Historical Fall 2006 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
This year the Breakfast Garden Tour focused on a stretch of the neighborhood which has been going through many changes. First on the tour was the large common space shared by the Craig and Orion buildings on 5900 McPherson. About thirty years ago, members of the Grace and Peace Fellowship moved into and rehabbed two sixfamily buildings “with the intention of being good Christian neighbors and part of the stabilizing force of the neighborhood.” They shared lives and meals together five times a week, then in later years, once each week.
They also shared their yards.
Now their mission is coming to an end.
The neighborhood and these buildings have survived, while some nearby buildings have fallen. Rough times have come and gone.
The Craig Building is ‘going condo’ and its residents are moving on. “Bittersweet,” says Melody Burke, manager of the Craig. “If only you could make a tree talk and say what it has seen.” Eileen O’Gorman, who is also moving, but staying in the Skinker-DeBaliviere Neighborhood, cared for the front gardens which were well shown at the Garden Tour. Other sites included the 5700 DeGiverville garden of Luella Washington, who has been a resident for 42 years.
The pin oak tree was a seedling planted on a long-ago Earth Day. “I just love the oak tree and the way it is growing,” says Mrs. Washington. Newer neighbors Dan and Ann Marie Lodholtz are creating a stone oven in their yard. Glori L’Ecuyer’s yard has been changing from shade into full sun on one side, while the sunny side has become shady. Scott Plonsky’s ‘volunteer’ flowers came from the annual plant exchange day.
Some old, some new, and some transition gardens help reflect the history and changing times in our neighborhood.
The Tour wrapped up at the 5700 DeGiverville culde-sac, where new plantings are occurring and many big changes are in full swing with the MetroLink construction.
This year, the tour had a second theme, with puzzle pieces to pick up at each garden.
The pieces had facts about butterflies on one side and the other side created an artwork of a butterfly.
When tourgoers reached the end of the tour, they received a coloring book with faces and drawings of butterflies found in our neighborhood. Thank you to all who participated.
We are looking forward to discovering more neighborhood treasures next June.
Original photograph caption
Glori L’Ecuyer with a pair of beautiful grandchildren, Sophia and Arabella.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, Fall 2006.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2006_09.pdf, printed page(s) 5; PDF page(s) 5.
