CONTRIBUTED

The seventh annual Weymouth Garden Tour will offer garden lovers the opportunity to stroll through and become immersed in gardens that before could only be reflected upon by looking over the fence or by wistfully peering from the street trying to imagine what delights could be experienced within the garden setting.

An invitation is extended to garden enthusiasts to tour five gardens in Pinehurst, Whispering Pines and Southern Pines Saturday, June 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 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 Book Shop, 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 program booklet, which is the entry ticket for the tour, provides a map for locating the homes. The information in the booklet offers specific information about each garden and was written by Marijanet Doonan.

The five properties on the tour this year offered a variety of garden settings. In addition to visiting the gardens, art and refreshments will be presented.

Gardens on Tour

A Southern Delight in Pinehurst is the home of Leonard and Rita DiNapoli. The gardening is an enhancement to the Southern plantation-style home. The porches are adorned with ferns that Rita winters over from year to year. Cobblestones line the terraced garden that contains a variety of herbs tucked between the roses and ferns.

Native plants such as crape myrtle, magnolia and verbena are used around the back of the garden. Surrounding the waterfall are rhododendron, a willow tree, wax myrtle and hawthorn. The hummingbirds can be seen sucking the nectar from the hibiscus plants. Color is in abundance not only in the use of flowers, but also in the use of various shrubs and trees.

Forest Creek is the location of Mack and Sue McClain's Zen Tranquility. This is truly a serene garden setting. The circular drive is guarded by two red Japanese maples and gives way to the entry court, which is marked with meticulously placed stones and is balanced with red Japanese lace maples and sculptured Bonsai plants. The running water from the water feature contributes to the Zen feeling of the space.

Creating a Japanese garden is known as "setting stones" with boulders placed in the sand. Large stepping stones lead from the mahogany deck over the sand to one of several arched bridges that cross the dry creek that passes through the garden.

This oasis of tranquility was created by Phil Hathcock. Rain chains grace the side of the house, and a carved stone sculpture adds a special impact to the area.

The French Manor House with its Norman-style turret and mature gardens is also know as "The Castle" and is the home of Stuart and Helen Probst Mills, in Pinehurst.

The house is sited on the property so that the gardens are visible from every room. Refreshments will be served at this location. English box hedges line part of the driveway, giving over to magnolias and crape myrtles scattered among the longleaf pines. Arched trellises, covered with flowing vines, provide a comfortable place to view garden beds planted with blue flowers. This garden offers many vistas and gardens, which are the result of the desires of the current and past owners.