to visit the Lincoln Memorial Garden every week or so through May (and maybe later, depending on my travel schedule) so I can post more updates.
gardeninacity 
Such a beautiful garden. Those are the largest redbuds I have ever seen, and I agree with you about the dogwoods, they are stunning in Spring and autumn
I agree about the Redbuds – they were tall and rather gnarled.
I love the thought of only using natives from where Lincoln spent his youth in this wonderful garden. How apt and a perfect memorial.
I agree!
Great! Lovely to have planted just natives , each flowering such a delight among the forested landscape. Did you read the book ” Founding Gardeners” , by Andrea Wulf ?( Did I mention this to you in a comment prior, sorry to repeat if so). Your walks around Lincoln Park reminded me of the book and our forefathers interest in plants and gardening. Love the Redbuds and the Carolina Silverbell, we have on growing in the display beds. Happy spring!
I have heard of the book, need to find myself a copy.
I hope I can make it with you one of these days, apparently I’ve been missing out on one of Springfield’s treasures.
I hope so, too. It all depends on those damn Approp hearings.
Great garden tour, and the photos were just fine. đŸ™‚ I like that they have only native plants to Illinois, Indiana, or Kentucky and that garden clubs for all over the Country contributed. Nice. đŸ™‚
Thanks.
What a great idea to have a natural garden dedicated to President Lincoln in Springfield. Garden clubs do good work. The spring blooms are just lovely. Somewhere to mark to visit. Thanks for posting.
You’re welcome. The Springfield Garden Club really deserves big kudos for the work they did here.
I am in love with Jens Jensen and am jealous of your visit to the Lincoln Memorial Garden in Springfield–I’ve never seen it. I understand it was schoolchildren, in particular Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, who planted the White Oak acorns. I am disappointed that you didn’t include photos of the Council Rings For anyone who is interested, I recommend that you read Jens Jensen’s own book, Siftings, and his biography, Maker of Nyrural Parks and Gardens, Jens Jensen, by Robert Grese.
Yes, I think your right about the Boy and Girl Scouts participating.
Looking forward to more visits from this extraordinary garden, my friend.
Thanks, Patrick.
Beautiful, your native flowers seem very exotic for us. I wish we could grow Cornus like the ones you grow over there.
Funny to think of these as exotic. Aren’t Cercis canadensis and Cornus florida grown in the UK?
Thank you for sharing your visits here. I think a roadtrip is in order to see this place. I very much enjoy your blog.
Thank you! Do you live far from Springfield?
Making time for walks like this really contribute to one’s well-being. From where I sit, it’s a treat to learn about this lovely place and the history behind it.
Yeah, I’m going to try to get out there more often. It’s very calming.
I like places like that too. Nice shot of the flowers along the creek.
Thanks.
Very nice. I absolutely love redbud in the spring and hope to one day add one to my garden.
Looks like a nice place to visit. Thank you for sharing.
We had a redbud but it got a bad infestation of scale.
The woodland phlox is such a pretty color.
Glad you had your phone and posted the pictures.
Thanks!
Your area is so far ahead of us here. None of the flowering trees are yet in bloom. The Rue Anemone is also not even showing. The bluebells are so pretty lining the path. Beautiful park.
Funny that spring has been so much later where you are.
I like how they used plants that are native to the states that he lived in. And those benches are fantastic! Such a wonderful garden…..just goes to show what can happen if you pull gardeners together. A very peaceful place as well. Have a great weekend Jason…Nicole
You too, Nicole.
What an inspired thing to do! I just love the Redbud and flowering Dogwood and the woodland plants are simply lovely! I bet you are missing your garden while working away from home so much…..still, this I a gorgeous place to reflect in while you are away!xxx
You’re right, I do miss my garden while I am away ,
You ought not apologize for the photo quality. I like the misty gentle quality of the light and the colours in them. And thanks for the introduction to the Carolina Silverbell. That is a new one to me and I think it is gorgeous.
As for the photos, Judy sets a high standard to uphold. The Carolina Silverbell is a southeastern native, but it’s hardy to zone 5.
Glad you have something noble and beautiful in Springfield. Enjoy!
It does provide great relief.
Oh, the Virginia Bluebells and False Rue Anemone are gorgeous en masse like that! We’ve had some lovely family trips to Springfield–early to mid-spring is a good time to be there. Thanks for sharing hightlights from your visits!
Springfield is worth a visit. The Lincoln Museum, the old and new state Capitols, New Salem, and then the Lincoln Memorial Garden for some nature appreciation.
Lovely photos that capture spring. They remind me of something you’d see on an old postcard. The dogwoods have been spectacular this year. It has been too many years to count since I have been to Lake Springfield.
Thank you for the kind words on the photographs, that makes me feel better.
Nice spot. I love the low impact development of the park and especially like that they planted acorns for oak trees. So many other parks seem to be focused on instant gratification and just plant a shipment of the latest red maple cultivar. Not my idea of showcasing the natural diversity of a region.
This was really a low-budget effort, so planting the acorns was both a practical and philosophical statement.
Hello Jason, those are some very large and very old Redbud trees, we have the Judas Tree that’s six foot in a pot at the moment, waiting to be planted out, it’s in blossom but not as spectacular as those in your photos!
These were definitely the largest redbuds I have ever seen.
A perfect spot to take a walk and watch the wildflowers bloom.
Exactly.
I have served at The Garden for several years. It is truly a beautiful and peaceful place. I love it. Cannot go much now as I don’t walk much now. Please Continue posting material.
Thanks for your comment. I will certainly try.
Sad to say, I had to look at a map to figure out where Springfield is. I got closer than I realized at one time, coming down the Mississippi and visiting Hannibal. The garden is gorgeous. The dogwood is something we don’t see here on the Texas coast, although I’ve learned that it’s quite common in east Texas.So many of the wildflowers are different, too — like the Carolina silverbell. Your photos are so evocative. Even though we’re relatively warm here, we’ve turned a bit bland, and I’m eager for spring.
Springfield is about 2/3 of the way from Chicago to St. Louis via I-55. Not a well-known tourist destination.