Three gardens will be open for tours in Orleans on Saturday, July 14 from 10 – 4. Admissin: $5 Rain or Shine. For information, visit https://www.capecodchamber.org/events/orleans-improvement-association-garden-tours
Garden#1
Overlooking Paw Wah Pond, Little Pleasant Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean, this peaceful seaside garden features shady sections with hydrangeas, native blueberries, hosta, rhododendrons, and azaleas, laid out to complement the setting. Additional highlights include 39 different specimens of Japanese maples which are signed with the common and Latin names along with owner comments. Hardy plants which do well in a sometimes harsh seaside setting are a specialty of these homeowners. Two fairy gardens, colorfully planted containers, and garden art also add interest to this peaceful park-like setting.
Garden#2
This Arts and Crafts bungalow with its companion cottage in the rear is nestled on a hillside with peeks of Town Cove. The owner saved these houses from being torn down over 20 years ago and had the exteriors redesigned to reflect the Arts and Crafts style. The owner, a tireless gardener in his own right, hired a landscape designer to develop guidelines for the landscaping to complement the houses. He then planted what he liked while maintaining a calm but colorful and informal layout. Highlights include peach, apple, fig and pear trees along with hydrangeas, carefully arranged to draw the visitors along various paths surrounding the house.
Garden#3
This totally organic, multi-level secret garden with surprises at every turn is on the site of a 50’s neighborhood dumping ground of neglected overgrowth. The plants, garden layout, garden art, and whimsical features reflect the owner artist and her years living in the Pacific Northwest. This yard shows how a completely grass free garden can create a peaceful and intriguing environment. Challenging topography and a city lot transformed by large rocks, green visual barriers and a large Zen garden contribute to a sense of privacy and enclosure. The winding path through the garden begins with a drip basin, bamboo gate, and then winds along a created dry stream, ending at a small bridge and dry pond. A Japanese maple then begins the path through the hydrangea area which is still under development.
