GARDENS NAMED FOR SPRING GARDEN TOUR

The 2007 “Beyond the Garden Gates” Garden Tour presented by Celebrate Frederick features seven of Frederick’s finest private gardens, and three spectacular public gardens, and is sure to inspire your green thumb! The tour will be held in Frederick, Maryland on Saturday, May 19th and Sunday, May 20th, from 1 to 5 p.m., rain or shine.
The event will appeal to everyone, from the novice gardener to the seasoned pro. This year’s tour showcases a variety of gardening styles, from Victorian-style romance and historically-inspired charm, to English-infused beauty with a whimsical flair.
The gardens for this year’s tour follow:

The Garden of Bill and Rebecca Giller
236 South Market Street
This naturalistic, pocket-sized garden is a lovely secret tucked behind one of downtown Frederick’s busiest streets. A certified wildlife habitat, this space includes flowering and fruiting trees and bushes, sheltering cover and water designed to attract a variety of birds, animals, butterflies and other forms of wildlife. A haven for the homeowners as well, plants have also been chosen to ensure constant, colorful blooms during spring, summer and fall, as well as seasonal interest in the winter. This space is all the more impressive when the visitor learns that it was previously a weedy patch of gravel that has been lovingly transformed by the current homeowners.

The Garden of Janice “Jan” Shaff
234 South Market Street
Romance and charm thrive in this Victorian style garden. Breaking up the traditional length of a city garden, the homeowner has created three distinct spaces, each offering a different mood. The first space is formal, reflected in the straight lines of the walk and brick-bordered beds. Through the white arch is the second space. This area invites visitors to relax on a wire Victorian bench and enjoy the lovely hydrangea, bleeding heart, hosta and lily of the valley. The path to the third space takes visitors alongside a sweet shrub. Truly unique, this shrub’s fragrant blooms were once used in women’s hankies and sachets. Arriving in the third area, visitors will find a Victorian cast iron settee offering a charming view of a cottage garden bed bordered by a twelve inch stone wall. The overall design of this space was done by Mar-Lu-View Nursery and Landscaping and has been up kept and enhanced by the homeowner.

The Market Street Garden & The Director’s Rose Garden
The Federated Charities of Frederick
22 South Market Street
Two distinctive gardens can be found at this location, one an original “postage stamp” style garden and the other a secluded niche tucked behind the building. The Market Street Garden, situated along the side of the building, is reminiscent of the Greek revival style of the residence itself. The Director’s Rose Garden can be found in the rear of the building. Volunteers will be available to help direct you to this space. Both gardens are dominated by roses. Matt Shelton of Innovative Landscapes graciously donates his talents to help maintain these gardens.

The Garden of J.B. & Carol L. Powell
‘The Hanna House’
11 West Second Street
Tucked alongside and behind the historic Hanna House, this semi-formal garden is a labor of love for the homeowners. The grounds surrounding the circa 1775 home are being painstakingly restored to more accurately reflect the 18th Century heritage of the property. Currently in the second phase of a three phase process, the garden is a work in progress already displaying lovely results. The first phase was recently completed along the side of the home, with a large fountain as its centerpiece. The fountain is surrounded by American Boxwoods and enhanced by two dry stack stone walls, recalling the home’s original style. A true piece of Frederick history, this garden should not be missed.

The Garden of John and Bette Shafer
17 West Second Street
Each new season brings a variety of lush colors to this formal garden located in the heart of downtown Frederick. Containing sixty mature boxwoods, a serpentine wall and a lovely brick walkway, it is easy to see why this garden has become a coveted location for social gatherings year round. Also of interest is the magnificent Maple tree found in the rear of the space. This tree was one of two chosen and tagged for review by the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. Representatives at the Embassy wanted to plant a colorful tree in honor of the first visit of Prince Charles and Diana to the U.S. as a married couple. The tree not selected by the Embassy was bought by a local landscaping company and eventually found its way in to this lovely garden. Care for the trees, boxwoods, shrubs and mulching is provided by F.R. Johnston Landscaping and Tree Service. Assistance in decorating the patio has been generously provided by Mike McCrossin, owner of The Grapevine.

The Garden of Eleanor Winter & Dan Backo
115 West Third Street
A true surprise awaits visitors behind the lovely iron gates of this garden. An authentic brick walkway leads guests to a surprisingly large garden in the heart of downtown Frederick. Within this unexpected space is a large slate patio overlooking the garden and inviting swimming pool. Ideal for dining and entertaining, the patio is bordered by tall Leland cypresses with climbing hydrangea as a backdrop. The pool below is surrounded by age-old boxwoods, rhododendrons, azaleas, red bud and dogwood trees. Additional color is provided by peonies, golden rod and hydrangeas. The serenity of the space provides a tremendous amount of pleasure to the homeowners and their two Jack Russell puppies.

Heritage Garden
Historical Society of Frederick County
24 East Church Street
This garden draws upon a unique ambience and historical setting to create an urban oasis in the heart of downtown Frederick. Featuring elegant period flower gardens bordered by a handsome brick path, a large open grassy area, stately trellised arbor and catering shed, the garden doubles as a community-gathering place and outdoor classroom. This year’s theme for the demonstration garden is a children’s garden to complement the childhood exhibit “To Be a Child: Growing Up in Frederick County.” Plants will include sweet basil, crimson cockscomb, tricolor amaranthus (Joseph’s coat), blue morning glory, potmarigold, scarlet runner bean and sensitive plant.

The Garden of Jim Gregg
19 East Ninth Street
Follow the yellow brick path to this peaceful garden with an English flair. As visitors follow the brick walkway, they will be greeted by nature’s beauty as well as whimsical touches. Be sure to search out the animal topiaries and a bronze statue of Toto, Dorothy’s lovable companion in The Wizard of Oz. Also take note of the lovely gas and electric lamps throughout the space, the iron fountain in the center of the garden and the magnificent fishpond in the rear of the space, complete with a trickling waterfall. True garden enthusiasts will also appreciate the rare dwarf weeping red bud tree and the moss rose bush, a very old variety, which can be found within this space. Barrick & Sons L.L.C. and Olde Town Historic Landscape have lent their skill to the creative style of the homeowner to create a truly memorable garden.

18th Century Heritage Garden
Schifferstadt Architectural Museum
1110 Rosemont Avenue
Step back to the 18th Century in this heirloom garden highlighting traditional vegetation and herbs used by German settlers. Beautifully raised flowerbeds and local stone paths add to the nostalgic charm of this space. Take note of the many varieties of roses throughout the garden, including the Maiden Blush, Burgundian Rose and Apothecary Rose. The garden and attached museum host educational tours on composting, herbal remedies and culinary history throughout the year. The garden is cared for by the Head Heirloom Gardener and a volunteer Garden Committee. Stop in for light refreshments as this is the Hospitality Center.

The Garden of Jonathan and Hilda Staples
900 Rosemont Avenue
This family-friendly garden is a true playground for children and adults. A professionally installed, regulation size, Bocce Court provides countless hours of entertainment for the adults, while the children take advantage of the grassy expanse of this backyard haven. Beauty abounds throughout the seasons with evergreens, annuals and perennials dominating the property. A hedge of Yews and a hedge of Forsythia offer privacy during the summer months. The patio, a popular place for family and social gatherings, is lined with a beautifully raised flower bed. Planted with climbing roses, this bed offers a lovely display of fragrance and blossoms for all to enjoy. During winter, however, attention shifts to the great Holly tree whose berries provide a feast for neighborhood birds. Whatever the season this remarkable space provides enjoyment and entertainment to everyone that enters it.

As you’re wandering through each garden, take a minute to watch the local artists who will be creating their own vision of the space.

Tickets for the tour, which is held rain or shine, cost $15 per person and are available May 1st at the following locations:
The Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center, 40 South Carroll Street, 301-698-0656
Flights of Fancy, 20 East Street, 301-663-9295
The Grapevine, 117 East Patrick Street, 301-663-3920
The Schifferstadt Museum, 1110 Rosemont Ave., 301-663-3885
Tourism Council of Frederick County Inc, 19 East Church Street, 301-228-2888

As all of the gardens featured on the tour are provided courtesy of the homeowners or business owners, proper garden tour etiquette is requested. This includes remaining on paths or following directions through the gardens as indicated by the hosts. In addition, please refrain from wearing high-heeled shoes or pushing strollers in grassy areas. This will help to preserve the beauty of the gardens that the owners have worked so diligently to provide for the tour. Parents are asked to prevent children from picking flowers.

The 2007 Garden Tour Committee of Celebrate Frederick and Green-walled Garden Club organized this year’s tour. This event would not be possible without the generous financial contributions made by the following community-minded businesses: Spires Sponsors - Bechtel Foundation, CellularOne, Drees Homes, Sandy Spring Bank, Spectrum Federal Credit Union and Weis Markets; Carillon Sponsors – Comcast, COMSTAR Federal Credit Union, Creig Northrop Team-Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., Roy Rogers-A Plamondon Co., The Frederick News-Post and Tuscarora Creek/Greentree Homes; Bandshell Sponsors – BB&T, Frederick Arts Council and Jean Peterson Design/The JaBITCo Group.

For more information, please call The City of Frederick Office of Special Events at 301-600-CITY (2489) or visit

www.CelebrateFrederick.com.