Date & Time
"Beloved, thou hast brought me many flowers."
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
May 15, 2021, 10 am to 4 pm
Rain or Shine
"...and tell thy soul, their roots are left in mine."
Twelve Gardens
We have all been sheltered for many months. This May will be a month of rebirth. The HGC has planned a delightful tour, which will allow you to view 12 lovely gardens; each with its own charm, whimsy, and romance. Visitors will learn much from these 12 gardens. We have 6 gardens from the Forest Ridge Subdivision where these smaller gardens show, in many forms, how to create a new garden, add whimsy, and create their own distinctive spirit and charm. They are easily accessed by simply parking on a side street and walking to them, as they are all within easy walking range of each other. These six gardens are owned by Penny Rand, Nichole & Jerel Ware, Lily & John Gillmor, Beverly & John DeMao, Julie & Glenn Weatherley and Joanne & Stewart Farber.
There are two gardens next to each other in the Historic Hillsborough section of town. These are of medium size which will enchant you, and draw you to them as they are nestled quietly behind their lovely homes, and the visitor must discover them. They have mature shrubs, trees and lovely paths, and wonderful host of architectural features that will draw you to them. They are both romantic beauties. These two gardens are owned by Ann & Charles Burton and Frances & Bill Harris. There is very easy parking on the street for attendees.
There are four large gardens which are a true delight and treat. These gardens are owned by Alice & Joe Moore, Dolly & Jack Hunnell, Hollis & Reynald Chatelain and Peregrine & Harry Kavros. As you meander socially distanced, you will discover their distinctness and charm. You will look up at their surrounding mature trees and shrubs which bring much grounding and awe, and allow the visitor to imagine what time was like 150+ years ago.
Our delightful gardens will have a lovely array of Spring flowers and flowering shrubs to enchant you. We encourage you to take pictures, smile, laugh, and chortle as Elizabeth Barrett Browning would have done secretly beneath her handkerchief, and most importantly: -- to allow yourself to breathe out…
Ticket Sales
Tour tickets are $30 until April 30th and can be purchased at our online shop. Tickets purchased May 1st until the day of the event will be $35.
Ticket holders and those purchasing tickets (by cash or check) will go to our Tour Pickup Spot which will be in the driveway of a private home just off of Churton St in downtown Hillsborough. The Tour Pickup Spot address is for a private home at 404 N Churton St in Hillsborough, but the driveway is off of East Union Street. At the Tour Pickup Spot guests will receive their event wristband and the tour guide booklet with a map to and a description of each garden. The event wristbands are your admittance to the gardens on the tour. The hours for the Tour Pickup Spot are Saturday, May 8, from 10-4; Friday, May 14, from 10-4; and on the day of the event, Saturday, May 15, from 8-3.
Garden Tour t-shirts, bluebird houses, garden gloves and seeds will also be available for purchase at the Tour Pickup Spot! We will also have information tables from the Orange County Historical Museum, the Orange County Master Gardener Volunteers, the Orange County Beekeepers Association selling pollinator plants, and Bailey Bee Supply selling honey at the Tour Pickup Spot on May 15th only. You can buy tickets, t-shirts and bluebird
houses now at our online shop.
Antonia's and Nomad, two restaurants in downtown Hillsborough, will be offering $10 box lunches to go on the day of the tour!!! Antonia's is offering a Penne pasta, grilled chicken, peas and mushrooms tossed in a garlic cream sauce. Nomad is offering two $10 choices, a Veg Sample with Korean Veggie Dumplings, Red Thai Cauliflower and Vegetable Samosa OR a Nomad Sample with Chicken Pakora, Mini Gamja Dog and Vegetable Samosa. Call the restaurants to reserve your lunch!
Sponsorships
We have several levels of sponsorships named for some of our favorite pollinator plants. Which level of sponsor will you ? (see that tie in with our pollinator plants?) Visit our sponsorship page to see the list of generous sponsors.
T-shirts
T-shirt colors are lavender or gray. Sizes are adult small to 2xl. The t-shirts are $20. You can purchase your t-shirts online here. Our tour logo is on the front and the top sponsors are listed on the back of the shirt. The t-shirts are 100% preshrunk cotton. You can reserve yours here and pick it up when you pick up your ticket. T-shirts are not shipped.
You will notice artists painting in some of the gardens on the tour. You
can see and buy their art at May's Last Friday Art Walk on May 28th from 6-9 pm at C3 Hillsborough, located downtown at 128 N Churton Street. The paintings will be on display at C3 Hillsborough from May 24th through June 18th. The artists will receive 100% from the sale of their work. Thank you C3 Hillsborough for being a sponsor for the 2021 Garden Tour.
Dedication, written by Penny Rand
We are dedicating our tour to Sue Harris (1952-2020), our former Club president, very dear friend, and fellow gardener.
I remember the day Sue joined the garden club. I knew she would be a wonderful member and contributor to our club. I watcher her very animated face, seeing her smiling, shaking hands, and greeting people; telling them she was so happy to be a member of the club. She had this dazzling smile, so much warmth and great humor about her. She always saw the good in people and always stepped-up to volunteer even though her plate was quite full.
Sue was a consummate pollinator gardener. She lovingly created stunning, extensive gardens at her home in Hillsborough which captivated the hearts of the hundreds of people who visited it. She was always adding, moving plants around and enlarging it. She worked in her garden until she could no longer get about. Even during her chemo treatments, she helped to design the downtown planters, and then helped to plant them. She continued to help the garden club with meetings, giving a presentation on Creating with Found Objects. She never stopped helping. Sue greatly inspired me and many others who knew her. She was such a huge supporter of our garden club. Her spirit and gusto brought out the best in others. She made people happy, and made them laugh.
I can still see the twinkle in your eyes, Sue. Thank you Sue for adding so much to the Hillsborough Garden Club. You are sadly missed, but you will never be forgotten.