Mark your calendar for Sunday, July 19, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and plan to tour some beautiful gardens in two of Columbus' premier historic districts. You might even discover some new ideas for your garden.
Columbus Recreation and Parks Department presents open garden tours throughout the summer and The Friends of Goodale Park has rounded up some great gardens in Victorian Village and Harrison West. Our google map of these homes is here.
Goodale Park is the largest garden featured on the tour with a variety of planting beds throughout this beautiful park - the city's oldest park given to the City of Columbus in 1851 by Dr. Lincoln Goodale. All the gardens in the park are maintained by The Friends of Goodale Park.
Homeowner gardens in Victorian Village/Harrison West:
1. Lisa Craig Morton and Geoffrey Morton, Owners
Victorian Village Guest House
1149 Neil Avenue, Columbus OH 43201
The front yard includes a small perennial garden and a crushed sandstone pathway featuring an antique urn on a stone pedestal, all enclosed in a wrought-iron fence. In the south side yard, the sandstone pathway continues bordered by a hedge of viburnum, snowberry, spirea and holly bushes. Lilies, ornamental grass and ajuga add interest. A row of European hornbeams provide a shield from the neighboring house. A paved sidewalk leads from the front yard on the north side through a shade and rock garden featuring hostas, Japanese maples, spruce trees and an antique planter. The back yard includes a brick dining patio and twin terraces adjacent to the back of the house and the carriage house. An oval lawn is framed by brick and crushed sandstone pathways. Service berry trees create an informal alley and provide screening from neighboring houses. Perennial gardens flank each side of the oval lawn and include an antique pedestal with armillary, concretions, ceramic garden sculptures, bird baths and gazing ball. The dining patio is secluded by a river birch and red Japanese maple. Potted herbs and tomatoes surround an antique pedestal topped with an iron cherub on the carriage house patio. Antique urns and planters are located throughout the property to create visual interest and focal points.
www.victorianvillageguesthouse.com
2. Gregory R. Krobot
231 Buttles Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215
One bad-ass perennial garden with green and other kinds of colors. A cement pond is in one place and some brick areas where you can kinda stand or sit are in some other places. I also got a couple of fences. One is fallin down but another one is made out of metal and is mighty fine. I got some swell vegetables here and there and if Jack the possum doesn't get them they should be good for the table.
3. Tim Prince & Mark Holtzapple
331 W 4th Ave. (just west of Harrison and 4th)
Front and rear gardens, with intensive annual plantings, mature hostas and featuring a "Wall of Flowers".
4. Michael Olson
328 W. 4th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43201
English Border Gardens, featuring a half-scale replica Midway Gardens Sprite Sculpture, purchased from The Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust.
5. David Keiser
315 W. 4th Ave, Columbus, OH 43201 (southeast corner of Harrison and 4th Ave.)
This is a unique apartment garden, with annual plantings in curb beds and containers in bold colors.
6.Laurie and Jim Patton
327 W 4th Ave, Columbus, OH 43201
Front Gardens: Color themed annuals and perennials in purples and whites.
Curb Gardens: Perennials selected for variety and easy maintenance, highlighted with annuals to bring in splashes of vibrant color.
Patio Garden: Secluded nook trimmed with a variety of hostas, offset with elephant ears, and various annuals under the arms of a stately elm.
7. Beth and Rob Vogt
775 Park Street Columbus, OH 43215
(corner of Park and Lundy Streets)
Based on an English Cottage Garden, featuring a wide variety of perennials and over 3 dozen window boxes and planters.
8. Dave and Laura Butler
762 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43215
"Improvisational Jazz Garden" with an eclectic mix of annuals, perennials and personal favorites!
9. Chris and Carl Gillespie
78 Price Columbus, OH 43201
A National Wildlife Federation certified backyard habitat, has edible landscaping, composting and a rain barrel.
Front Gardens: Accent on gold and burgundy, along with perennial flowers, blueberries, wintergreen, hosta and ferns.
Backyard: Includes a small kitchen garden, a woodland garden, a blue foliage garden, and a dog play area. Don't miss the rain barrel behind the bushes in the back corner.
www.olentangywatershed.org/
www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlife/
Added bonus:
Goodale Park and the gardens surrounding the old Caretaker's Residence- Gardens maintained by the Friends of Goodale Park. Greg Maynard will be available to talk about the park, the Lotus Blossoms growing in the Pond, the new Healing Garden (Dennison side of Park) and the various vegetables planted throughout the park.
Join your neighbors from throughout the Columbus area for this free Sunday afternoon stroll through some of the outstanding gardens in these century-old neighborhoods.
