Historical September–October 2013 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The 2013 Breakfast Garden Tour explored a section of Skinker DeBaliviere where new construction, rehab, and new energy abound.
Most of the yards and green spaces are only a few years old and gardeners have faced a few challenges to make things grow. At each yard, tour goers received a fresh sprig of herbs. At the end of the tour, at the cul-de-sac at 5700 DeGiverville, they received an illustrated guide of seven herbs that grow well in Skinker DeBaliviere.
The guide included growing information and tips on how to use the herbs.
Here are a couple of excerpts from the tour book: Dean Porter – 57XX DeGiverville This yard was a big ol’ mess when Dean found it in 2007.
He removed everything but the red maple, which is sheltered from the sun and sets the color scheme for the yard. Sun-patients and hosta thrive in its shade and are held up by a retaining wall which Dean built.
He also designed the garage, shelter, and cedar fencing, which make the patio an excellent space for entertaining guests.
The elegant fence and woodwork are sealed with CFW cedar tone, and provide a rich, warm glow. You can’t miss the two knockout roses, which adorn the entrance to the open sunny area with black eyed susans, Shasta daisies, and miscanthus, where wisteria and trumpet vine dwell on the fence to create a comfortably secluded yard without walls. Fred Hicks – 57XX DeGiverville Fred attends to the ‘arts and crafts’ notion of simplicity and function: the placement of the plants and other features in the yard are compact without feeling crowded.
He likes to walk barefoot on the sand walkway in summer afternoons, which leads from the patio to the picnic area.
This year Fred added an herb spiral – a raised garden designed with microclimates – it is an attractive way to grow your herbs.
Some gardeners consider creeping Charlie to be an invasive weed, but in Fred’s yard it is a welcome ground cover; attractive and easy to maintain, and it came with the yard four years ago.
The focal point for the garden is the statue of St. Francis, in commemoration of his daughter Paige.
In her two summers’ riding for the “Bike and Build” program serving Habitat for Humanity, she made herself homeless for the homeless, much as St. Francis did. Rather than use an artificial Christmas tree, or buy a pine tree and throw it out each year, Fred gets a small evergreen shrub and later plants it in the “Christmas circle,” which will be a part of his yard for years to come. Thank you to all of the gardeners who opened their beautiful yards to us.
Also thanks to the volunteers who help us share these special parts of our fine neighborhood.
Original photograph caption
Fred Hicks in his garden. Descriptive caption supplied.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, September–October 2013.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2013_09.pdf, printed page(s) 4; PDF page(s) 4.
