It’s Time to SPIN Into SPRING!

Be sure to mark April 17^th on your calendars for this year’s Southlake SPIN Into SPRING Garden Tour.  The tour is presented jointly by SPIN (Southlake Program for the Involvement of Neighborhoods), Keep Southlake Beautiful, and the Perennial Garden Society of Southlake.

For 2011, SPIN Into SPRING selected six beautiful gardens that showcase a variety of landscapes and gardening styles. During the tour you will discover outstanding examples of unique and inspirational garden designs at each of the six garden stops.

Advance tickets are $8 and will be available at Calloway’s Nursery locations in Southlake, Hurst, Arlington and Flower Mound. Tickets will also be available at Central Market in Southlake, and the Southlake Library starting March 25th. Tickets sold the day of the tour are $10 at any of the gardens and the locations mentioned above.

The Gardens

• Ray & Dinah Chancellor – The Chancellor’s skillfully turned two acres of pasture land into an impressive Wildlife Habitat Garden.  This garden incorporates winding paths, a large water feature and expert use of transition zones that help attract over 150 species of birds, along with many butterflies, insects and other wildlife.
• Robert & Kathleen McElroy DeRogatis – The DeRogatis garden is an artful combination of garden and entertaining areas, resulting in something of interest for everyone. The steep slope of this yard became an asset through the use of stone retaining walls and planters directing you down to the lower level.
• David & Shawn McManus – The McManus garden blends together areas of sun and shade, all while taking advantage of a steep slope.   Stone retaining walls and extensive terracing allow for multi-level outdoor living spaces.  A dry creek bed not only handles water run off during heavy rains but also adds texture and form in the garden.
• George & Corinne Tuttle – Located on three sunny acres the Tuttle’s have created an open, organic perennial garden centered around a large Koi pond aerated via a nearby windmill.     In addition to organic garden practices the Tuttle’s are active wildlife rehabilitators and welcome an assortment of area ducks as backyard guests.
• Hank Henley & David Whitehead – The Henley-Whitehead charming multi-level patio garden is not only picturesque, the owners carefully use environmentally safe techniques and products to maintain this mostly shaded woodland.  The garden features many beautiful Japanese Maples and an impressive-stacked stone waterfall.
• Mark & Audrey Miller – Not only is this garden a wonderful example of shade gardening but a great lesson on how dozens of Knock Out™ roses and perennials can co-exist with over 150 large trees.  The Miller garden was built on a natural aquifer requiring significant planning, time, and energy to move water away from the garden to the creek beyond.

Demonstrations and Displays

In addition to an opportunity to view some of the premier gardens in Southlake, SPIN Into SPING traditionally strives to provide tour participants with information and understanding of responsible gardening related practices.  To achieve this goal, Tarrant County Master Gardener’s will be in each garden to answer questions.  Experts on related topics such as composting, water wells, and wildlife rehabilitation will be also be on hand.  At 1:00 P.M. on the day of the tour, Dr. Ray Chancellor, chairman of the Southlake Ornithological Society will be in his garden to speak and answer questions on “Creating a Backyard Bird Habitat”.

For more information please visit www.keepsouthlakebeautiful.com/tours.html.

Sponsors

We are pleased to welcome back Calloway’s Nursery of Southlake as a returning corporate sponsor of the tour again this year.  In addition to contributing to our homeowners and volunteers, they are  providing store coupons to tour patrons.  Spin Into Spring is excited to welcome Central Market as a new sponsor this year.  Central Market will support our homeowners and volunteers with a private event held the day before the tour.