Annual garedn tour shares homeowners’ creativity

Special to the Green Valley News

SEE A SLIDESHOW: www.gvnews.com/gallery

Some homes have tiny gardens, others sit amid large spaces. Smaller yards at newer homes provide unique landscaping challenges while older homes may have larger yards with challenges of their own.

Celebrating the diversity of gardens in the area, The Green Valley Gardeners present The Annual Green Valley Garden Tour on April 11. For the first time, all properties are close to the far north shopping area. This year, five gardens may be toured, three with an acre or more, and located in the Valle Verde Del Norte neighborhood. The other two, with smaller spaces, are in the La Joya Verde development.

Feel of Old Mexico

The first garden is owned by a young couple who have spent hours updating their large home as well as renovating the garden space. Julie Rowe is rightfully proud of the “copper penny” paint color chosen for her formerly all-white ranch house. The front courtyard is reminiscent of old Mexico, with its large splashing fountain buried in colorful flowers.

Husband Steve can tell you how many tons of new gravel he moved, one wheelbarrow at a time, around the grounds. Although still in the workforce and often traveling internationally, this couple has been motivated to find time and energy to beautify their space.

Formerly surrounding the sprawling house was mostly creosote forest. Now, many old-growth native mesquites, cholla, prickly pear and creosote remain, along with new cacti, agave and desert willows. This property is a combination of an “old west” ranch and a stylish, modern homestead of today.

Creativity and comfort

Just two doors away, the garden of Chuck and Dana Parsons is an example of what creativity and recyclables can do to liven up a space in only a bit over three years. This garden is really two gardens: one of winding paths through real desert and the other a sophisticated patio and pool, perfect for upscale entertaining.

These homeowners have created colorful surprises around every bend on their desert paths, including artwork made from old concrete pieces, found tile, used furniture and lots of bright paint. Under a picturesque old mesquite tree hangs a large hammock, beside which are two smaller “doggie beds” for poodles Maggie and Kiwi. Touches like this show that these homeowners have put much thought and energy into their space.

Inside a brick wall is another world, this one more Mediterranean in mood. Centering the rosey brick patio is a beautiful pool. Here Chuck, a Master Gardener, has rose bushes, palm trees, pyracantha, oleander, nandina, a large African sumac shade tree, herbs, bloom-filled containers, and a seasonal vegetable garden.

An architect’s touch

A block north is the beautiful garden of Sherrie and Hershel McGriff. Sherrie is an architect and the curved lines and grace of this property show her specialty. She has chosen a landscape design to provide outdoor views from the living areas within the home.

Around this interesting property, a number of large mineral-filled boulders catch the eye, while areas of green groundcover and turf grass islands lend a softness. Manicured paths lead around the home to a desert view of old native mesquite trees lining a large arroyo. Inside the rear patio wall are a sparkling outdoor kitchen, peaceful patio, bright container plants and welcoming pool. Like the other two large properties, this one demonstrates both the natural desert and the carefully planned entertainment area near the home.

A tough piece of land

Welcomed by a native blue palo verde tree, entry to the property of Jack and Pat Ferderer leads into a shady front patio. A perfect spot for late-day gatherings, the quiet area includes barbecue and a picturesque tiled bar. This uniquely shaped lot presented challenges for the homeowners. Folks with pie-shaped lots may want to take a close look at this site.

The backyard focal point at this site is a large waterfall with a fish pond surrounded by small palms, ornamental grasses and rosemary mounds. The biggest challenge has been to keep the visiting blue heron away from the fish. Water-loving plants creating hiding places for the koi seem to be the best solution so far.

Moving here from the Seattle area less than three years ago, the Ferderers say they are still learning about desert gardening. However, the back yard with its healthy Cleveland sage, Texas rangers, and pineapple guava trees appears to be an example of good gardening on a difficult lot.

Small space, big results

The garden of former Master Gardener Rod Stebbins and wife, Dolores, shows how many choices are available for a small space. This lot was bare four years ago when they moved in, and now shows how lush and cozy a small lot can become.

The entry and front courtyard have only native and desert-adapted plants. There are huge Baja fairy dusters, a desert willow tree, agaves, various cacti, and red-flowered salvia in the front yard. The courtyard is shaded by a South American mesquite tree, and is spiced by colorful planted containers.

Interestingly, the open area on the side of the courtyard is actually common area that has been supplementally planted and maintained by the homeowner. The tiny but lush backyard speaks for itself with its trees, trellises, vines, patio, plant-filled containers and sparkling water feature. This is such a peaceful green place, visitors won’t want to leave!

Artists take to the garden

For the first time this year, a local group of plein air artists have been invited to paint in the gardens. It will be an opportunity to view these special places through the eyes of artists, who will be happy to share their thoughts about painting outdoors and explain how they see and work with color.

During this tour, there should be something of personal interest for everyone. From the ranchhouse to suburbia, lots of landscaping ideas are demonstrated in these unique gardens. The tour’s purpose is to promote a fuller appreciation of the benefits and joys of working in the garden.

All proceeds from the Annual Garden Tour and Fair go to support The Arid Garden, Southeastern Arizona’s largest, free demonstration garden; public weekly gardening seminars; the Allen J. Ogden Community Garden; and sponsorship of the Median Green project.

Mary Kidnocker is a Master Gardener who frequently writes about the subject from a local perspective. Her columns are featured each Sunday.

If you go

What: Annual Green Valley Garden Tour

When: Saturday, April 11, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Five homes in Duval Mine Road area by the shopping district.

Tickets: In advance: $10 each, available at Gift & Gab, Native Hands, Meredith’s Hallmark, the Green Valley Sahuarita Chamber of Commerce, The Crowes Nest of Tubac, or from any Green Valley Gardeners member. Day of tour: Available at East Social Center.

Spring Garden Fair

Featuring food, crafts, gardening advice and more; runs the same hours as the tour at East Social Center, Abrego Road and Esperanza Boulevard. (See story.)

Go online

See a slide show of the featured homes at www.gvnews.com/gallery/

Spring Fair adds more fun to home tour

The Spring Garden Fair of 2004 was planned to augment the Green Valley Gardeners Annual Garden Tour. The thinking was that Tour attendees might enjoy lunch and shopping after the Tour ... and needless to say it was so successful that its 5th anniversary is here.

East Social Center will be filled with merchants and vendors offering plants, ceramics by Brynildsen and Garrison, jewelry by Brodie and Fran King, greeting cards, gourd art, photo art, quirky creatures, stitchery, colorful hats, bags and bandanas. Hector de la Rosa will be on hand with fresh vegetables and fruits.

Master Gardeners will be on hand to give gardening advice, water-wise suggestions and hand-outs covering a multitude of gardening problems. They will also be selling garden probes and cookbooks. The folks driving the “Median Green” campaign to green-up our roads will also be on hand to explain their program.

For lunch, try a real cook-out with bratwurst, hot dogs and special “Chicago hot dogs.” A free soda comes with each Tour ticket, along with a free ticket to drop in the door prize bin for a chance to win a Fukushu Kumquat tree ($85 value).

Vendors will be set up from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. The winning door-prize ticket will be announced at 3 p.m. by Peggy Cederstrom, fair chairman.

— Bettye Jo Preis