Conley Publishing - Special Sections
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1100104
April 2019 • Daily News & News Graphic • EXPLORING THE ARTS • 9 By Colleen Jurkiewicz Special to Conley Media GRAFTON — Though it's been their business for over three decades, Glenn and Cheryl Rieker see private garden construction and maintenance as more than just a job. For the Grafton-based cou- ple, who moved to the area in 2010 from the East Coast, gardening is the creation of a living, breathing work of art. And it's not bad therapy, either. "The work you do in gar- dening and woodworking is so detailed that you forget about what's going on," Glenn aid. "Before you know it, you've been pruning roses for four hours." The Riekers, both 63, ran a successful garden construc- tion business for 20 years outside of Philadelphia and New York, where their clients included icons of Wall Street. They moved to the Midwest to be closer to Glenn's family in Rockford, Ill., after the death of his sis- ter from cancer. But tragically, the nine years since that move have brought the unexpected passing of both Glenn's par- ents and his older brother. Through it all, the couple have found solace in their work. "Especially during this time of year there's a lot of pruning that we do in the gardens, and it's a very mindful job — you just lose time. Your mind just wan- ders," said Cheryl. Glenn has a degree in landscape architecture from Iowa State University, and has been in the business since the age of 13, mowing neighbors' lawns. He and Cheryl married 31 years ago and now operate MKEGreenworks, focusing on the construction and maintenance of high-end residential gardens for an exclusive and small client base. Several years ago, the cou- ple also made a foray into woodworking and the cre- ation of custom gift boxes with Amazing Grace Chair Company (named for Glenn's mother, Grace Rieker). In that venture, they handcrafted stained wood garden chairs adorned with metal plates featuring inspirational words or phrases. A percentage of the proceeds were donated to hospice care. "It was a way to give back to hospice for what they did to his family. It was a true journey for us because that year was a big year for griev- ing and mourning — it real- ly helped us through that period," said Cheryl. Now back to focusing most of their time and energy on their seven gardening clients, the Riekers say they are loving life on the shores of Lake Michigan, where they typically bike hundreds of miles on the Ozaukee Interurban Trail each month. "When we told the people on the East Coast we were moving to Wisconsin, they would ask why. But when they visit us, they always remark on how nice every- one is, how everything is so clean and fresh," said Glenn. "I always say, yeah, you can keep referring to us as the flyover state — we like it here." To learn more about the Riekers and MKE Greenworks, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ overthehedgerow. Living arts Couple's landscape work is just the beginning of their talents Photos by Art Dahlke Weeping Norway spruce - won't get taller but the greenery spreads out on the ground around the bottom Photos by Art Dahlke TOP: The Weikers are pictured next to a fire pit they made from a sugar kettle from the Carolinas. MIDDLE: Glen Rieker calls his work that he's doing technical winter pruning of a legacy garden. The vegetable garden provides snap. peas, lettuces and more for the family. BOTTOM: This climbing wall was constructed to entertain the children long after they would have outgrown a traditional playsets.