Gwinnett County Master Gardener Association
2013 TOUR OF GARDENS

May 18, 2013, 10AM to 5PM

Our featured gardens include five certified National Wildlife Habitats, sun and shade gardens, a nature center and a circa 1930’s farm. This year we are showcasing a total of twelve gardens in our county: five private gardens and one grant project in the Duluth/Norcross area and five private gardens and one grant project in the Grayson/Snellville area.

An overview of each tour garden follows. The fully detailed features of each garden can be read here.

We look forward to having you visit our outstanding gardens!

NORTH AREA OF GWINNETT COUNTY

McDaniel Farm Park, 3251 McDaniel Road, Duluth, GA 30096

GCMGA works with Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation and the Environmental Heritage Center to plan, plant, and maintain the circa 1930’s “Archie’s Garden”, the farm house grounds, and the orchard at McDaniel Farm Park. Harvest from the vegetable garden is donated to “Feed the Hungry.” Be sure to visit the garden and see what a typical farm of the era would look like.

Norman Downes, 2879 Baronet Court, Duluth, GA 30096

This Certified Wildlife Habitat, located on Lake Norman, offers views of year round and migrating waterfowl, but gardening with beavers, geese, and deer can be challenging. You will find a butterfly attracting area, a tiered garden for vegetables and strawberries, an open area for croquet and volleyball, and a shady seating area.

Arlene’s Garden, 4190 Berkeley View, Duluth, GA 30096

This 17-year-old yard contains a large number of mature specimens of flora. With its variety of plants in this sun/shade garden, there is something to enjoy throughout the year. A beautiful dry creek bed in back and stone pathways make for an interesting walkabout the yard. Because of all the hard work and planning over the years, the landscape is in place and complete making this a low maintenance yard.

“Colibri Haven”, Jane Burke, 3754 Frederica Lane, Duluth, GA 30096

What was once a fescue lawn has been transformed into a Certified Wildlife Habitat and entirely organic garden. This home features flowers for hummingbirds along the driveway, a formal French style front yard, a side shade garden, and in the back a goldfish pond and raised beds for vegetable gardening.

Wilson/Mullennix Garden, 3781 River Mansion Drive, Duluth, GA 30096

This eclectic, naturalistic, artistic garden is a little piece of paradise on a little over an acre. The garden integrates all five senses in various garden rooms. Through the use of trees and shrubs; fruits and vegetables; perennials and annuals; along with natives and exotics each garden room opens up a new vista. Early in the morning or in the evening it becomes the perfect place for entertaining.

“Shady Lady”, Gary & Phyllis Beck, 3898 River Walk Drive, Duluth, GA 30096

This garden will show you how you can garden in the shade and in the presence of deer. What was once a wild hill of hollies and English ivy has been transformed into a stone terraced jewel in the shade. The backyard around the pool has a tropical feel with huge elephant ears and other large leaved plants that take less sun. This garden was designed and installed by Jane Burke.

SOUTH AREA OF GWINNETT COUNTY

Mastley’s Garden, 4050 Whispering Pines Trail, Conyers, GA 30012

The Mastley’s have transformed what once was a farm field into a delightful retreat. The community is called an airpark with airplane hangars in the backyards and access to a 2500’ runway. As you roam the 3.5 acre property you will see a variety of evergreens and hydrangeas and enjoy the peaceful serenity of the yard. From the deck area follow the steps to the iron fountain in a parterre garden of boxwoods.

Ashman Gardens, 4040 Whispering Pines Trail, Conyers, GA 30012

Six years ago this 3-acre garden was a bare piece of “Georgia concrete” scalped by contractors. The tree loving homeowners continue in their effort to turn this still new garden into a feast for the eyes and soul. The front, somewhat formal garden, is overflowing with a variety of evergreen and deciduous trees. The back yard highlights several intimate seating areas, water features, and gardens for vegetables, fruit, herbs, and wildflowers.

The Mary Kistner Nature Center, 2689 Lenora Road, Snellville, GA 30078

This hidden gem of Gwinnett County on a 50-acre one-time farm owned by the Georgia Piedmont Land Trust (GPLT), a locally based conservation nonprofit, offers a unique learning opportunity. An informational tour will reveal garden design by a local well-known artist and nature enthusiast and will emphasize the value of selecting native plants and the effect of installing invasive nonnatives. Restoration and refocusing began in 2012 as a GCMGA grant project.

Genia’s Retreat, 1060 Windsor Place Circle, Grayson 30017

Over the past ten years, this low maintenance cluster home garden, which is also a Certified Wildlife Habitat, has become a delight for the homeowners and the wildlife. Whether following a day of gardening or a day at the office, it is relaxing to sit under the pergola and enjoy the backyard privacy this garden provides. It is just a wonderful place to read a good book, become inspired to plan the next garden project or just sit back and watch the wildlife frolic.

Pet Parties Farm, 1780 Bennett Road, SW, Grayson GA 30017

The Russell’s have turned their home into a wonderland for animal lovers. This Certified Wildlife Habitat resides next to two wildlife-attracting ponds in an informal garden setting. The four acre property has mature landscaping of tall, shady native oaks, dotted with an array of other sturdy drought tolerant plantings of trees and a wide variety of other colorful and attractive plants and flowers along with a haven for farm and pet animals.

Davidson Home, 2055 Tribble Walk Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30045

Georgia landscape architect, Jane Bath, designed the mostly sunny front landscape. An English cottage style garden follows the driveway then wraps around the side and rear of the house. The backyard, once a vine covered overgrown wooded area, is now a Certified Wildlife Habitat. Gravel pathways, vine and moss covered retaining walls and the two-tier, pondless waterfall provide areas for relaxing and enjoying nature.

As with gardening, photography takes time and practice to develop as an art. Creativity is required to get the perfect angle, portray the personality of a singular subject, and enhance a landscape scene.

Patience in waiting for the “perfect” nature shot is just the first of many aspects in achieving award-winning photographs. Framing the “star of the show” in an uncluttered background, taking advantage of natural light and reflections, and incorporating the surrounding environment are just a few of the technical skills used by our 2012 contest winners to tell their story.

The awards this year go to:

Garden: 1st Place – Pat Davidson, 2nd Place – John Davidson, 3rd Place – Margaret Bergeron, Honorable Mention – Payge Cox

Plants: 1st Place – Jane Burke, 2nd Place – Margaret Bergeron, 3rd Place – Payge Cox, Honorable Mention – Becky Panetta

Birds: 1st Place – Deborah Parks, 2nd Place – Payge Cox, 3rd Place – Becky Wolary, Honorable Mention – John Davidson 

Wildlife: 1st Place – Colleen Weinkle, 2nd Place – Payge Cox, 3rd Place – Chuck Wilkinson, Honorable Mention – Margaret Bergeron

Special thanks to Don Stewart for coordinating the contest and to Ken Ross of Kenneth Ross Photography for judging the entries.

If you would like to learn more about taking nature photography, join us for our Photography Workshop in May 2013.

1st Place – Garden

2nd Place – Garden

3rd Place – Garden

HM – Garden

1st Place – Plants

2nd Place – Plants

3rd Place – Plants

HM – Plants

1st Place – Birds

2nd Place – Birds

3rd Place – Birds

HM – Birds

1st Place – Wildlife

2nd Place – Wildlife

3rd Place – Wildlife

HM – Wildlife