The Garden Conservancy's Open Day - Ft Worth

Gardens

The Camilleri Garden 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
2749 6th Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76110
The Camilleri garden was inspired by the beauty of the Mediterranean along with the arid yet lush island of Gozo, the homeowner’s birthplace. The garden reflects the colors and textures of Gozo and incorporates these elements with Texas-friendly perennials. Needing a space to provide fun and entertainment for their three boys, as well as many large family get-togethers, the Camilleris designed the gardens to be both functional and pleasing to the eye by dividing the areas with iron fencing, lattice trellises, and stone pathways. A small vineyard was planted on the north side of the property to provide a hobby for the wine lovers as well as to serve as a reminder of the Old World. A small organic herb and vegetable garden is located just outside the kitchen door. Surrounding the swimming pool lays the focal point of the yard. A perennial garden cascades over a stone ledge of small waterfalls that trickle into the pool. The perennials mixed in with Texas grasses and cacti attract a multitude of butterflies and hummingbirds. Finally, at the back of the property is a stone pathway that leads to a shady garden that is another area of play for their boys, and provides a lush backdrop for their family room.

Directions: From I-30 take the Summit Avenue exit. Go south on Summit and go onto 8th Avenue. Turn left onto Elizabeth Boulevard. Go about three blocks and turn right onto 6th Avenue. Number 2749 is on left at corner of 6th Avenue and Cantey Street.
Carol & Jim Dunaway 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

The designated Historic Landmark house in the Rivercrest Addition was constructed in 1932 from the designs of famed architect Joseph R. Pelich. It was built on a bluff to capitalize on the views overlooking the banks of the west fork of the Trinity River. A welcoming circular driveway delivers a glimpse of the beauty of traditional English features and terraced gardens. The house reflects Tudor influences, relying on soft and natural tones provided by native limestone and indigenous sandstone. The combination of these materials, chosen for tranquil hues, offers a comfortable marriage of the English design element to the native Texas environment. While boxwood patterns and globes continue to reflect original English garden design, softer evergreens have worked their way through a mature canopy to divide lawns and frame the vistas creating a pleasant relationship of nature and formality. Viburnums, magnolias, and groundcovers were chosen for their shade tolerance and dependability to maintain the evergreen backbone during winter months. Crape myrtles and Japanese maples provide strength, sculptural interest, and color in the under canopy along with annual, seasonal color. The gardens honor the natural challenges of the quick changes in elevation, yet preserve the formal patterns of the site. Elaborate terraces and expansive gardens anchor the house to the property.
Directions: At the request of the garden host, directions to this garden are only available in The Garden Conservancy's Open Days Directory or at the lead garden on the day of the tour.
Hallman Garden 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

The architecture of our house, built in 1936, has features similar to Edwin Lutyens’ English country houses. We love the beautiful old trees surrounding the house, especially the live oaks and a huge magnolia. After living here ten years, we undertook a major garden renovation. Our plan was to add features appropriate to the style and age of the house, filled with plants proven to thrive in Texas. The main work was completed in late 2009. My daughter was married in the garden last March, which is the reason for the many white-blooming shrubs, trees, perennials, and bulbs. More colorful plantings are in the far northern area, around an elliptical lawn. The new garden features include: a cottage garden and birdfeeder area surrounding the side entry and breakfast room, a sunken knot garden with mixed perennials and roses, two large bird topiaries (a special bit of garden whimsy!), an allée of Savannah holly trees, a lily pond with koi and goldfish, an overlook pavilion leading to a shady creek bed, and a dry stacked stone wall that encloses an orchard of Mexican plum trees. The meandering stone wall is one of our favorite things. The back of the property drops off to a rocky, steep, and wildly overgrown hillside—providing a good spot for birdwatching. My garden is a joy to me every day. I call it “My New Old Garden.” I hope you enjoy your visit here.
Directions: At the request of the garden host, directions to this garden are only available in The Garden Conservancy's Open Days Directory or at the lead garden on the day of the tour.
Holmes-Baker-Rojas Gardens 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
2806 6th Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76110
In 1980, home owner Jack T. Holmes and his gardener, Anastacio Rojas joined forces to create a formal type English garden behind his 1920s Italianate-style house, leading to a secret Japanese garden separated by a wooden fence. The main garden was sectioned into blocks of brick and cinder paths outlined by boxwood, ivy, ornamental grasses, and jasmine, all shaded by a massive pecan tree canopy. The Japanese garden boasted brick paths with various designs of stones and ornamental grasses indicating water beneath a raised wooden bridge, now long decayed and removed. A pagoda-style tea house (original to the house), sits among camellias, wood fern, roses, iris, pecan trees, pine, and assorted volunteer specimen trees and plants punctuated with various Asian and modern sculptures and a huge antique Chinese bell. In 2001, Kipp and Bonnie Baker, purchased the house from the Holmes, (Bonnie’s aunt and uncle), and revitalized the gardens with assorted annuals, columbine, hydrangea, a double helix design of hawthorn and nandina around three Japanese maple, a pink magnolia tree encircled by Knock Out ® roses, and an arbor covered with orange trumpet vine. Master gardener, Anastacio Rojas has remained with the family, continuing to care for and update the grounds as he has done for more than thirty years. The result is a joined effort of design, sculpture, and seasonal color that will please garden lovers for years to come.
Directions: From I-30, take the Summit Avenue exit. Go south on Summit Avenue and go to 8th Avenue. Turn left onto Elizabeth Boulevard (stone gates). Turn right onto 6th Avenue and go to #2806.
My Sanctuary 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
5412 El Campo Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76107
This hidden sanctuary is the canvas for a painting of my plants and treasures in an elegant style. Special memories of loved ones are triggered by artifacts and rescued treasures tucked into the landscape. Flowers—a combination of Texas friendly perennials, annuals for a splash of color, and pass-along plants from friends—attract butterflies, bees, and birds into a tiny enclave. A fascinating path makes creative use of a narrow passage to the back garden, where strategies to maximize a miniature space have succeeded in creating a year-round haven. With the sound of running water and a surprise at every glance, a walk through this distinctive gem is a fascinating journey of beauty and discovery offering a peaceful sanctuary for all who enter.
Directions: From I-30, take the Camp Bowie Boulevard/Horne Street Exit. Take Frontage Road to Horne Street. Turn north and go three blocks to El Campo Avenue. Turn right and go to #5412

From Camp Bowie Boulevard, turn north onto Merrick Street and then left onto El Campo Avenue. Go to #5412. MAPSCO 75E.
McLean-Williams & Italian Villa Garden 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

The McLean-Williams Garden has a “lawn” of Texas Gulf muhly grass. The front patio walls are covered with 'Lady Banks' roses and a charming small back garden is filled with Texas natives. Along the side of the house is a row of Eve’s necklace trees. Designed by Carlisle Becker and implemented by Fowlks & Norman, this unusual landscape,surrounding very contempory architecture, is worth a visit. The Italian Villa Garden has no lawn. The front garden is filled with manicured hedges of Indian hawthorne, hollies, yaupon, and jasmine. A charming patio garden in the back is surrounded by Italian cypress. Roses, plumbago, pintas, ruellia, mandivillas, and moss fill small garden areas as well as large pots of bougainvilla (some more than thirty years old). This leads to an arbor covered with cross vine and wisteria, a peaceful year-round retreat. There will be one $5 admission fee for both these properties.

Directions: At the request of the garden hosts, directions to these gardens are only available in The Garden Conservancy's Open Days Directory or at the lead garden on the day of the tour.