Doing It His Way

Chicagoland in winter is an unpredictable venue in which to launch a garden spectacle; it’s sure to snow, but when is up for grabs. “I get my guys out there hanging Italian lights (the small, twinkling sort) by early December,” says Bill. “Then I know the garden will at least be dusted with light if not snowflakes in time for entertaining.”

Bill’s garden is composed of boxwood hedges highlighted by topiary cones and obelisks. There are oversized urns spilling with colored foliage plants that change with the seasons. Near the kitchen door there’s a small pavilion for outdoor dining.

The structures in the garden lend themselves perfectly to decoration. Few things are prettier than the warm glow of tiny lights filtered through evergreen branches or a blanket of snow. Bill agrees: “It looks glorious! The boxwood spheres look like iced buns, and the whole place becomes an enchanted woods.