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Gardening keeps life in perspective for local couple

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

John Jacobson turned this old wash basin from a factory in Edgerton into a fountain for their backyard garden.

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

The backyard pond of the Jacobsons is highlighted by colorful impatients.

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

A backyard bench at the Jacobson home is fashioned from a cornerstone from the old Mercy Hospital.

JANESVILLE — When John and Robin Jacobson moved into their Italianate house in the Courthouse Hill Historic District, the yard was in pretty rough shape.

That no longer is the case. Over the past 11 years, the couple has transformed their fenced-in 40-by-60-foot backyard into a lush haven, where they spend as much time as possible.

“I love to garden,” Robin said.

“I love being outside,” John added.

That’s evident when you enter their outdoor space that has little mowed lawn.

Perennials bloom in every shade of green, and color bursts from annuals planted in pots and hanging baskets. A bird station attracts beautiful winged and feathered friends.

Water trickles from three fountains, providing a soothing ambience while the stately hundreds-years-old maple and oak trees provide ample shade in which to feel cool breezes on hot summer days.

If you’re looking for landscape and garden ideas, the Jacobson’s yard is among one of eight places to find them Saturday, July 25, when Rotary Botanical Garden’s sponsors its annual Home Garden Tour. (See below)

Robin brought numerous plants with her when the Jacobson’s moved from Sinclair Street to their Jackman Street home. But before they could be planted, a grape arbor, trampoline, playhouse, raised bed full of vegetables and lilies along the back fence had to be removed.

“From the column to the garage, we had the ground plowed up,” Robin said.

Then they built raised perennial flowerbeds.

John also hand-laid 1,600 years-old brick pavers in a running bond pattern to create an authentic looking patio.

“Rather than a wood deck, I installed the bricks so they would look like they’d been here a long time,’’ he said.

Among other highlights featured in the garden are:

n A 500-pound, 15-foot tall cast iron lamppost with its original glass shade John bought at a sale in Footville. A Jacobson Street sign, a gift from friends who picked it up at an antique shop in Iowa, has been mounted on the post to personalize it.

Flanking the post is a cedar love seat John built.

n Porch arbor John built from two wooden antique posts he found in South Beloit, Ill. It is accented with Victorian spindles and flower baskets that hang above two 1950s reproduction lawn chairs flanked by two pots filled with New Guinea impatiens.

-- An Adirondack chair that has been in Robin’s family for more than a century that sits below a bump-out window of the Jacobson house.

-- A water fountain, created from a concrete factory wash station.

-- A pond with 10 gold fish.

-- Silhouettes Robin collects.

-- Two pieces of the past—cornerstone concrete benches—from the old Mercy Hospital. One is mounted on an old sewing machine bottom in the back yard and its seat is inscribed with the year 1955 and Mercy’s cross insignia. The other bench is in the front yard with the inscription Anno Dominic MCMXLVI, which means Year of our Lord 1946, Robin said.

The benches have sentimental value to Robin, who retired last year from Mercy, where her children also were born.

-- Small boulders from Baltimore where Robin grew up.

-- A St. Frances, patron of gardens, statue.

-- A flagstone garden path, bordered by brick pavers.

Gardening, which is fun, wonderful and relaxing for the couple, has become Robin’s passion.

“Instead of reading, I’d rather garden than just about anything else,’’ she said.

John, who retired 2½ years ago, claims to know nothing about plants. So he does all the manual labor, including shaping the flower beds, digging up old plants and transplanting new ones.

“It keeps me off the golf course,’’ he said.

FEATURED GARDENS

These Janesville gardens will be featured during Rotary Botanical Gardens’ Home Garden Tour on Saturday, July 25:

-- Rick and Marthea Riley, 605 St. Lawrence Ave.

The sound of a cascading waterfall lures guests through iron gates into the gardens of this Italianate home that is celebrating its 150th birthday. Shade and sun areas are accented with glass balls, bits of whimsy, antiques, ponds, Koi fish and two unique garden spaces.

-- Larry and Susan Barton, 612 St. Lawrence Ave.

This small garden is influenced by the homeowners’ granddaughters. Featured are plants that taste and smell good and simply just look pretty.

-- Greg and Lois Smith, 613 E. Van Buren St.

While these gardens continue to evolve and grow, they are gradually replacing the lawn. In front of the house, a colorful cottage garden welcomes guests and passersby. The back yard is a garden room with flowering borders and a small, Japanese-influenced garden of evergreens, dwarf ginkgo, Japanese maple and several water features.

-- John and Robin Jacobson, 224 Jackman St.

Items and pieces from Rock County’s past highlight these gardens, including benches made from the cornerstones of the old Mercy Hospital. In addition to a fishpond, there are three other water features. The space surrounding the brick patio blends free form with structure, showcasing predominantly shade-tolerant plants.

-- Tim Maahs and Patrick Gasper, 202 Sinclair St.

This garden features both a formal area and casual retreat. The front yard is more structured with a variety of plants while the back yard is more relaxed to accommodate family living and outdoor entertaining. This garden also features a mature magnolia tree and vegetable/herb garden.

-- Frank and Marty Scott, 4014 Hearthstone Drive

This city lot is level at street side and slopes to the greenbelt prairie and bike trail. Trees, shrubs, a water feature and hardscapes have been added over the years. Although there is an emphasis on perennials, there also are raised flower and vegetable beds, native plants and other garden items that have caught the homeowners’ whimsy.

-- Cora Ortiz, 1529 St. George Lane

Fragrant roses of many varieties surround this home and gazebo. Providing additional color are dahlias, daylilies and other perennials and annuals in this well-tended yard.

-- Bill Olmsted and Mary Hathaway, 1612 Royal Oaks Drive

Trees dominate this sheltered lot where plants with colorful blossoms flourish in the few partial sun areas. Foliage defines the character of this garden’s constantly evolving perennial beds. Tiered space and natural materials are incorporated into the garden. The backyard garden is nestled against a narrow greenbelt to created a wooded feel.