The early pioneers were seeking some higher ground came west from the shores of Lake Michigan following the old Black Hawk Indian Trail. That trail led them to what is now Dupage County, on the western fringes of Cook County.

Since those days, Hinsdale  has evolved into one of the west suburban area's most prestigious communities. It's located on the Cook County and Dupage County line and sits directly on the Burlington Northern Railroad's route which provides fast and easy access to Chicago's famous loop in about 20 or so minutes and has contributed enormously to the overall success and growth of the area.

Hence, here I am, on one of my semi annual visits to this beautiful area, seeking out relaxation and peace and quiet. Being a recreation and sports fanatic, I am intimately acquainted with the vast recreational facilities located in the area and spend much time jogging in the beautiful parks, swimming at the pools, biking and using the other modern conveniences available here.

There are too many great things about Hinsdale that I can talk about, but overall the Village is a wonderful place to live, work and to raise a family. The schools are award winning, with modern and secure campuses, educated teachers who take pride in their students accomplishments. The shopping and entertainment options in Hinsdale are equal to any big city, anywhere in the U.S.A.

Being an avid gardener, I particularly enjoy visiting the many lushly landscaped parks and bike riding facilities located throughout the city, and enjoy talking to the proud residents, getting as much information as I can on unique areas to be visited and enjoyed while here.

I came across a couple on their way to visit a competitor in "The Most Glorious Garden 2006" contest. After some research on the annual event, I decided to visit the winners of this years event; Gene and Joan Lemmes. Wow ! What a place!

The hard work and sweat that the couple have contributed has turned this 14 acre plot into a magical garden spot and award winning landscape of flowering trees, thousands of hostas, daylilies, artwork and much more.

Walking through Joan and Gene Lemme's 14-acre garden in Dixon, is like walking with tour guides through a small arboretum. You stroll the wood-chip path through rolling oak and hickory woodland, past great drifts of more than 200 varieties of hosta -- thousands of them -- and Joan can tell you their names, which ones are fragrant, and which ones do or don't live up to their catalog descriptions. Hop on the golf cart, zip over to the daylily "nursery" bed and Gene can name and describe the seedlings that he has propagated from other day lilies.

Being retired teachers with master's degrees in outdoor education and 28 years each teaching in middle elementary schools, Gene, 71, and Joan, 67, continue to expand their garden, removing grass, adding beds, breeding new daylilies and creating bigger and more eye-popping masses of hostas. For all their creativity, garden design, hard work and ingenuity, the Lemmes' garden captured the Best Overall Garden prize in the Chicago Tribune's Glorious Gardens Contest 2006.

This was truly a memorable time and visit. What makes it nice is that this beautiful place is also so close to Chicago and other areas of the midwest.

Its certainly no wonder that this beautiful and stable upscale community of Hinsdale, and the surrounding areas have been named one of the nation's 10 Best Places To Live.