Azalea Garden Tour

2020 Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Garden Tour cancelled

After more than a year of planning and preparation by our members and this year’s Garden Owners it is with great sadness, we announce that the 2020 Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Garden Tour is cancelled and will not be rescheduled due to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 situation.

The Cape Fear Garden Club, Inc.is a 501(c)(3) organization. The garden tour is our annual fund raiser that allows us to make grants each year in support of Conservation, Beautification, and scholarships in New Hanover County.

In order to continue our grant process this year we ask you to consider making the purchase price of your tickets a tax-deductible donation. Your Donation will allow us to have monies available to fund our grant program for the 67th consecutive year. The Non-Profits who request grants will need our help more than ever due to the current situation. If you do not wish to donate the price paid for the ticket, please click here to apply for a refund and submit no later than May 15, 2020.

Ribbon Cutting Garden

We can’t wait to show you the 2020 Gardens and appreciate your patience as we finalize all the information. This beautiful five-acre family estate truly reflects Southern charm and has been shared with this year’s Azalea Garden Tour for the ribbon cutting only. Located on a quiet lane it is an elegant refuge from traffic and noise. Large live oaks give filtered shade and leave patterns on the brick path. The home is a lovely soft yellow on the exterior with white trim and Charleston Green accents. Two story verandas adorn the front of the home and two story screen porches give year round appeal to experiencing the outdoors. A large guesthouse opens to the expansive pool complex and speaks to their love of entertaining with family and friends. Opposite the guest house and pool is a lovely pergola covered with Confederate jasmine. This garden says “Welcome Home,” the yard says “Kids Are Welcome.”

GARDEN #1

James & Frances Parnell

The owners take care of this luxuriant green space carpeted with native plants themselves and have created and maintained a natural haven since they arrived in 1966. It is just the sort of garden, sustainable both in cultivation and in maintenance, that birds and butterflies choose to make their home because feeders near the house never go empty. The plants cycle through the seasons, leaf debris accumulates then nurtures the soil. Mrs. Parnell says she would like to place a sign in the spring that says “Our flowers are not dead, they’re sleeping.” The owners’ intentions are to protect the native habitat that attracts the birds and butterflies. There are paths that wind through the property’s 3.67 acres from the house through the vegetation. With the debris on the street piling up after Hurricane Florence, they decided to make piles of their fallen branches in the woods to provide habitat for forest creatures and birds. “Living quarters: everyone is invited” is the sign Mrs. Parnell would like to place there. This garden, itself, is a gift from the owners to the wildlife that inhabits their corner of  Wilmington. Because it is sustainable and contains food, water, protective cover and places to raise young — all of which are essential to the preservation of wildlife — it is officially certified as a Natural Wildlife Habitat.

GARDEN #2

Drs. Jeff Warhaftig & Amanda Trimpey

The pretty dual staircase at the entrance to this inviting yellow house is the centerpiece of extensive banks of colorful annual and perennial plantings that flow down to the Intracoastal Waterway. Around the back of the house is a backyard sports paradise for kids and adults as well as a place for relaxation afterwards around the cozy fire pit, adjacent pool and outdoor kitchen. The owners built their home and garden from an empty lot in 2001. They kept a list whenever traveling of favorite things about each vacation spot, and when it came time to build they incorporated many of these ideas: the sun-shelf on the pool, shaded day bed, secluded outdoors shower with a view to the Intracoastal Waterway, and outdoor kitchen. Three years ago, they renewed the backyard  design including a new water feature, a pool and another fun vacation memory: multi-colored lights within the pool that glow softly at night! Another priority was open space in more than one area of the garden, good for throwing the frisbee, kicking a soccer ball, playing catch, hide-and-seek, laser tag, and more. Someone once said to the owners: “I’ve never seen a family use their pool as much as you all do.” The family’s children always wanted to hold their birthday parties by the pool, and pre-prom photos have been taken in their very own garden.

GARDEN #3

Airlie Garden with Lebanon Chapel

Airlie is a premier waterfront garden of the coastal South and is especially stunning in the spring during the azalea season when thousands of blooms cover the plants. There is a balance of manicured and natural areas with a combination of formal gardens, walking trails, sculptures, views of Bradley Creek, two freshwater lakes, more than 100,000 azaleas and the grandeur of the magnificent Airlie Oak, which dates back to 1545 and is the North Carolina State Champion Live Oak. Not to be missed are a seasonal Butterfly House and unique Bottle Chapel, made using over 2,800 bottles, and is the centerpiece of the Minnie Evans Sculpture Garden. The lovely scenery and ideal film locations in Airlie Gardens have also attracted many films and television shows over the years. One Tree Hill and Dawson’s Creek both feature scenes in the Pergola Garden and the ABC Family movie, A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song was filmed at the stable’s creek-side lawns. As a coastal region site on the North Carolina Birding Trail, Airlie offers some of the best birding in New Hanover County. Check out Airlie’s HotSpot on eBird.com, a website which lists over 200 birds that have been viewed there and what is being seen on a daily basis.

GARDEN #4

Harbor Way Gardens

For over fourteen years The Harbor Island Garden Club has planned, planted and maintained an award-winning public garden, which is dedicated to community, conservation, education and beautification. This acre of ground fosters multiple sections that contain coastal native trees, shrubs and perennials, which have been chosen to shelter and foster butterflies, birds and bees. In 2018, Hurricane Florence brought severe devastation to the grounds. The long recovery has created more sun exposure than the former shady canopy. Benches and a new swing by the cottage invite one to read or simply enjoy the soothing sounds of the central water garden while contemplating the surrounding memorial bricks and pavers. New and expanded areas include the labyrinth, which includes multiple fragrance enhancing roses and gardenias. Around the Circle Fountain are varieties of azaleas, camellias and shrubs that produce a variety of pink blossoms to focus on cancer awareness. In the picnic area, the cottage library is a certified lending collection of books for adults and children. Over the years, families have gathered for celebrations, Boy Scouts have installed Eagle Scout projects, trees have been planted for Arbor Day and pink ribbons hung from trees in October for breast cancer awareness. Floral arrangements created by members of the garden club will be displayed along the shade trail to complement and enhance the beauty of Harbor Way Gardens for the Tour.

GARDEN #5

Marcia Pendleton Doering

“Peekin’ Through the Pines at Coral Cottage” is a garden, which was begun in 2007 using one and three gallon plants to develop a tapestry hedge for enclosure across the front of the property. Entering through the dooryard, weave your way under the dome of the native longleaf pines along the paths. You’ll find Moonwalker, Skywalker, Sandwalker, Perch Point, Fairy Landing, Figure 8,  Heartsease, secret gardens and different styles of garden furniture and small sculptures tucked in among the shrubbery. A 250-foot mixed border runs from the front to the back and takes you to Scotland Yard and The Cathedral, including fifty-year old azaleas and newer camellias as well as an arbor covered in Lady Banks roses. In the Stockyard, harvested pine straw is stored which is spread in the beds in the spring once the composted live-oak leaves have been placed around all azaleas and camellias. The owner designs, installs and maintains the garden herself. Taking her inspiration from the Arts and Crafts style, she’s chosen to contrast the strong formal “bones” of the landscape with exuberant and loose plantings. Topiaries provide lovely focal points. The pine canopy provides filtered light, perfect for growing a wide variety of native and exotic plants. A new fence was designed to feature climbing roses, now able to benefit from newly abundant hours of sunshine after the loss of several pines. The owner’s motto is “Livin’ with Longleaf and Lovin’ It.”

GARDEN #6

Dan Thorpe & Anne Beck

As the owners of the Thorpe Landscape Firm, this couple has the talent and expertise to create outstanding gardens. They leveled the existing site, which was in disrepair, with excavators and bobcats and redesigned all of the decks, walkways, and patios. You now enter into the beautifully maintained landscape of this classic Forest Hills cottage through a white picket fence. The symmetry of the plants along the front walk is pleasing to the eye. Ceiling fans and chairs create a cool and welcoming space on the front porch. They designed their entertainment area centered on the rock-floored fire pit. It is surrounded by an outdoor shower house, boat barn and Quonset hut shop. Well-placed lighting both front and back demonstrate how attractive illumination can be a successful part of garden design, that help create outdoor “rooms” as extensions of the house by evening. With kayaks at hand and a hammock swinging in the trees, this is an active outdoor family’s dream home.

GARDEN #7

Erin & Dustin RT Sullivan

Upon entering the grounds, you immediately recognize the owner’s success in accomplishing their goal of creating an English-style garden using native plants. In the front yard, the entrance has a unique wrought iron scroll gate flanked by a low brick wall covered with a creeping fig vine. Neighbors and friends often stop by in the evening to sit on the wall or the nearby bench to chat. The driveway leads to a tall wooden fence where you will find a cozy backyard with a brick patio and comfortable sitting area by a fireplace. A winding pebble pathway leads you around a decorative birdbath, now planted with greens and surrounded by rose bushes. Further in the yard, another low brick wall creates a garden space that contains a new shed made from recycled material and old barn siding, which contains a hot tub. Close by is a pretty yellow bee house. In another corner of the backyard is a hammock and a signpost with arrows pointing in the direction of places they have visited and treasured. Watching wildlife that comes to visit regularly as a result of the plantings they add every year reminds the owner of the times he worked side by side with his grandfather in his garden. This is a certified wildlife habitat with many birdhouses in both the front and back yards. Despite the damage that last year’s hurricane did to the neighborhood and trees in both their front and back yard, this yard is back together and looking wonderful.

GARDEN #8

Scotty & Kenton Sanders

This historic craftsman style bungalow built in 1923 beckons you up the steps to an entrance filled with potted plants. Turning to the left into the screened porch, you enter a tropical oasis, which spans the entire front of the house. Once inside, you see a wide variety of begonias and ferns artfully hanging or carefully displayed on antiques, ladders and benches. The eclectic furniture provides the perfect place for a morning cup of coffee or an evening glass of wine and an opportunity to admire the lush plants and miscellaneous “found” items on display. At the end of the front porch is a door that leads to an outside covered seating area with a cozy swing and more potted and hanging plants. Scotty previously worked at a large wholesale nursery where she acquired 100’s of plants, which she carefully relocated here. Scotty and her husband have created, planted, designed and continue to do all of the garden maintenance. The garden has limited sun, so the majority of the plants are shade lovers. Nestled in and among the plantings are “found” and collected items that add whimsy and interest such as flowers made from colored faucet handles, rusty whisky barrel hoops arranged over the plants to form an arch, a vintage door with a hanging basket filled with impatiens, a wonderful watering can collection and sunflowers made from old shoes from her own horses! Garden tools are neatly displayed for use next to a potting table. This garden is a labor of love and a work in progress that will continue to grow through the coming years!

GARDEN #9

Karen & Auley Crouch

Nestled on a quiet tree lined street, the historic colonial revival Frederick Pearsall House (1916), welcomes you through an artfully designed metal gate. Karen, the garden owner, is an artist whose sculptures and uniquely crafted pieces are placed throughout the property. The garden at the front of the house is designed as an English country courtyard with brick paths running between trimmed patches of Asiatic jasmine and bordered by a wonderful vintage wrought iron fence bordered with hellebores. The water from a lovely moss-covered fountain spills over gently into a brick pool filled with water lilies. In the side yard a charming birdhouse is perched on a metal stand in the shape of a branch and a ceramic sculpture of a couple rests among the shade loving plants next to the terrace, which was created by the nationally recognized artist Virginia Gibbons. Additional art is represented by a sculpture of two large swans resting in a brick planter and a whimsical metal sculpture of a girl sitting on a bench against the brick wall. The garden is filled with personal treasures: a Japanese maple, a gift for the garden owner’s 50th birthday, a Dr. Van Fleet rose, rooted from the garden of her childhood and a fairy house (made by the artist) where her grandchildren still check for gifts from the fairies. For 40 years the garden owners have tended and transformed what was once a neglected space into a map of their lives with friends and family, past and present that is still evolving … Immerse yourself and enjoy this true gardener’s garden!

GARDEN #10

Donna Launey & Patrick Tester

Built in 1912, this historic prairie style home welcomes you to its spacious front porch featuring furniture built by the garden owner’s father. A lovely English Lutyens bench sits at one end of the porch under a vintage stained glass window creating an inviting place to sit and socialize. The side yard was already established when the garden owners bought the house in 2015. The backyard, however, was a blank canvas, which invited them to design and install their personalized oasis as an extension of their home. The outdoor room includes a large dining table and bench, also built by Donna’s father. It is constructed using rare old cypress from Louisiana. The room is well used by the garden owners and their family as a relaxing escape in the summer and a cozy warm space in the winter, sitting in front of the fireplace in the glow of antique gas lamps. Their love of all things historic, weathered with patina and collected in part from Legacy Historic Salvage, directed the design of the greenhouse built by Patrick, which includes a vintage sink and a shelf above it that holds various garden tools. Exotic tropical patio plants are maintained in the greenhouse during the winter. The sundial orb sits as the focal point of the raised bed vegetable garden and a metal arbor stands at the entrance to the garden. A fire pit is made from the end of an oil tanker truck, and vintage bottles adorn the “bottle tree” which adds a touch of whimsy. A shady area in a back corner of the yard holds a bench set among various plants where one might sit and admire the garden. In the backyard a small maple, a fig, and potted citrus trees given by friends and family are symbolic of this lovingly created home and garden.

GARDEN #11-A

Chris Gore & Matthew TenHuisen

This graceful two-story historic house was built in 1907. After the house suffered severe fire damage in 1966, the current homeowners’ recognized an opportunity and bought and completely restored this home themselves. After renovation it was featured in the April 2012 issue of Wilma Magazine. A white picket fence softened with wisteria and roses looks spectacular and welcomes you to the home and garden. Rocking chairs are placed strategically on the front porch to encourage lounging and conversation. Strolling down the left side of the house on repurposed brick pathways is a formal pool on the left with an interesting swan based fountain backed by beautiful star jasmine on a raised picket fence. The path culminates with another striking three-tiered fountain, which cascades into a circular basin. As you cross the back garden there is a majestic Southern Magnolia defining the entrance to the gated pool complex that used to be a gravel parking lot. The salt-water swimming pool is the center of this wonderful entertainment complex. The luxurious cabana was designed and built by the homeowners. Tile from their renovated kitchen was carefully laid out and installed in the bas-relief fountain. The pool deck is filled with tropical containers, a bar and grilling station, seating areas and a fire pit providing a lush paradise for relaxation. This home and garden is always a delight and has been on a previous Azalea Festival Garden Tour along with the Candlelight Christmas Tour.

GARDEN #11-B

Josephine TenHuisen

Next door is a Greek Revival Style house originally built for Wilburn Trask, identified with an historic plaque that dates it to 1865. Painted a “sunny” yellow color with a bright blue door, this house has a similar porch with rocking chairs and a glider swing. Whimsical lighting under the painted porch roof adds an extra dose of charm. Two potted ferns sit on the front brick steps and plantings  along the street and driveway are lush and beautiful. All of the colorful annuals in the front and side garden are maintained in pots to make them easy to maintain. Tucked into the cozy courtyard is a lovely back porch with rocking chairs and a white glider that overlooks the shady brick patio with its two distinct seating areas. The bench is set at an angle under a large tree with ferns lending a tropical feel, then a charming birdbath and at the end a small dining table under a colorful umbrella. This garden has a big impact and shows how much can be accomplished in a small space with color, design and style.

GARDEN #12

Susan Wilson

Trees were always the owner’s first love and this eclectic woodland cottage, dubbed “Flower Gate,” now has over fifty varieties. Instead of a traditional lawn, the front yard is full of shade and greenery, much of it provided by dense low-hanging vines that loop throughout the property. Interestingly, the owner’s use of native honeysuckle, wisteria, Chilean potato vine and thorn-less blackberry was inspired by Tarzan films that she watched as a child. The front yard vines, intertwined with tiny, almost invisible lights, add charm and magical character. The owner wanted to create a 360-degree cloak of greenery with as much variety and shade as possible. She was influenced by the lives of her grandparents and great grandparents, who lived entirely off the land. This fueled her zeal to sculpt living green plantings to become a kind of urban camouflage. Degrees in design and art history helped guide her to create this tiny natural enclave, the perfect hideaway for many furry and feathered friends who can’t resist the setting. They live here abundantly, in a gated community for wildlife, rich in resources for them to dine, nest and frolic. Multiple garden areas can be entered through the ten different gates and arbors, which in turn open to settings full of antiques, rustic statues of critters and a variety of objects d’art collected throughout the years. At the base of “Bear Falls” a quiet waterfall flows into a pond filled with koi, adding another point of interest. The owner’s notion is that you can never have too many cats, plants or places to sit. This dream of a yard, with plenty of space for the outdoor lover, lives up to that belief.