The Rogojan family house in Lake Forest Park didn’t always look the way it does today.
Since the family began living and working at their home nine years ago the house — which started out as an 800-square-foot home Al Rogojan described as the “ugliest on the block” — has expanded to include 12 bedrooms, 6,700 square feet and an expansive, landscaped backyard.
“I did the whole thing — all the retaining walls, I built the home, I designed the home — I did all of that. It was a lot of work,” said Rogojan, who worked in construction for 20 years.
He and his wife, Maggie, are one of five families showcasing their garden for Secret Gardens of Lake Forest Park, an annual event offering tours of exquisite community gardens. The event will take place on Saturday, June 20.
The Rogojan garden contains a variety of plants, ranging from local ferns and trees to vegetables, herbs and a variety of flowers.
Prior to undertaking the immense task of landscaping the backyard, Rogojan had little to no experience in gardening. It has been a learning experience for the family, with some plants failing in the shady backyard, but many flourishing.
“(People ask), ‘What do you do with them?’ I starve them! I water them once a week — tiny, tiny water — and it looks like they do really well,” Rogojan said. “I don’t know what the magic is in it. I don’t have any magic. I just starve them.”
In addition to the wide variety of plants, the garden also boasts six birdhouses and a bird feeder that attract a variety of birds that visitors can hear chirping in the trees surrounding the family’s home. Plenty of bees also inhabit the garden, contributing to the growth of the plants.
There are a few unwelcome visitors as well. “We do have the moles everywhere, and I’m trying to keep up with them,” Rogojan said.
The Rogojans lead a busy life, balancing caring for three teenagers, gardening and running an adult family home, Angel Care, out of their own home.
“It’s a busy life,” Rogojan said.
The family provides Angel Care’s residents with home-cooked meals, private bedrooms and bathrooms, and medication and nursing services.
“We are like their grandchildren and they are like our stubborn grandparents,” Rogojan said. “We give them a hard time and they give us a hard time.”
Tickets for the garden tours are available for $12 in advance and $15 the day of the tour. They can be purchased from Wild Birds Unlimited, Two Trading Tigers, Molbak’s, Sky Nursery, Shoreline Bank and the Sunday Commons Farmer’s Market. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to charitable causes in the community.
For more information about this year’s Secret Gardens of Lake Forest Park, visit www.secretgardensoflakeforestpark.com or call 206-366-3302.
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