THE SECRET GARDENS

OF AMHERST VILLAGE 2004

Thanks to all who made it a success!

PRESS RELEASE: January 2004

The Amherst Garden Club invites you to experience the magic of Historic Amherst Village, with a rare glimpse into many of its private gardens. On July 10, 2004 from 10 am to 4 pm, eight of the villages finest gardens will be open for viewing as well as civic gardens. Tickets will be $15.00, an optional gourmet lunch may be ordered when you purchase your tour tickets for $12.00. At the luncheon site will be artist displays and venders with garden oriented booths. This is not to be confused with the Garden Boutique which will be set up on the tour route at the home of Kathy Pasqualoni.

As in the past we have tried to select gardens that have different themes, a little something for all gardeners. The formal write ups for the tour program are still in the works, but here is a brief accounting of the locations. The description of plant materials will be in your programs, to be picked up at the tour. We are planning to label many of the plants in each garden, as well as trees and shrubs. We found in 2001 that many of you gardeners were men who liked to talk about the bigger items like trees, shrubs, hardscapes and lawns. Jack Gleason, a Tree Steward, will be available at the Education tent to answer question and hand out info on pruning trees and shrubs. Master Gardeners Joan Pushee, Jan Brown and Martha Coutts-Eisenberg will also be available to answer questions

Here are the gardens, we hope you will join us for this fun walking garden tour. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and while you will walk at your own pace, it will be a good 4 hours of walking. Plan to stop and enjoy our lunch (order with tour ticket), Vendors and Gardener's Boutique along the way.

Keith Gardens: Wonderful, neat gardens set under large trees surrounding the property. A delightful "postage stamp size veggie garden" and inviting patio area.

Ramsay Gardens: This is one of two gardens that are repeats from the 2001 tour. A lovely maintained Greek Revival style house with a delightful yard for family and gardens. They developed their gardens to reflect quiet seclusion and restfulness, and contain two mediation circles and a number of granite benches. A favorite of many from the 2001 tour.

Blanz-Mayo Gardens: This is also a repeat from the 2001 tour and also a favorite with its cottage garden style. Stone paths lead you around this garden jock full of flowering plants. This garden will be the educational garden on the tour with many plants identified with pertinent information. Also see photos of what you have missed because it has already bloomed!! There will be a booth manned by our master gardeners for your gardening questions, as well as a Tree Steward.

Brown Gardens: You will love walking around this property, large in size for the village. It accommodate shade gardens, full sun gardens and a vegetable garden, rumored to be the home of Peter Rabbit!! A wonderful selection of shade perennials, the keeper of this garden looks for color and texture of her plant selections.

Butler Gardens: Located on a busy village corner but you'll never know it . A very tranquil yard with old, well established shrubs and plantings. A colorful garden in the back is home to a small Budda statue, that loves all the garden activity.

Davis Garden: This is a long narrow yard that recently was landscaped by Mixed Borders of Hollis, NH. The owners of the gardens are both busy lawyers, but longed for a yard they could relax in during the summer months and simply enjoy their surroundings. It is low maintenance, with a lovely interesting selection of plant material (all identified) and straight angled edged. Anyone can have a lovely yard, you don't need to have a green thumb or feel like a slave to your yard.

Veillette Gardens: While the Pierce house is one of Amherst's most famous, the new owners have in the past five years re done the landscaping and gardens surrounding the property. You will see everything from herbs, perennials and ground covers along these borders. Fruit trees and hydrangea trees where also recently planted.

Maniglia Gardens: You won't want to miss this yard- the gardens are full of different plant material and the water gardens are so delightful. Full of fish, if the raccoons don't clean them out!! Several little garden areas make up this rather small lot, chock full of life!

TICKETS:

Entry into the Secret Gardens of Amherst Village will be $15.00. Tour tickets may be purchased in advance or the day of the event if tickets are still available. The ticket booth will be on Middle Street at the luncheon tent site. The Garden Lunch is $12.00 and reservation must be made in advance. Tickets go on sale April 1st.

For additional information please call Tibby Coffee at

603-673-3747.

To write for info: P.O. Box 694, Amherst, NH 03031.

WE WILL CUT OFF TICKET SALES AT 800, so purchase your tickets early.

If you have questions or need more info you could e-mail Marti Warren at martiwarren@adelphia.net

Photos at left from 2001 tour: by M. Warren