PRESS RELEASE
FOR: IMMEDIATE RELEASE
REGARDING: "GARDEN TOUR FOR CONNOISSEURS"
SATURDAY, October 3, 2009
9:00 A.M. TO 4:00 P.M.
CONTACT: TOUR CO-CHAIRPERSON:
Hugh Stout, 843-7130 or 642-4190
stoutgarden@cox.net
GENERAL INFORMATION: Maps are on the tickets. This is a self guided tour.
Mark your calendars now and plan to attend the tenth annual “Garden Tour for Connoisseurs”, sponsored by the Oklahoma Horticultural Society. The tour will take place on Saturday, October 3 rd, 9am-4pm, with a rain date the following day Sunday, October 4th. Behind garden gates visitors will have the opportunity to view private areas designed by several of Oklahoma City’s most distinguished professionals. Other gardens on the tour have been created by homeowners with the knowledge and skill to design, plant and develop private spaces that are unique in their presentation. Volunteers from the Oklahoma Horticultural Society and members of the Master Gardeners will be at each location to provide information about plant material and answer questions. Proceeds from the Tour support the educational goals of the Society, which insures continued beautification of Oklahoma City’s private and public spaces.
Visitors to the tour will experience unbelievably beautiful pots filled with miniature trees, shrubs and luscious flowers in a rainbow of colors. Each garden offers a variety of trees and shrubs that thrive in Oklahoma's extreme weather conditions. This is a once a year opportunity for gardeners of all skill levels to visit unique places and plan for their own late winter and early spring plantings. You won't want to miss the gardens on the tour which have outdoor living spaces, one even features a chandelier and pizza oven for more elaborate outdoor entertaining. Neighborhoods where the gardens on tour are located include: Belle Isle, Quail Creek, Cobblestone and two rural settings. The secluded gardens at Full Circle Book Store are a must see and ticket holders for the tour will receive a 15% discount on gardening books when tour tickets are presented the day of the tour. Vendors with plants and gardening items for sale will be set up at Stout gardens.
Make plans now and take advantage of this once a year opportunity “Garden Tour for Connoisseurs” and experience the beauty and serenity that lies just beyond garden gates. Sponsors for the 2009 Tour include: NBC Bank/Randy Royse, Great Plains Coca Cola, Kent Hutmacher, Garden Design Associates, Southwestern Publishing and Total Environment. Cost of tickets is $12 advance and $15 the day of the tour. Tour tickets will be available September 20th at the following locations: Full Circle Book Store, TLC Nurseries, Horn Seed Company, Edmond Farmers Grain, Wilshire Garden Market, Precure Nurseries, The Greenhouse and K & K Nursery in Norman.
THE GARDENS FOR 2009:
From east Oklahoma City acreages to Cobblestone water features, from a Belle Isle backyard resort to a fabulous Quail Creek loggia, come see the Garden Tour for Connoisseurs, October 3.
Jennifer and Hugh Stout, 432 NE 70th Street
Begin in the east with Jennifer and Hugh Stout's gardens among mature trees. Relax in the rustic red rock pavillion on the shores of a large koi pond. Stroll garden paths and view a plant collection that is also a gracious landscape. Featured on the National Iris and Daylily tours as well as the National Garden Writer’s tour in 2007, find unique garden art accenting the many peaceful rooms of this country-near-the-city garden. Several garden related vendors will be located in their garden with a wide variety of plants, art, furnishings and more.
Dallas and Bob Gwin, 8890 Hassett
Dallas and Bob Gwin live close to nature on the prairie. Their country hideaway, minutes from major highways, features a rustic rock wall, iron gates-complete with bird dog silhouette, a distinctive rock home and several barns, all roofed with handmade English Staffordshire tiles. Behind the home, an unmowed Tall Fescue lawn tumbles down to the perennial wildflower garden. A large vegetable patch nestles near another stone barn with bubbled window glass and rough a cedar interior. This isn't back to nature: It's nature as it ever was.
Kim and Mickey Sullivan, 12000 Stonemill Road
Visit a multilevel landscape at Kim and Mickey Sullivan's in Stone Mill, where boulders, a terrace, pool and waterfall create a blue grey and cream color palette, complemented by blue-toned evergreen spruces, Atlas cedars, hostas, roses encircled by native trees. From the covered terrace to lower level seating areas, this garden is a beautiful departure from prairie landscape in a secluded, treed neighborhood.
Kitty and Dick Champlin, 2300 NW 56 th Street
In Belle Isle, Kitty and Dick Champlin offer a generous and shady terrace with views of a sparkling pool backed by panoramic tiers of pines, magnolias, Weeping Atlas Cedar, Blue Atlas Cedar, Blue Spruce topiary, Pansy and Eastern Redbuds, Japanese Maples, Deodar Cedar, Cherry Laurel, Fringe tree, large Water Oaks, Oak Leaf and other Hydrangeas, variegated holly and privet, Leatherleaf and Snowball viburnun, roses, clematis, grasses, redbark dogwood and nandina. A path leads east through a cottage garden worthy of an Impressionist's brush, with day lilies, Russian Sage, weigielia, herbs, daisies, Lambs Ear, cleome, echinacea and impatiens.
Cheryl McIntosh, 12621 Cobblestone Parkway
Come west to Cobblestone, to enjoy Cheryl McIntosh's water-featured gardens. With a view of a small lake along the neighborhood greenbelt, the gardens here feature two large ponds, one with koi, and a large boulder where water wells up and spills back through the rocks near the patio. Some forty varieties of trees and shrubs grow here, and the owners have identified 52 bird species at property. The border along the drive border includes two Living Easy roses along with other plantings, including a Weeping Arizona Cedar at corner of the iron fence.
Susan and Ted Campbell, 3132 Rollingstone
In Quail Creek, relax at the home of Susan and Ted Campbell, with a lush, Fescue lawn. San Gabriel nandinas, with leaves almost needles, join sizable trees in pots to welcome guests near the front entry. Through an elegant, eastern iron flanked with agastache and Cashmere Deodar cedars, visitors could be on the grounds of a modern Roman villa. A rock ledge fountain cools a quiet, shady retreat near a pale stone logia. Arched window openings under a tile roof reveal gracious seating, a black iron chandelier and a complete kitchen, including fireplace and pizza. On the west, a river rock passageway is studded with formally arranged container boxwoods and cedars. Nearby, a flagstone terrace hosts raised beds of vegetables inside the iron fence. Through the gate sits a rear motor court accented by islands of cedars and the silvery foliage and blue blossoms of Walker's Low nepeta.
Lynn & John Robberson, 2404 NW 55th Terrace
Guests at the home of Lynn and John Robberson are greeted by a huge Willow Oak in the front yard with underlings such as massive ‘Sum and Substance’ Hosta, Leopard Plant (Ligularia), Hellebores, Yews, Japanese Maple and more.
One of the most interesting things here is the huge Sweet Gum growing out of the roof of the house (yes, the trunk is on the inside of the Florida room!) and over the top! The backyard is serene and full of a variety of very large trees including a huge Harry Lauders Walking Stick. It is a garden full of surprises.
The fabulous collection of garden art is a real treat – something new at every juncture. There is a new, multi-level brick patio and the pool is surrounded by perennials, honeysuckle, hydrangea, beautiful roses, herbs, Mimulus, Columbine, Hosta, and Elephant Ears that winter over each year. Even the flower pots are interesting – some with whimsical facial features – and loaded with tropicals, annuals and some even with paddle plants!
Full Circle Bookstore, 50 Penn Place
Come visit the beautiful and cozy garden courtyard at 50 Penn Place and have a snack or hot or cold beverage at their bistro. Ticket holders will receive a 15 % discount on book purchases the day of the tour.