Algonquin Garden Walk Shows Off "Cool" Gardens.

Algonquin Garden Club members weren't sure Saturday how many people went on the group's first-ever Garden Walk in Algonquin and Lake in the Hills.  Advance ticket sales were good but it was a self-guided event and the thermometer was closing on 100 when it began.

Kim Eckman of Algonquin took the tour of eight different area gardens looking for some inspiration.  "I live in a townhome so I don't have much," she said.

Featured gardener Steve Fields said he had no trouble creating his showcase of more than 400 plants.  "I just put on my hat and crank up the music," he said.  "How do you beat that?"

In the pic:  Algonquin Garden Club Garden Walk participant Kim Eckman gleans a few tips from Steve Fields who created this garden in his spare time with no more than a shovel "and a Bobcat in the back yard."