fc OSSIBLY no name claims a more honored place on the 
roll of those who have been influential in making Ameri- 
can gardening what it is to-day than does that of W. C. 
Egan, of Illinois. Born in New York City eighty years 
ago, he has been identified with gardening matters in and around 
Chicago for more than a generation, and has been largely in- 
strumental in developing the wide-spread appreciation of the 
hardy herbaceous border that characterizes the gardening of 
the present day. 
Brought up in refined surroundings, William Constantine 
Egan always evidenced a keen concern for matters of natural 
history; and gradually his interests became so centred in the 
affairs of his garden that when, in 
the due course of time, he decided to 
retire from active business, he turned 
all his energy in that direction. 
Moving from Chicago to Highland 
Park, on the shores of Lake Michi- 
gan, he there began the development 
of a garden that has been the inspir- 
ation of countless other gardens in 
that region. The fame of Egandale 
has spread all over the country, and 
even abroad. Here Mr. Egan has 
worked among his loved plants; cos- 
mopolitan in taste, he has gathered 
unusual collections of trees, shrubs, 
and herbaceous plants. He has 
pioneered in nearly every branch of 
cultivation, including the working 
out of his own landscape problems 
by evolution, till the Egandale of to- 
day has a charm of fitness that is 
unusual to a degree. 
Early in his gardening experiences, 
Mr. Egan lamented the absence of 
exact information for the studious 
amateur — for there were few indeed 
of his kind when he began — and so 
he has been doing his best at all 
times to lend a hand to the beginner, 
and to make record of his observa- 
tions for the benefit of others by 
contributions from time to time in 
the periodicals of the day. The 
Garden Magazine has been favored with some of his caustic 
observations on varieties, on hardiness, etc. Mr. Egan is 
whole hearted in whatever he undertakes and speaks accord- 
ingly. In his way he has cleared the mists on more than one 
occasion. 
W. C. Egan, the man, is all that that simple word implies, in 
addition to being a great plantsman. It is, in fact, the hu- 
manity of Mr. Egan and the humanness of his garden that 
WILLIAM CONSTANTINE EGAN 
Whose 8oth anniversary on April ist is the occasion of a com- 
plimentary dinner by the Illinois Garden Club in recognition of 
his great services in popularizing gardening as a recreation 
particularly endear him to those fortunate enough to have 
opportunity to visit his wondeiful home at Egandale. 
Loving plants as he does, studying their likes and relationships 
as he has, he makes them happy, and a very great many plants 
are very happy at Egandale in consequence. It is a liberal 
education in plant-placing, as well as in the riches of the Ameri- 
can flora, to spend time going about with this man in his own 
garden. His taste is catholic. He does not despise a humble 
annual or a greenhouse perennial if he finds it to be beautiful in 
the place he puts it; and he is courageous in adopting a new or 
little kno\\n plant and making it serve its best. He loves Roses 
and, though living in a climate not easy for Roses, he has 
them in abundance. 
William Constantine Egan was 
born April ist, 1841, in New York 
City, son of Dr. William B. Egan, 
who removed to Chicago that same 
year. W. C. Egan resided there 
until 1898, when he disposed of his 
town house (on Dearborn Ave.at the 
entrance of Lincoln Park) to make 
his permanent home at Highland 
Park (where he had spent his sum- 
mers for ten years previously), 
twenty-three miles north of Chicago 
on the bluffs of Lake Michigan, 
naming his place after the vastly 
more extensive estate his father had 
started to develop on the south side 
of Chicago (1858 to i860), now 
Washington and Jackson Parks. 
Prior to his taking up floriculture, 
he devoted his leisure hours to the 
study of paleontology, and collected 
a large and valuable array of speci- 
mens, later presented to the Acad- 
emy of Science. He was active in 
the old Horticultural Society of 
Chicago, serving as Vice-president 
and Secretary for thirteen years. 
Because of Mr. W. C. Egan’s love 
of flowers, he enjoys sharing his 
pleasure with others — exhibiting his 
own collection, and discussing the 
merits and peculiarities of the var- 
ious plants with those who are already connoisseurs, or who are 
only beginners and coming to him with note book to record his ad- 
vice and suggestions. He has served for several years as President 
on the Park Board of Highland Park, to help make a “ City Beau- 
tiful,” and is an honorary member of the Illinois Garden Club, 
The North Shore Garden Club, the Highland Park Garden Club. 
A prophet with honor in his own country, his friends and as- 
sociates, members of the Illinois Garden Club, fittingly tender 
129 
