PRSRT STDUS Postage

PAIDPermit No. 38

Wheeling, IL 60090Van Zelst, Inc.39400 N. Highway 41Wadsworth, IL 60083

847-623-3580www.vanzelst.com

Spring 2003

See Eden (back page)

Mounds of black-eyed Susans(“Goldstrum” rudbeckia) fill in quickly,making the garden feel established.White “Annabel” hydrangeas addromance.

Landscape Development & Management

Van Zelst inc.

Spectacular ColorA celebration of the vivid reds,blues, yellows and greens foundonly in nature.

All-Season GardensIncorporating evergreen trees andshrubs, decorative stone andplumed grasses that remainstanding all winter.

Native PlantsWildflowers and native grassesthat once blanketed the Midwestare hardy and beautiful.

Combining StylesSeemingly casual plantingsmerge with more formal elementsto generate surprise and interest.

What’s Hot?

&Art Natureand

Landscape Development & Management

Van Zelst inc.

Creating YourOwn Eden.A bright, inviting space bursting with colorful perennials. A formal,symmetrical design. Or a step into the English countryside. Whatsuits your personality? Perhaps it’s a combination of landscapestyles, or something unique to you alone. Discovering your perfectfit is one of the most exciting aspects of working with Van Zelst, Inc.

Van Zelst was founded in 1979 on the belief that true excellenceis achieved through attentive, individualized service. As a full-service landscape architectural firm, we provide design, constructionand ongoing maintenance for homes, churches, parks, and businessproperties of all shapes and sizes. Over the years, we’ve earned awide variety of awards and honors for our work throughout theMidwest.

The benefits of landscape architecture.Sometimes people ask us about the differences between landscapearchitects and landscape design firms. As landscape architects, our“tool box” includes much more than the plants that will be added toan area. We have been fully trained in the nuances of building styles,the impact hardscape additions such as patios, fences, pools andlighting can have on a space, and how a landscape properly fits inwith the existing environment and neighboring sites, as well as howthe finished design will be used.

We are sensitive to every detail, from the selection of a plantcontainer that complements a Colonial-style home to how guests willflow through a backyard party. In short, landscape architecture is amore comprehensive, integrated approach to outdoor spaces.

Northshore Property Profile.This young family’s wish list was long: integrated all-perennialborders, privacy screening, vegetable garden, formal herb garden,patio and fountain—plus a secure children’s play area.

Before the design phase began, the Van Zelst team inspected andphotographed the site. During this visit, we noted a few key chal-lenges. Vast sunny and shaded areas needed to be brought to life.The surrounding mature trees had to be protected and preserved,even as plantings took place among the root zones. Regrading of theentire lawn was required, as it had been covered by ten inches ofgravel during construction. What’s more, the soil was unusable.

A new home in a young development is like a blank slate for alandscape architect—offering an exciting opportunity to designliterally from the ground up.

By working closely with the homeowners, the Van Zelst teamwas able to bring all the elements together in a cohesive design thatis breathtaking year-round.

The resulting landscape is everything the owners hoped for, andmore. Behind the house, a bluestone patio becomes a focal point inwarm months, and a granite millstone fountain provides nature’s

dinner music. Nearby, a French-inspired herb garden, surroundedby four boxwood squares, makes it easy to snip off a few leaves asneeded. Large rock outcropping steps lead to the private lake,shrubs and drifts of lively perennials brighten the whole scene, andprivacy is provided by a curtain of 15-foot spruce trees. Best of all, alarge central lawn, raised and leveled to act as a play area, is sur-rounded by a white picket fence, crowning the all-American setting.Warm lighting illuminates the scene for evening enjoyment.

Of course, it’s the details that make the difference—this land-scape boasts an array of little touches that enhance its charm. Aclimbing clematis in the herb garden. Ancient-looking stone urns.Shades of related colors explode from the perennial borders.

In fact, the family even followed Van Zelst’s recommendation forkeeping geese at bay. A pair of white swans live serenely on the lakeyear-round, thanks to an aerator that keeps a portion of the lake ice-free. Each spring, when the colorful tulip and hyacinth bulbs are inbloom, new cygnets are hatched and eventually shared with otherlakes around the area.

This relationship has been rewarding for the Van Zelst team onmany levels, receiving a variety of awards and recognition forexcellence in landscape design, including a national Grand Awardby the Associated Landscape Contractors of America.

Family Friendly Elegance

MAKE YOURHOME MORE INVITING.

Call us at847-623-3580 today.www.vanzelst.com

Landscape Development & Management

Van Zelst inc.

Opposite: The Midwest in full bloom—pink daylilies (hemerocallis), black-eyedSusans (rudbeckia), and lythrum in shadesof rosy purple seem even more vividagainst the backdrop of a white picketfence.

Left: Shady spots require special attention.Variegated hosta, pink astilbe and lushpachysandra come together to enhance areflective corner of the garden. Between thesteppers, fragrant creeping thyme.

Left: Early in the season, bulbs maketheir brief but beautiful appearance. Here,daffodils and tulips add extra splashes ofcolor to drifts of creeping phlox.

Right: Steps from the patio, serenity isachieved by a simple granite fountain setamid scaveola — the “fan flower” — andsmooth black Mexican pebbles.

WHAT CAN WE DOFOR YOU?

Call us at847-623-3580 today.www.vanzelst.com

Landscape Development & Management

Van Zelst inc.

Astilbes are clump-formingperennial plants with airy, featheryplumes that add color to theshade garden, containers,woodland garden or pond’s edge.The foliage is fern-like and rangesfrom green to bronze and may beshiny. Astilbe plumes may beupright or arching, range from 6inches to 3 feet tall and areavailable in a variety of colors foryour gardening needs. Byselecting astilbes with varyingbloom times, you can enjoyflowers from late spring throughautumn.

Astilbe

Constant Color

Bring Beauty Indoors.To make your cut flowers last, use asharp blade to cut stems on a slant,and remove leaves that will be below thewater line. Place in cool water, away fromheat sources such as a TV or stereocabinet. Most important? Change thewater and recut the stems daily, sobacteria won’t have time to grow.

With an Outdoor Kitchen,You’re Part of the Party.How much of your warm-weather entertaining revolves around the patio? There’s nothing more enjoyable than preparing asumptuous meal for close friends and family, especially if you can create the whole menu without leaving the garden.

Our outdoor kitchens put everything close at hand. Your stainless steel freestanding or built-in gas grill offers professionalcooking power in a beautifully streamlinedpackage.

You may also want to consider includingside burners, a high-temperature wok,heavy-duty rotisserie, wood-burning ovenor other special extras—whatever matchesyour style. Large-capacity warming drawershold food at the proper temperature and anunder-counter refrigerator is a greatamenity for garden or pool-side entertain-ing.

We’re a Viking dealer, so when you’reready to start thinking about an outdoorkitchen, talk to us. After all, who under-stands outdoor environments better thanVan Zelst?

Constant Color—A Van Zelst Trademark.Flowers bring joy. That’s why we often propose an abundance of colorful flowers, incomplementary shapes, heights and hues. By carefully selecting perennials thatbloom at varying times, the colors change as the seasons progress.

Spring is welcomed by a rainbow of beautiful bulbs—tulips, daffodils, crocusand hyacinths. Then, throughout the summer, new blues, pinks and yellows continu-ally refresh the palette.

What’s more, with each passing year, the garden will continue to grow morelush, full and established. With proper planning (and planting), constant color canbe assured throughout the growing months.

Opposite: White “Annabel” hydrangeasand blue Russian sage soften the setting,while complementing the cool shades ofwater and stone.

Left: Several varieties of daffodils andpurple hyacinth burst out of their bulbseach spring, welcoming the warm weatherand giving a hint of the color to come.

Below: A built-in island brings the kitchenoutdoors, complete with stainless-steelgrill, sink, warming drawer, refrigeratorand burners. The surround, crafted ofBrussels wall stone, ties the design intothe owner’s inviting landscape.

WANT TO ADDCONSTANT COLORTO YOUR GARDEN?

Call us at847-623-3580 today.www.vanzelst.com

Landscape Development & Management

Van Zelst inc.

The Warmth andFlexibility of . . .Stone?Landscaping is about much more than selecting and installingplants. It’s about creating an environment, evoking a feeling, invitingpeople into a space. To besuccessful, a proper land-scape must integrate drives,walks and swimming pools,showcase fountains or art,create dimension and depth,and much more. One secret?Stone.

Stonework can lendwarmth, focus, and interestto a landscape. What’s more,stone is an incredibly flexiblemedium, limited only by ourimagination.

Van Zelst’s masons arespecifically trained inworking with the stone itself,as well as the best ways touse it to enhance an environ-ment. Through brick andstone, they create art—whether that means echoing the agedstonework in your home, defining new structures and spaces, orgiving new life to existing surfaces. We’re proud of the qualityworkmanship we provide our clients.

Nature vs. Nurture:The Importance ofMaintenance.Landscapes are dynamic—they must be managed if they are toremain elegant, livable spaces. Maintenance, however, is the unsunghero of the landscape world (although we have been recognized bynational industry associations for our skills).

Good maintenance is a year-round responsibility includingcareful pruning, removing competing weeds, cutting spent blooms,maintaining the soil, and much more. That’s why Van Zelst offers acomplete array of landscape management services, performed byprofessionals. Our experienced personnel will be happy to carry outthe work necessary to foster your finished design as it movesthrough the seasons and various stages of development.

We encourage you to consider professionally planned andscheduled maintenance to ensure the lush, healthy landscape youdesire.

Bluestone, adds richness and warmth, imparting a genteel,antique look to walkways, patios, or surrounds.

Lannonstone Outcropping, rugged and irregular, createssteps, walls, waterfalls and weathered surfaces.

Flagstone, in a variety of colors and shapes, makes cleverlypatterned walkways, patios and more.

Pavers, from weathered-looking tumbled block to brick pavers,can be arranged in an infinite number of patterns.

Gravel, such as crushed granite, can be an excellent choicewhere concrete or asphalt paving may be out of place.

Purple coneflower (echinacea) is one of thelongest-blooming flowers native to theMidwest. It’s especially vibrant plantedalongside swaths of yellow coreopsis andred begonias.

Types ofStonework.

Maintenance

ENHANCE THE BEAUTYOF YOUR HOME.

Call us at847-623-3580 today.www.vanzelst.com

Landscape Development & Management

Van Zelst inc.

Enlightened Living.Choose lighting that’s right for theway you like to entertain—torchesor tiki lights for fun informality,Chinese hanging lanterns orfloating candles in a glass bowl formoonlit romance, or consider low-voltage or mercury vapor lamps foran efficient all-over glow.

Left: Bluestone slabs in a variety of sizesproduce a seemingly random pattern onthe patio. Pachysandra and yews createdepth and dimension beneath the pottedJasmine tree, and New Guinea impatiensadd a lively touch of white.

Pachysandra is a low-growingevergreen perennial used forground cover in shady places. Itgrows via a network of under-ground runners. In time, it makesa thick, dense bed and is perfectfor covering the ground aroundtree trunks where sunlight isscarce and mowing difficult.Pachysandra grows up to a foottall and has attractive, dark green,tooth-edged leaves arranged inwhorls. White-flower spikes arrivein spring with white berriesfollowing. Pachysandra is ideal forall shady areas, for edging and asa border around the housefoundation.

Pachysandra

In The Trenches.by David Van ZelstDesigning landscapes is a great way to make a living. The work isvaried, interesting, and rewarding. When I founded Van Zelst, Inc.nearly 25 years ago, I knew that it offered me a life I would enjoy.What I didn’t know then was how rewarding it would be to workwith clients individually, on projects that are very personal. After all,we design landscapes where people raise their children, entertainfriends and build their private histories.

Understanding that, we’ve made client satisfaction our greatestpriority, always insisting on quality communication, craftsmanshipand materials. In fact, we grow 90% of the perennials that we use—it’s the only way I can assure that they’re up to our standards.

The way I see it, a landscape blends art, architecture, nature andpersonal style. With every new assignment, our team seeks to workwithin the natural beauty of the area, crafting a unique designsolution that bridges the existing environment with the client’sdreams. It’s evident in every finished landscape—including our ownhomelike offices, which you’re welcome to visit anytime!

Regards,

P.S. Grilling tonight? Try my rub recipe—it’s especially good onchicken, fish, or pork. And if you really want to make grilling out anevent, think about your own outdoor kitchen. We can help make it areality.

How Van Zelst makes a difference.Why do our clients choose to work with Van Zelst year after year?Naturally, thoughtful landscaping enhances a home’s views insideand out, as well as increasing curb appeal and property values. Butit’s more than that. We have learned that a strong team, working inharmony, is the key to creating beautiful, livable outdoor settings.Each design is the result of a collaboration among landscapearchitects, horticulturists, foresters, masons and other specialists.

For every client, one landscape architect acts as a team leader—seeing the project through every step from concept to completionand, if requested, recommending an ongoing maintenance plan. Thatway, no matter how many people are required for a complexinstallation, there’s one person to assure consistency and faithfulnessto a clearly defined goal.

This is key for clients who prefer a phased approach to imple-mentation, because the relationship with their team leader cancontinue for several years as the master design evolves and takesshape.

Interestingly, we’ve had the opportunity to grow into a largerfirm, serving more and more clients across the Midwestern states,but we’ve decided not to go that route. We’ve found that we’rehappiest—and most effective—when we can take on fewer assign-ments and treat each one as a unique opportunity to fully exploreoptions, stretch our creativity, and take our clients someplace new.

Get to know us better.We hope you enjoy this issue of Art & Nature, and get to know alittle bit about our approach to landscape design. Whenever youhave landscaping questions of your own, we encourage you to giveus a call, stop by our office, or visit us online. Helping people solvetheir outdoor challenges is our passion.

Eden (from front page)

Illinois Awards for LandscapeDesign, Construction and Manage-ment Presented by the IllinoisLandscape Contractors Association(ILCA)

2003 Gold KenilworthResidence

2003 Silver WilmetteResidence

2003 Merit Lake ForestResidence

2003 Merit Glencoe Residence2002 Gold Glenview Residence2002 Gold Barrington Hills

Residence2002 Silver Glencoe Residence2002 Knightsbridge Wine

Shoppe, Northbrook

For a complete list, visitwww.vanzelst.com.

Recent Honors

Ideas for YourMidwesternLandscape.

Order your copy of Transforma-tions: Ideas for the MidwesternLandscape today. In each chapter,David Van Zelst describes manyprojects’ challenges and solutions,while photographer Linda OyamaBryan captures its essence in lushcolor photography.

For your copy, visitwww.vanzelst.com and click onBook Order.

DVZ’s Delicious Rub1/4 cup dark brown sugar1 tablespoon crushed black pepper1 tablespoon coarse salt1 tablespoon sweet paprika1 tablespoon chili powder1 teaspoon ground cumin1/2 to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Combine ingredients and sprinkle,pat or rub onto your favoritegrillables—save some for sprinklingat the table, too.

Art & Nature is published semiannuallyby Van Zelst, Inc. 39400 N. Hwy. #41, Box 250,Wadsworth, IL 60083-0250.

© 2003. All rights reserved.

Designer:�Allegro Design Inc.Copywriter: Amy DerksenPhotographer: Linda Oyama Bryan

REFRESH YOURLANDSCAPE.

FOR ACONSULTATION,

CONTACT US TODAY.

Van Zelst, Inc.39400 N. Hwy #41

Box 250Wadsworth, IL 60083

847/623-3580Fax: 847/623-7546www.vanzelst.com

Landscape Development & Management

Van Zelst inc.