About

Rachel Johansen

Rachel Johansen, owner of Rachel’s Gardens, is a landscape designer/horticulturist based in Lake Summerset, IL. Rachel combines extensive plant material knowledge with an artist’s eye for color and balance to design and install natural gardens and landscapes throughout Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.

Rachel holds a degree in Horticulture from The University of Wisconsin, and in Landscape Design from McHenry County College. Rachel also gives garden presentations throughout the year, and has taught a weekend class at The Clearing in Door County, WI. Rachel is a past recipient of the Business Woman of the Year Award from Harvard, IL, and a contributor to Chicagoland Gardening and Lawn & Landscape, a professional trade magazine.

Rachel helped design and install the Lake Summerset East Gate planting in June 2003.  In May 2004, Rachel’s Gardens  installed new landscaping at the Lake Summerset Main Entrance and Guardhouse Entry.

In March 2007 Rachel gave a talk to The American Business Woman’s Association meeting in Freeport, IL about “Perennials and Their Care.” In May 2007 she gave a “Do It Herself” workshop on “Perennials and Outdoor Living Spaces” at Home Depot in Machesney Park, IL.

After a hard day's work!

On June 3, 2007 Rachel gave a presentation about Perennials at the Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden Garden Fair Extravaganza in Rockford, IL, and in July 2007 Rachel was asked to evaluate the Sandy Hollow Golf Course in Rockford, IL as part of their process in receiving their International Audubon Society certification.

Rachel’s landscape design for a client was featured in the Sep/Oct 2008 issue of Chicagoland Gardening Magazine. She also designed and installed the “Celebration Garden” and brick patio at the front entrance to the main building for WOMANSPACE in Rockford, IL.

Rachel loves designing and installing new gardens and hardscapes, talking and teaching about gardening, and even sprucing up tired, overgrown and neglected gardens. Let Rachel’s love of gardening add joy to your surroundings — contact her now to get started!

Janet Shingleton

Rachel’s partner, Janet Shingleton, is the web designer and office manager for Rachel’s  Gardens.

She holds a B.A. degree in photojournalism from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX and enjoys taking photos of  the gardens and wildlife in their home gardens. Her photo notecards can be found on www.notecardphotos.com

Janet has some first-hand gardening experience and puts her 2 cents in their home garden designs. She also has a wry sense of humor.