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International Friendship Garden

This garden, signifying the friendships Rotary builds around the World has been installed and cared for by the Rotary Club of Evanston.

The flower garden is in the shape of a wheel, the symbol of Rotary International. Each of the countries in which a Rotary club was located at the time the garden was installed in 1962 is
represented by a tree it the rows leading west.

The headquarters of Rotary International is located in Evanston, bringing many visitors of international origin to our city.

The garden was inspiration of several Rotarians: Ralph Melin, its landscape architect, Oscar Chute, the first chairman of the Ladd Arboretum Committee and Wilmette Rotarian Lloyd Hallister. Donald Fergusson spearheaded the installation.

Edward Ladd, for whom the arboretum is named was a charter member of the Rotary Club of Evanston.

The Friendship Garden extends from the parking lot west to the Independence Knoll which contains the flagpole.