I attended my first Clayton Gardens tour in 1998. I can remember the year; I was pregnant at the time with my son. It was exciting for me to tour the landscapes of five neighborhood gardens. You see, just a couple of years before I began working at my soon to be in-laws nursery in Clayton. Touring these gardens was going to be an excellent opportunity to see what types of plants Clayton gardeners were planting and how and where they were growing.
This month the Clayton Historical Society will be celebrating their 20th Anniversary of the Clayton Gardens Tour, which is being held May 19th and 20th from 10-4 pm. Unlike other years, this year the Clayton Gardens Tour is taking a look back, and revisiting 17 landscapes and gardens from the past 20 years, as well as a peak at the historical garden at the Clayton Museum. This tour’s size makes it a huge undertaking for the volunteers of the Clayton Historical Society, who work so hard to make every tour a smooth-run success. We need to commend the homeowners who have been feverously working to beautify their landscapes and gardens to once again, open their gates and invite visitors into their spaces and share.
During this year’s tour, attendees will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in gardens filled with blooming perennials, ornamental grasses and succulents. They will gaze at sparking poolscapes, and meander pathways through tree canopies and flowering shrubs. Inspiring garden design ideas, sitting situations and planter combinations will be enjoyed. Outdoor fireplaces and kitchens are displayed to be admired. Fountains, waterfalls and sculptures add personal touches to several of the landscapes. You will see both dry, and running streambeds, as well as a working miniature train garden. Attendees will pass through arbors, decorative gates and rest in the shade beneath pergolas. Vegetable and herb gardens are growing at many of this year’s Clayton Garden Tour homes, so are citrus and fruiting trees. Water-wise, hillside and shade gardens will also be featured. Historic replicas, farm equipment, and other antiques have been incorporated into some of the gardens. There is something for everyone.
The Clayton Valley Gardens Tour is the largest fund raiser for the Clayton Historical Museum. The Clayton Historical Museum opens its doors to the public twice weekly for general visitors, and when scheduled, for free fieldtrips given to preschool, elementary school students and brownie and scout troops. During these fieldtrips, the typewriter, rotary telephone and jail are among the most popular touchable displays.
If you are considering attending the Clayton Historical Society’s 20th Anniversary Gardens Tour, tickets are still available. You can visit www.claytonhistor.org and order your tickets with your PayPal account, or you can stop in to RM Pool, Patio, Gifts and Gardens at 6780 Marsh Creek Road in Clayton, where tickets must be purchased with a check or cash. Tickets are just $20 in celebration of the 20th Anniversary. If you are undecided, tickets will be sold at the door of the Clayton Museum May 19th and 20th. Many local merchants and individuals have donated items to a raffle that will also benefit the museum.
The Clayton Valley Garden Club will be holding their annual plant sale this same weekend. The sale on Saturday runs from 8-1 and it will be located at the parking lot at Endeavor Hall, just across from the Clayton Farmer’s Market. This plant sale is the CVGC only fund raiser. This year they are offering over 1000 plants, consisting of 240 different varieties. The club will be selling left-over plants on Sunday at the Clayton Historical Museum from 10-1. The proceeds from the Sunday sale are split 50-50 between the two organizations.
If you are considering touring the 20th Anniversary Clayton Gardens Tour, or just visiting the CVGC plant sale, stop by the store afterward and let me know how you liked them.
Happy Gardening.
Nicole Hackett is the Garden Girl at RM Pool, Patio and Gardens, located at 6780 Marsh Creek Road in Clayton, 925-672-0207.
Nicole writes for the Clayton Pioneer Newspaper, and Claycord.com. She is also the Clayton Valley Garden Club 2012 President.
Email your questions to thegardengirl@claycord.com
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