The inaugural Celebration Garden Tour in Sandy Springs, GA will be hosted by the North Fulton Master Gardeners on June 3, 2023. Ticket holders will enjoy access to five glorious Southern gardens near Chastain Park. We invite you to come see the handiwork of five of our Fulton County Master Gardeners. These are truly fabulous gardens, which will be complemented by musicians and plein air artists.
The tour runs from 10 am to 4 pm, rain or shine. The gardens are not wheelchair or stroller-accessible, and paths are uneven. Please wear sturdy shoes. Photography is permitted for personal use and enjoyment.
Tickets may be purchased for $22 for adults, including taxes and credit card/Eventbrite fees. Children under 18 years of age are free. Purchase tickets at https://bit.ly/GardenTour2023. If still available, tickets may be purchased on-site on June 3rd for $25 per ticket.
The five gardens can be visited in any order between the hours of 10 am to 4 pm. You can begin your tour at any of the gardens. Master Gardener Extension Volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and highlight areas of interest in each garden.
Descriptions of the Gardens- Downloadable brochure with descriptions of gardens
Neo-classical Southern Garden
5026 Green Pine Drive, ATL 30342
A beautiful Bloodgood maple and a smoke tree lead up to the front door along with deodar cedars, rhododendron, and viburnum. Camellias are nestled beneath the magnolias. Ferns, highlighted by large rocks, grow under the Hinoki false cypress. This Master Gardener has a collection of whimsical birdhouses placed among the trees.
Containers hold bird of paradise plants at the main entrance. Confederate jasmine drapes the walls on the front, while a camellia climbs an adjacent wall. On the wall enclosing the small garden space is another camellia setting off a weeping katsura with climbing hydrangea petiolaris draping over the door to the house. Another charming feature is a collection of small stone houses.
A view of the rear of the house features crepe myrtles and Coral Bark Japanese maples along the end of the brick wall flanked by boxwoods. Hosta and astilbe cover the foreground in this vista accented by a pot of miniature mouse ear hostas. Two Japanese maples flank the pool spa, while palms, agave, ajuga, and a Harry Lauder’s walking stick plant occupy containers.
Sculptures in the gardens of a mid-century modern
5225 Long Island Dr, ATL 30327
This Master Gardener’s house and multiple garden areas are designed to showcase art. Near the entrance is a silver sculpture, fig tree and a Richard Jakobus family memorial bench, plus a blue wave sculpture. Further on are a David Borgerding bronze sculpture, Peace Rising, and a sculpture by Kevin & Jennifer Box from the “Origami in the Garden” exhibit at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
The flora includes redbud trees, Carolina jessamine, deodar cedar, and sweet bay magnolia. Also, a 70-year-old ginkgo tree and a 70-year-old ficus tree grace the grounds.
A koi pond containing Fat Albert, a Koi inherited with the house over 26 years ago, and a Zen Garden with climbing hydrangeas covering the wall complement the garden.
Nearby is a birdhouse village and a vegetable garden with raised beds filled with trailing vegetables such as squash, zucchini, and cucumbers watered by drip irrigation.
Past the vegetable garden lies the pool area containing a Lin Emery sculpture.
Charming container garden
5315 N. Powers Ferry Road, ATL 30327
This garden emphasizes containers to maximize the variety available every season. This Master Gardener has grown many of the plants in the garden from seed or seedling, and he will be available during the tour to discuss his propagation methods.
Hollies, crepe myrtles, camellias, and golden mound spirea are featured. Containers of double white gardenias with a tremendous river birch to the right flank the gates. The gardens contain a prized crown of thorns, a yellow angel trumpet from Oakland Cemetery, and a plum yew.
A seating area is set off by sky pencil hollies fronted by pots of variegated ivy with a baker’s rack holding a collection of succulents. Other special plants include an upside-down fern.
Across from the terrace is a sculpture flanked by rhododendrons. A Ficus Alii sits in a large container on the lower patio along with Meyer lemon. A prized Southeastern Flower Show camellia and Carolina jessamine reside near the pool. Shade plants include new guinea impatiens, sky pencil holly, angel wing begonias, and a large bird’s nest fern.
Secluded oasis
This is an all-inclusive garden containing many delights. Beyond the hedge is a large lawn specially planned for the Master Gardener’s daughter’s soccer and softball. There is a charming guest house, pergola, and terrace for entertaining family and friends.
This Master Gardener is growing fatsia, japonica camellias, and boxwoods. Two beautiful Japanese maples grace the front garden. The pool area is accented with annual plants in containers for color and two crepe myrtles flank the entry to an adjacent lawn. The arbor at the rear of the house supports a new dawn rose. Legacy lilies moved from her grandmother’s various homes and ginger lilies are favorites.
This Master Gardener’s family enjoys the produce from the raised vegetable beds and the perennial garden. The stunning tone-rimmed vegetable beds produce lots of arugula, zucchini, Italian green beans, and various herbs. The perennial garden features peonies of every variety and color—some new and some old, as well as roses, hydrangeas, fatsia, and gooseneck loosestrife which pops up regularly.
Generational homage
This garden was inspired by the Master Gardener’s parents who worked the land and gardened at Sawnee Farms in Cumming. Many of the plants, shrubs and trees were transplanted from the family farm.
The gardens, however, showcase Southern legacy plants and flowers such as large azaleas, kousa dogwood, a Bloodgood Japanese maple, boxwoods, large camellias, and peonies. Plants that dominate in each garden area include abelia, strawberry begonia, epimedium, and pittosporum.
With a nod towards exotic plants, the gardens have Shishigashira maple and mondo grass, Japanese maple, and potted sunshine ligustrum.
This well-articulated setting includes both a cutting garden and a formal garden showcasing more ligustrum, and oak leaf hydrangeas set before a collection of camellias. A goldfish pond centers the formal garden. Also attracting attention is a Harry Lauder’s walking stick tree.
We appreciate our Garden Tour Sponsors!
We would like to thank our amazing supporters for being a special part of this inaugural event.
Gold Sponsors
- Barnes Young Realty Team / Solidarity Sandy Springs
- City Turf
- K Shank Designs Hardscapes
- Look Out Lavender
Silver Sponsors
We also want to thank our talented plein air artists and musicians who are contributing to this special day.
About the North Fulton Master Gardeners
North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Extension Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension.
Proceeds from the Celebration Garden Tour support gardening education for young children; scholarships for horticulture students; community gardening education classes in North Fulton and beyond; and local demonstration gardens maintained by the North Fulton Master Gardeners.
This post has been contributed by a third party. The opinions, facts and any media content are presented solely by the author, and Atlanta Jewish Connector assumes no responsibility for them. Want to add your voice to the conversation? Publish your own post here.
