As a symbol of friendship for the people of all countries where men give expression to the principles of Rotary International, this garden is established by the Rotary Club of Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A, through contributions by Rotarians to include a tree representing each country in which there are Rotary clubs, for the advancement of International Understanding.

Less than a mile from the World Headquarters building a Rotary International, the International Friendship Garden is the site where, through the years, a tree will be dedicated to each of the more than one hundred twenty-five countries where Rotary Clubs are located.

The International Friendship Garden is a part of Evanston’s Ladd Memorial Arboretum, named for the late Edward R. Ladd, civic leader, newspaper publisher, and charter member of the Rotary Club of Evanston.

Trees, planted early in 1961, are attractively located throughout an area comprising more than four acres. The Garden is landscaped with more than one thousand scrubs and hedges, and contains paths that provide easy access to all areas in the garden. Focal point of the garden, is the Rotary wheel, which is at the entrance of the 700 foot long grass mall.

Evanston Rotarians have conceived and financed this project as a living symbol of their goodwill toward all peoples of the earth, and as an expression of their hopes for international understanding, goodwill and peace.

The Rotary Club of Evanston planned and built the International Friendship Garden in the early 1960s as a living symbol of their goodwill toward all people of the earth. It is part of Evanston's 23-acre Ladd Memorial Arboretum, which includes more than 1,000 trees and shrubs.

Over the years, a variety of trees have been planted and dedicated to each of the countries represented by Rotary. One of the most attr features of the garden is a large symbolic wheel created by flowering plants.

As a part of the rededication of the garden, the Rotary Club of Evanston plans to rejuvenate existing plantings and to encourage use of the garden by the community and representatives of Rotary Clubs throughout the world when they visit the area.

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