Landscape architect Jens Jensen drew on almost 50 years of experience in designing Lincoln Memorial Garden, calling for curving paths, lanes showcasing dogwoods, crab apples, redbuds, and other small understory trees, large white oaks and other trees native to the states where Lincoln lived along the ridgelines of the higher elevations, sunny prairie landscapes beside forested areas to intermingle light and shadow, and sun-loving flowers on the banks of the newly created Lake Springfield. Guided by Jensen's plan, volunteers and members of many Illinois garden clubs planted the trees and filled the Garden with wildflowers from throughout the state, while Mrs. Harriet Knudson, the Garden's founder, helped supervise the work and frequently exchanged lively correspondence with Jensen filled with detailed suggestions and personal anecdotes.