The Southern Pines Garden Club announces its 59th annual home and garden tour will be held Wednesday, April 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The tour will start at the Campbell House.

"Visit our garden boutique while you are there," says a spokesman. "It features pottery, garden gifts and more from Griffin & Taylor, Botanicals and Seagrove Orchids.."

Renowned garden designers Mary and Hugh Dargan will sign their new book, "Timeless Landscape Design: The Four-Part Master Plan."

Artists Helene Ozment and Susan Edquist will present fine garden pastels and watercolors.

Homes on the tour include that of Liz and Jonathan Richman of Southern Pines.

The Moore County Hounds, the oldest formal hunt in North Carolina, drew the first owner of these eight acres and inspired him to build a timber and fieldstone lodge for his pied-a-terre in the Sandhills. The year was 1926.

In the hands of the current owners, a spacious new kitchen wing has been added, with doors leading to the newly enlarged terrace.

Everywhere the presence of horses on verdant meadows adds a note of historical continuity.

Within the house, original oak plank flooring, thick grooved doors and quarter-sawn timbers add solidity and warmth.

The Richmans have chosen earthy tiles and slate where new floor coverings were necessary.

Special care has been taken to re-use and preserve old moldings and iron hardware.

Even the mullioned windows that were removed to enlarge the entry have been refashioned into the corner cupboards.

Below the new master bedroom, a waterfall cascades to the pond where waterfowl share the peace of this in-town Eden.

Other homes on the tour are those of Hope and Michael Price in Southern Pines, Billie Ann and Wayne Peterson at CCNC, Melinda and David Collie of Pinehurst, and Jessica Tennes of Southern Pines.

Advance tickets are $15 and may be purchased at The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, Griffin and Taylor Antiques and Gardens in Pinehurst and The Campbell House in Southern Pines.

Lunch is available at the Country Club of North Carolina for $15. Maps are available with ticket purchase.

Tickets are available on the day of the tour at each house at a cost of $20.

All proceeds go to town beautification.