Boston Flora

Tag: intimate garden tour

Sunday, September 5, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm – An Intimate Garden Tour: A Summer Home in Narragansett

Blithewold invites you beyond the garden gate to tour this charming local property on Sunday, September 5, from 2 – 4 pm. As part of a small and informal group, discover a Summer Home’s story and distinct collection of plants. See the landscape through the eyes of the designer and come away with new ideas and a fresh perspective.

Each Intimate Garden Tour is unique, but all afford the opportunity to explore and ask questions.Â This seaside project of Louis Raymond’s is a study in Summer interest. It’s all about what’s glorious from June through November.

Spring (and Winter) are irrelevant, so there are no rhodies, daffodils, wisteria or azaleas. Instead, traditional high-summer perennials are joined by huge swathes of the full variety of Summer-interest shrubs and trees, many of which are hard-pruned to maximize their colorful foliage.

The immense scale of the property called for immense plantings, too. The smaller double borders are 20 feet deep; the BIG double borders are twice as deep, and almost 200 feet wide. The cutting garden is one of the newer projects, with 1,200 square feet in raised beds.Â Thrilling horticulture partners with a dramatic Bayside setting, for an intense landscape so unusual that it was on the cover of House & Garden magazine.

Check out pictures of this garden here at www.renaissancegardening.com/garden.htm

*In the case of heavy rain, participants will be notified of cancellations by phone. If you do not hear from us a few hours before the program start, the program will run as scheduled.

Directions to the site will be mailed a few weeks prior to the tour. Light refreshments will be available.Â Registration is limited and required in advance.$30 Blithewold members, $35 non-members. For more information, call 401-253-2707, or email jmurphyedu@blithewold.org.

August 19, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm – An Intimate Garden Tour: Villa Palona, Middletown

Blithewold invites you beyond the garden gate to tour this charming local property on Thursday, July 22, from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. As part of a small and informal group, discover Villa Palona’s story and distinct collection of plants. See the landscape through the eyes of the owner and come away with new ideas and a fresh perspective. Each Intimate Garden Tour is unique, but all afford the opportunity to explore and ask questions.

Villa Palona, the name of the house, is an integral part, and provides inspiration, for this small suburban garden. The house was designed by the Hoppin Brothers of Providence, and completed in 1924. It was built as a prototype for the Portland Cement Company and named by the architects ‘The Providence’ after the capital of Rhode Island.

Thinking the name somewhat pretentious, the name was changed in honor of a large Palonia [sic] Tomentosa tree which, sadly, is no longer part of the landscape.

The house was bought by the owners’ parents in 1946, and the house and garden have had restorations in the last twenty-two years of ownership. A few original specimen trees and shrubs, as well as the garden topography encompass the present plan.

The illusion of being in a much broader, as well as private, landscape has been an objective. The present garden has evolved dramatically over the past several years with the addition of stone walls and steps, a small reclaimed granite fountain, large plant perennial borders, and a surprise birch tree cedar grove. Plant material is ever changing, rich in texture, and rather bold.

*In the case of heavy rain, participants will be notified of cancellations by phone. If you do not hear from us a few hours before the program start, the program will run as scheduled.

Directions to the site will be mailed a few weeks prior to the tour. Light refreshments will be served. Registration is limited and required in advance.$30 Blithewold members, $35 non-members.Â Email jmurphyedu@blithewold.org, or call 401-253-2707.

July 8, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm – An Intimate Garden Tour: The Maddock Garden, Barrington

Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum invites you beyond the garden gate to tour this charming local property on Thursday, June 10, from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. As part of a small and informal group, discover the Maddock Garden’s story and distinct collection of plants. See the landscape through the eyes of the owner and come away with new ideas and a fresh perspective. Each Intimate Garden Tour is unique, but all afford the opportunity to explore and ask questions.

The Maddock garden is an original Cape style home and garden, once used as a gardener’s cottage. In this magical garden you will find a breathtaking rose arbor, bordering a sunny perennial bed, which connects the greenhouse to the fernery. The fernery welcomes its guests with gifts of Trillium, Hosta, and native ferns. Native plantings, including spring ephemerals, and bulbs will delight. The newly constructed Lantern walk and quiet upper terrace are planted with Japanese maples, and assorted hydrangeas for late summer interest. A hard surface walkway around the garden makes for a pleasant stroll whatever the weather.

*In the case of heavy rain, participants will be notified of cancellations by phone. If you do not hear from us a few hours before the program start, the program will run as scheduled.Â Directions to the site will be mailed a few weeks prior to the tour. Light refreshments will be served.Â Registration is limited and required in advance. Call 401-253-2707, or email jmurphyedu@blithewold.org.Â You may also log on to www.blithewold.org.Â $30 Blithewold members, $35 non-members.

June 3, 2010