CONTRIBUTED

The seventh annual Weymouth Garden Tour, which will be Saturday, June 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., offers an opportunity to visit five gardens in Southern Pines, Whispering Pines and Pinehurst.

This year's gardens are at the homes of Leonard and Rita Di Napoli, Mack and Sue McClain, Stuart and Helen Probst Mills, Jonathan and Elizabeth Richman, and Marilyn and Lu Navarro.

Not only will participants enjoy a day in the gardens, but invitations from Lulu's and Ragazzi's (in Southern Pines), Elliott's, The Tea Parlour and The Pizza Caf (in Pinehurst) are being extended to ticket holders enticing them to take advantage of half-priced lunches.

Courtney Herndon will display her paintings in the McClain garden, and statuary from Windridge Gardens will be placed in the Mills' garden. Refreshments will be served at The Castle.

Storybook Horse Farm

The cottage at the front of the Storybook Horse Farm in Southern Pines sets the stage for a horse country tale. Jonathan and Elizabeth Richman have created a setting that pulls together the background for a home, a horse farm and lovely gardens.

Liz's creative hand in planting and caring for the plants is reflected in the lushness of the naturalized landscape which is filled with a vast variety of specimens including silver and sugar maple trees, weeping cherry trees, mountain laurel and hardy kiwi. A Japanese garden on the right side of the house leads to the vegetable garden. A flourishing herb garden is found set along the terrace.

Rudbeckia invite the finches into the garden. In order to fully enjoy and view the garden, visitors will enter the house and walk through to the terrace from which can be seen green expanses that provide havens for the deer, fox, owls and other birds.

'Piazzas at Lago Bella'

A drive out to Whispering Pines is a must to visit a Touch of Tuscany. Lu and Marilyn Navarro have named their little bit of Tuscano heaven, "Piazzas at Lago Bella."

The garden is all about the view, which encompasses the signature hole for the East Course of the Country Club of Whispering Pines and the water hazard affectionately known as "Lago Bella." It took nine months to create the three tiers of piazzas using cobblestones which provide a feeling of the Old World. A couple of pergolas specially built and a swing offer a place of solitude for reading or reflection. The plantings were chosen to complement the various levels and to attract birds and butterflies. The tiered design of the yard provides many inviting seating areas for relaxing, dining and entertaining.

The cost is $15 per ticket through advance sales or $20 the day of the tour, when tickets will be available at any of the garden sites. Advance sales are available at the following locations: Post Box Plus, The Faded Rose and Given Bookstore, in Pinehurst; Aberdeen Florist, in Aberdeen; Weymouth Center for Arts and Humanities and The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines and Southern Grace Florist in Seven Lakes.

This is a fundraiser for Weymouth Center for Arts and Humanities, and the proceeds will go to the continued renovations and restorations of the property. The 20-page program booklet provides a map for locating the homes. The information in the booklet offers specific information about each garden and was written by Marijanet Doonan.

For information, call 692-6261.