Event a fundraiser for Junior Charity League of Concord
The Junior Charity League of Concord is hosting the Concord Garden Tour June 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets for the event, which highlight the town’s historic district, and includes with a silent auction and raffle on the lawn at Locke Mill and continues through public and private spaces along Union, Washington and Spring streets. Cost of the event is $25 for adults and $15 for children ages 5 to 10.
For more information, call 704-652-0669 or visit http://www.jclofconcord.com
Houses featured on the tour include:
Charleston Garden:
213 Union Street North
This garden was created with the demolition of a flat-roofed garage and the addition of a sun room on the back of the residence.
A new garage was constructed, juxtaposed with the south end of the residence, and in this courtyard a dual-level patio was created with a black iron Charleston fountain set in a circular brick pool.
Below the two patios is a grass croquet lawn outlined in brick. Note the daughter’s play house nestled in the back southwest corner of the garden.
In the rear motor court a custom wood pergola graces the garage doors. The motor court is laid in a herringbone brick pattern. An informal walkway leads to the north side service entrance for easy access to the kitchen.
The yard has many Charleston plantings, including the evergreen clematis (Clematis Armandii) on the pergola, two camellia sasanqua espaliers, fig vine, cast iron plants, Chindo viburnum and several boxwoods. Two hemlocks are all that remain from the original plantings in the back garden. Much care was taken to save them during construction. Architect David Kelly of Charlotte and Garden Designer John Byrd of Charlotte worked together in blending the garden with the architectural additions.
Centennial Garden
103 Union Street North
Blessed by the presence of mature boxwoods, magnolias, camellias and oaks on this century-old property, garden owners have edited out the inappropriate, such as barbed wire fencing, and given structure to the gardens with new hardscaping, deck, arbor and a fountain. Striving for year-round interest, variety has been added to the mix of plants with viburnums, hydrangeas, roses and other woody shrubs. In their 25 years on Union Street North, the owners have added tapestry shrub borders, a woodland garden, a dry shade garden, an herb garden and a composting center. Birds and wildlife are welcomed by many birdbaths and feeders.
Waterfall Garden
90 Washington Lane
The owners have lived in this house for 30 years and everything is still a work in progress. They had a small, uninteresting backyard until about five years ago when they decided to have a pond and patio installed. The two waterfalls that empty into the pond are nestled into the natural hill that is at the back of the property. They have worked since then to establish flowers and, actually, anything that will grow in the very hot summer sun the garden gets all afternoon. A couple of years ago, the owners added a white picket fence, enclosing the pond and patio, and now strive for things to climb over the arbor and fence.
Whimsical Garden
104 Washington Lane
This lovely home and its gardens sit among the rolling hills of Washington Lane.
The garden is divided into four distinct areas. The front garden is more formal and is a sunny hot spot. The back and side areas are full of shade and whimsical touches.
There is a cozy swing hanging from a branch of an old oak tree and an area devoted to the child in all of us. This garden pops with colorful flower pots and bright, beautiful gerbera daisies and geraniums. It you have ever wondered what to do with a hillside, small gardens or heavy shade, this is a must-see garden.
“Little of Everything” Garden
312 Union Street South
This charming garden begins in the front yard, which sits on a stately hill under beautiful oaks. A large front porch beckons for someone to sit awhile and enjoy the view. The Charleston-style garden on the south side of the house is full of miniature gardenias and Annabelle hydrangeas. A cozy niche for two is tucked up against the brick wall. In the back yard is a meandering walkway that takes visitors past roses, camellias, hollies, azalea, and around the pond. A little of all things beautiful can be found in this garden.
“Green Cathedral” Garden
520 Union Street South
This small, intimate garden was lovingly planned and planted by the original mistress of the house, Mrs. Elizabeth Davis, mother of Roy Davis. The current residents of the house have continued to care for and enhance the beauty of the garden for more than 20 years.
The garden is planted with many traditional southern plants: a wide variety of camellias and azaleas, as well as forsythia, nandina, acuba, hydrangea, daphne and many types of bulbs.
The four corners of the back yard are planted with oak and pecan trees whose limbs arch toward the sky forming the roof of the garden, lovingly referred to as the “green cathedral.” In the center of the arching limbs in the yard is a garden angel sculpted by Joel Haas of Raleigh. A 2007 gallery exhibit sponsored by Cabarrus Arts Council at the Historic Courthouse featured the garden angel.
Beautiful brick walls outline the garden and add privacy. Enjoy a stroll or a moment of quiet mediation in our small city garden, a safe and quiet haven from the busy whirlwind of life.
Additional Stops:
• Cabarrus Arts Council Galleries, 65 Union St S, featuring garden-themed art exhibits
• Cannon Memorial Library, 27 Union St N, offering a children’s story hour from-to-featuring garden stories.
• Memorial Garden, 36 Spring Street, three acres of gardens entwined through the 200-year-old cemetery of the First Presbyterian Church. A walk through the 1804 garden leads past an ancient stone foundation flanked with stone resting benches. In summer, brilliant annuals shine throughout. Year-round the garden boasts enormous oaks, magnolias, dogwoods, roses and twisted crepe myrtles.