Port Washington Garden Club
2007 Garden Walk

July 14, 2007, 8:30AM - 4PM

The Port Washington Garden Club is commemorating its 75th anniversary with an expanded Garden Walk, Saturday, July 14. Nine gardens, all owned by garden club members, will be open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Guests will visit several historic Port Washington neighborhoods including St. Mary's Hill. The tour not only celebrates 75 years of Garden Club service to Port Washington but also honors the people who inspired our members' love of gardening.

Garden Walk tickets are $8 and can be purchased at the “Pebble House” Visitor’s Center at 126 E. Grand Ave. in downtown Port Washington or at any of the gardens on the day of the Walk. The funds raised by the tour support the Port Washington Garden Club’s horticultural scholarship fund. For more information call (262) 284-1948.

This property was previously owned by Garden Club member Edith Moeser. The wooded lot has shady borders filled with spring wild flowers and perennials that lead to a sunny backyard where a stone patio complete with built-in grill provides plenty of room to entertain. The owners have also created paths through their woods that lead to a rustic conservatory and Jerry's favorite spot, a hidden contemplation area. Pat's favorite spot is the sunny island garden with water feature.

A perennial garden highlighted by a specimen crabapple and apple espalier replaces the traditional front lawn at this home. A hidden walkway leads visitors past a pocket herb garden to an enclosed backyard. Here a patio entertainment area, complete with hot tub, overlooks a large sunken vegetable garden surrounded by perennial borders. A well equipped shed surrounded by the gardener's collection of frogs and hidden compost center completes working side of this hidden garden. Geri's favorite part of the garden is her 'Whimsy Tree', an old spruce originally decked out with feeders and houses so the couple could enjoy bird watching over morning coffee. Now the tree houses a collection of decorations and mementos from friends. Roy's joy comes from his vegetable garden and the bounty it brings to the table.

This garden was on the tour in 2001, the year after it was installed. Then the plants were small and only hinted at their potential. The mature garden is now a restful oasis on a busy street, highlighted by specimen trees like the weeping Canadian Hemlock 'Pendula' and variegated Japanese Willow 'Hakuro Nishiki'. The owner's bonsai collection is displayed throughout the garden. Kathy's favorite part of the garden are her ligularia and James Marsh daylily. Jim loves to walk through the garden every day and see what's changed.

Perennial garden rooms replace the front lawn of this unusual, steeply sloped corner lot and provide a beautiful path from the detached garage to the house. The sloping side yard provides plenty of room for outdoor activities and leads to new perennial borders and lavender bed that will develop into a screen between yard and the street and provide a vista from the deck high above the garden. The owners both enjoy the stepping out the front door directly into the “rooms” of their garden.

Extensive perennial borders welcome visitors at the street and curve around this 1850’s house and surround the rear patio. The display continues in the backyard where flower-filled beds lead to a vegetable garden and paths ramble through a small prairie and woodland. Kathy’s favorite part of the garden are the foundation borders that welcome guests no matter where they enter the house. Jon’s enjoys the new street side bed he’s creating.

Most of the front lawn at this 1920's Mediterranean Revival home, formerly owned by Garden Club members Mr. and Mrs. George Gilson, has been turned into a perennial garden with water to attract local wildlife. Perennial borders lead to the backyard pond and stream, vegetable beds, and private patio. The gardens also include many native shrubs and trees, a collection of potted fruit trees, small fruits, tropicals like bananas, and water features. Tom enjoys the wildlife - birds, frogs and butterflies - drawn to the garden. Elizabeth enjoys the spring wildflower display.

Post-walk followup:

Many visitors asked what the bright red flowers in the back yard near the solar fountain were.  These are crocosmia, a relative of the iris.  These flowers are virtual hummingbird magnets -- The following photo was taken two days after the garden walk, after about five minutes of waiting for a bird to visit the plant:

The tall red-and-white lilies in the front yard near the entrance to the garden are "Arabesque".  They look somewhat like "Stargazer" lilies and are also very fragrant, but they are taller.  Many people asked if we fertilize heavily to get that height.  No, that's just the way they grow!  In the photo below, compare their height to 5-foot, three-inch Elizabeth:

The lavender-and-white-striped flowered plant in the front yard is a phlox:

The large shrub in the front yard with the conical sprays of white flowers is a bottlebrush buckeye:

The violet-red cup-shaped flowers in the front yard that were interplanted with the lavender are "poppy mallows" or "wine cups" (Callirhoe involucrata).  These can be found in white or the violet-red coloring:

This garden, on historic St. Mary’s Hill, greets visitors at the street. The parkway and front lawn has been replaced with a perennial garden filled with roses, delphiniums and a wide range of perennial plants. A brick path lead to a backyard where you can relax in the shade under a grape covered arbor serenaded by the splashing of the water feature. The spacious lawn surrounded by perennial borders leads to a hidden patio where you can dine near the raised-bed herb and vegetable garden. Many of Mary’s plants are treasured starts from her late mother’s garden.

Current Garden Club President Maggie Barr and her husband Bruce, both rose enthusiasts and judges, tend an extensive collection of roses as well as a small woodland, hosta garden and perennial beds. The large rock garden, created by founding Garden Club member Mrs. Arnold H. Barr (no relation) who previously owned the house, is Bruce’s favorite part of the property. Maggie favors the secluded patio where the couple can dine and relax.

This compact lot showcases not only an extensive collection of native plants and butterfly garden but an Asian inspired contemplation garden and extensive kitchen garden. Granite and stone basins, benches and art pieces compliment the tranquil setting. Their favorite part of the garden is the extensive hosta collection that borders the Asian garden.

Garden Walk Map

Click on the image below to display a full-size map to the gardens!

Click HERE for the report from the 2001 Garden Walk!
Click HERE for the report from the 2002 Garden Walk!
Click HERE for the report from the 2003 Garden Walk!
Click HERE for the report from the 2004 Garden Walk!
Click HERE for the report from the 2005 Garden Walk!
Click HERE for the report from the 2006 Garden Walk!

Questions?  Please Email us!

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