The Keep Columbus Beautiful Commission was established over 20 years ago. Its mission is to enhance beautification, protect the environment, and to reduce and eliminate litter and blight. This is such important work, and we should all be thankful to the commission led by Executive Director Gloria Weston-Smart. One of the events sponsored by the commission each year is the Tour of Gardens. Local gardeners look forward to the tour as Columbus’ finest gardens are displayed.

This year promises to be one of the best tours yet. Seven private gardens located in the Columbus Historic District will be on display. Artists from The Joseph House Art Gallery will be involved in “plein air ” painting at each garden location during the tour.

The Butler’s Pantry at the former Cafe 222 location will be making a special menu available on both days to accommodate the public. Plus, a garden-art sales venue will be set up under the oaks in the grassy median on Broadway. As you can see, there is much to look forward to.

Following are brief descriptions of the gardens on tour.We are not including any photos as we want you to see the gardens first, in person.

Garden of Louise Tennent Smith • 541 Broadway
Packed with charm, southern favorites, and gargantuan 35-year-old azaleas transplanted from a family property on Jekyll Island, this essential “Non-Gardener’s Garden” is devoid of a single blade of grass. Low maintenance and visual impact from an upper story porch were key considerations when this garden was installed in the 1980s. Smart plant choices allow a “hands off” approach to gardening here, so that more time can be spent enjoying the view.

Garden of Susan Binns • 601 Broadway
This must-see garden is inspired by the stately gardens of Charleston. Intended to be formal yet relaxed, a variety of greens and textures are interspersed with classic structural elements.

Garden of Joe Price • 604 Broadway
Neat, easy plantings of basic greens and tropical mandevilla behind classic wrought iron quietly invite the visitor into this garden space. Impressive camellias, hardy ferns, hostas, impatiens, herbs, creeping phlox, daylilies and mature crape myrtles are just a few of the plants that showcase this garden.

Garden of Lee Bayard • 608 Broadway
Entrance plantings at this home’s front gate are paired with antique light poles from a British railroad station. Annuals, changed every season, spill from urns and over the brick walls that support the wrought iron fencing. This garden is full of variety and exudes charm and elegance.

Garden of Tasca and Richard Hagler • 645 Broadway
Shaded by one of the largest oaks in the historic district, this restful garden on a corner lot effectively combines several outdoor spaces that have different uses.Wrought iron fencing and beautiful urns provide contrast and compliment the architecture of the house, which has been extensively renovated in the last decade.

Garden of Carolyn and Tom Gates • 737 Broadway
Reinvention, repurposing and recycling are prevalent throughout this eclectic and creative garden, almost 20 years in the making. The owners have crafted a surprising and interesting garden out of a difficult space. Third generation “passalong” bulbs, shrubs and hostas from the gardens of the owners’ grandparents partner with hanging baskets of petunias and mandevilla to compliment garden art including totems, bird feeders, metal art and a paisley-patterned redwood door from Port St. Joe, Florida.

Garden of Fred Greene • 745 Broadway
Understated plantings of Indian hawthorn and boxwood in front of the house and a variety of shade shrubs and ground cover along the side give no hint of the personality and charm concealed behind the backyard privacy fence. The strongest feature of this intimate garden is the spectacular use of a small space that has truly become an extension of the home.

Tour of Gardens
Dates
Saturday, June 12, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Sunday, June 13, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Tickets
Advance $20 / Tour Day $25
Advance Groups of 10+ $15
Available at:
Keep Columbus Beautiful
Columbus Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
Butler’s Pantry
Nursery of Lee Bayard
Sample Shop

Information
706-653-4008

Beverly Kinner with Keep Columbus Beautiful and Nicole Sanchez of the Columbus Botanical Garden contributed to this article.

Matt Whiddon is a graduate of the University of Georgia school of horticulture and is the owner of Columbus in Color Landscape Group and PlantWorks Professional Horticultural Services.

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