VERSAILLES FANTASY GARDEN

Created for the Lake Forest Showhouse benefiting the Infant Welfare Society, this extraordinary garden transformation drew inspiration from the grandeur and spectacle of King Louis XIV’s famed masquerade balls at Versailles. Working within an accelerated timeline, the JMR design and production teams reimagined the formal front garden of a historic estate into an immersive, event-ready experience. Custom ironwork arches, bluestone and decorative gravel pathways, pleached beech trees, and carefully selected topiary established a framework of elegance and structure. More than 10,000 forced tulips and 850 hydrangeas were artfully arranged within the existing garden to create a dramatic display of color and texture, while theatrical Venetian masks and refined furnishings added a sense of whimsy and intrigue. Through meticulous planning and daily maintenance, the garden remained vibrant throughout the show, captivating more than 11,000 visitors and contributing to a record-breaking fundraising effort for the Infant Welfare Society.