Japanese Water Garden

Garden Tour Set for Saturday

For the past decade, a garden tour has been held annually to benefit the flower and water gardens at Weymouth Center for the Arts and Humanities in Southern Pines.

This year’s tour will be held on Saturday, June 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All the gardens selected are located within the grounds of the Country Club of North Carolina (CCNC), 1600 Morganton Road, Pinehurst.

The event offers a variety of large and smaller garden venues. One property displays more than 45 mature Japanese maples. The tour offers majestic pines, myriad varieties of colorful and fragrant roses, vegetable gardens and inviting ponds as well as a 10-level cascading waterfall, lovely lake views, and interestingly designed patios and courts with oversized contemporary statuary.

One of the highlighted gardens on the tour is the serene and lovely landscape of the home of Dr. Craig and Scarlett Allison. What was once a sloping, pine straw-covered area stretching from the back of the house to the lake has been turned into a vision of beauty.

Starting with the upper decks, a path was created down the property. Today, these decks, lined with azaleas, provide access to the sloping garden. Tucked in on the right of the decks are multi-tiered waterfalls that empty into carefully crafted Tennessee stone-edged koi ponds. There are almost 10 levels of cascade here, providing a gentle sound as one views the perennial garden tucked in the rock wall below.

Standing at this point, look at the vast number of crape myrtles of varying sizes strategically placed around the property. Boulders were brought in to complement the landscape and are so naturally sited that they look as if they have always been there.

Down toward the salt-water pool, red and orange lantana provide splashes of color, and at the pool, azaleas and loropetalum create privacy under the massive magnolia trees. The pool house, with its inviting furniture, is a perfect place for entertaining and allows for a charming view of the landscape and its impressive waterfalls.

Another home on the tour is that of Debi and Darcy Carr. As visitors arrive at the front entry of this lovely home, they are greeted by a bountiful array of red knockout roses planted in the center of the circular drive.

This is a garden that respects the lines of the house in a creatively natural way. The plantings around the house include red Japanese maples, Nellie Stevens hollies, dogwoods, crape myrtles and liriope. The brick front walk extends to a stone patio on the left with a bench from which to view the cascading waterfall with water lilies and water iris.

Japanese Water Garden Wedding ~ Emily and David {Part 1}

For now I have more wedding magic to share, and this is another photography masterpiece from the wonderful David and Joy Marie of Joy Marie Photography.

Emily and David's wedding was held in Como conservatory Park and I have to say is simply stunning. Joy said "Emily and her family are very close to my heart, and it was such an honor for me to be able to capture this very intimate event. Emily and David had an very small wedding in the Japanese gardens at Como Park & Conservatory in St. Paul, MN.  Only their close family members were in attendance. It was such a sweet, emotional and super-relaxed day. At one point, I had to really pull myself together because the sun had set over the koi pond as Emily & David recited their vows through their tears, and as any good photographer knows….low light and a shaking/sobbing photographer don’t mix. Thankfully, Emily and David wanted to do most of their photos before the ceremony so we were able to explore Minneapolis and find some incredible locations. It was an AMAZING day!! Congratulation Emily and David!!"