Secret Garden Tour Part Two

We had a few really nice sun-shiny, warmer days this past week,

and the weather promises to be beautiful Saturday and Sunday,

...which has me itching for Spring!

Can't wait to get my hands in the dirt,

and fill the container gardens around my home with fresh, pretty, blooming annuals.

Right now, I'd settle for the sweet yellow heads of fragrant daffodils,

that signal the season is right around the corner and headed to the South.

They seem to be running a little late this year!

I hope the little bulbs haven't rotted in the ground, with all the rain we've had this winter.

Last Fall, I went on The Secret Garden Tour in Historical Downtown Wilmington, NC.

I shared Part One of the Tour in this {POST}.

The Secret Garden Tour, presented by The Lower Cape Fear Historical Society,

featured the gardens of thirteen different locations, including six private residences.

All the homes, such as the one on Park Avenue, below, 

were pure delight to tour while leisurely strolling over the beautifully landscaped lawns.

The neat, pretty beds were filled with beautiful plants,

 combined with unique, and often whimsical elements.

When I downloaded my pictures to my computer, the order was scrambled.

The following pictures are in no particular order or grouping.

The dragonfly design embedded in the dirt path was nice surprise.

And what a lovely custom step of dragonflies. 

Pretty inspiring, huh?

I have one more grouping of pictures to share from the tour

featuring architectural garden pieces incorporated in the gardens, 

such as concrete statues, planters, and gates.

...and the grounds surrounding the shop of a HGTV Star that has recently hung 

their shingle in Wilmington, NC.

So, stay tuned for Part Three of The Secret Garden Tour!

Hope you have a great weekend!

I plan to energize my soul by replanting at least one planter for my front porch!

Happy, happy, happy me!  :)

~Rhonda

________________________

Sharing Post At:
The Charm of Home - Home Sweet Home
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating - Flaunt It Friday
How Sweet The Sound - Anything Goes Pink Saturday
Our Southern Home - Inspiration Monday
Between Naps on the Porch - Met Monday
The Dedicated House - Make It Pretty Monday
Our Home Away From Home - Tuesdays at Our Home
Savvy Southern Style - Wow Us Wednesday 
DIY By Design - Winter Blues Wednesday
Sadie Seasongoods - Talk of the Town
Currently, Kelsie - The Alder Collective
Poofing the Pillows - Thinking of Home On Thursday
Ms Toody Goo Shoes - Best of the Weekend

House on Cape Fear - Secret Garden Tour Part One

Fall seems an odd time to take a tour of gardens, don't you think?
But The Secret Garden Tour, hosted by the Lower Cape Fear Historical Society,
around historical downtown Wilmington, NC, did not disappoint!
It was wonderful!

The tour showcased the gardens of 10 private homes and 3 community ones.
I'll be sharing pictures from the tour in three parts... there was that much inspiration!

The Cameron-Hollman House, (currently owned by Mike McCarley),
 and it's majestic garden will be our starting point for the posts.

The Cameron-Hollman House was built in 1790, by Capt. George Cameron.
In 1973, the Federal style home, with Victorian accents, was moved
directly across the street to it's riverfront location, by the Historic Wilmington Foundation.





The home sits high on a hill, overlooking the Cape Fear River,
at the base of the monstrous Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.

The thundering clatter of traffic resounding from the metal grates on the bridge
 would seemingly make this a terrible place to reside, but the noise was oddly therapeutic!

The landscape of the garden flows effortlessly across a slope down to the river.

I saw the metal bird bath statue, below, and one very similar at another home.
Wondered if there was any significance, and the history behind the two.

Beautiful, unique piece!

The garden was once the site of the old Tidewater Power Plant,
and some of the remnants from the plant are still visible.

I hope you'll return for the next two parts of
The Secret Garden Tour, which I'll share over the next few weeks.
Still lots of wonderful, delightful sights to see!

~Rhonda :)


__________________________

Sharing Post At:
Coastal Charm - Show & Share
Cozy Little House - Tweak it Tuesday
Confessions of a Plate Addict - The Scoop
Our Home Away From Home - Tuesdays at Our Home
The Dedicated House - Make it Pretty Monday
CD's Country Living - Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop
Savvy Southern Style - WOW Us Wednesday
DIY By Design - Fall Into Fall
Harmony and Happiness - The Alder Collective
A Delightsome Life - Home & Garden Thursday
From My Front Porch To Yours - Treasure Hunt Thursday
The Charm of Home - Home Sweet Home
Rattlebridge Farm - Foodie Friday & Everything Else
AKA Design - Weekend Retreat Link Party
Chic on a Shoestring - Flaunt It Friday
24 Cottonwood Lane - Best of the Weekend
How Sweet The Sound - Anything Goes Pink Saturday

"Southern Charm in Full Bloom" ~ A Garden Tour

"Southern Charm in Full Bloom..."

That was the tag line of this past year's 

 2015 North Carolina Azalea Festival,  in Wilmington, NC.

The 68th annual festival was established in 1948.

My love for flowers is rich, and deeply rooted in my

tree of genealogy, on both sides!

My mom and I look forward to the Garden Tour part of the
Azalea Festival each year,
hosted by the Cape Fear Garden Club.

This year did not disappoint, 

it was truly "southern charm in full bloom!"

The tour consists of 13 gardens throughout the city

and neighboring Wrightsville Beach.

  

I love seeing the creativity of the gardeners,

such as repurposing an old livestock watering tub

into an unique planter!

Various foliage planted in trees...

...and flowering annuals in tree stumps were quite fascinating! 

 

The gardens of several homes in nearby proximity

were grouped together this year.

It was nice to be able to park and walk to see two or three,

and not have to drive to each one. 

This also allowed for more time in the gardens if you were trying to see them

all in one afternoon, great for out-of-towners!

I just adore these pretty planters...

Azalea Belles were a welcoming sight at each garden.  

Azalea Belles are Junior and Senior High School ladies primarily

from New Hanover County.

Some of the gardens surrounded homes in the historic district

in picturesque downtown Wilmington. 

Many of the homeowners decorated the outside living areas also.

Couldn't you see yourself relaxing in the afternoon

 with a large glass of sweet tea or refreshing lemonade and a good book,

...or enjoying a cup of java

 over the local newspaper in the early morning?

...I sure could! 

Sweet impatiens tucked in palm tree trunks...

The potting shed, sporting a pretty red door,
was a charming oasis inside.

With old vintage furniture scattered amongst
 flowering orchids, soil, stacked pots, and gardening implements,
it was sure to double as a peaceful retreat!

What garden tour wouldn't be complete without a bed of flowers,
...and a fairy garden...

 The Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Garden Tour,
along with over 50 other events

that make up the state's largest festival of it's kind,

The NC Azalea Festival, will be held April 8-10, next year.

Just maybe I'll see you along the tour trail next year...

~Rhonda

Linking Post To:
DIY By Design - Sizzle Into Summer Party
Savvy Southern Style - Wow Us Wednesday
Common Ground - Share Your Style #22
French Country Cottage - Feathered Nest Friday
Rattlebridge Farm - Foodie Friday and Everything Else
Coastal Charm - Show and Share No. 271
Our Home Away From Home - Tuesday at our Home
Cozy Little House - Tweak it Tuesday