2011 Festival of Gardens
The year was Columbia Green's twentieth annual Festival of Gardens! Thanks to an extraordinary group of garden owners, we were able to open up some houses as well as exceptional private gardens in the Old Shandon and Heathwood neighborhoods. Eight of the Heathwood homes are within walking distance of each other and the tour will culminate with a delightful garden party at the home of Ron and Hannah Rogers.
The event was held on:
Thursday, May 19 and Saturday, May 21
10 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Garden 1 - View Photos>>
Garden of Judy and Pat Hubbard
2719 Preston Street
You will quickly see the lushness, diversity and artistry of this magical garden created by Pat, the horticulturist, and Judy, the artistic influence. The garden has a tropical feel created by a heavy tree canopy, densely planted flora and some exotic plants mixed in with standard fare. As you approach, take note of the six varieties of palm trees, the rock sculpture depicting a koi pond, and the layers of azaleas, mahonias, acubas and pitttosporum fronting the house. Go through the iron side gate, follow the path and prepare to be dazzled and surprised by the unfolding of special garden scenes. An overarching Kwanzan cherry tree littered the path with pink petals earlier in the spring; Indica azaleas thrive in its shade. A small clearing reveals a spacious garden pavilion, much like an open Pacific Island meeting house, where the Hubbards relax after a day's work. A pond at the foot of the pavilion is surrounded by rocks from Georgia; epiphytes (air plants) are decoratively displayed on the pavilion wall. Follow the path around and you will see 
Japanese maples in large pots with black stones used effectively in place of mulch. Hidden in the back corner is a potting bench and on the other side, Judy's art studio where she paints on silk fabric. Along the shaded path don't miss seeing the huge potted daphne, the arching mock orange shrubs, oakleaf hydrangea and a large stand of aspidistra. A garage with an arbor draped in Confederate jasmine and clematis displays a collection of bromeliads and air plants. Note the beautiful structure of the multi-trunk crepe myrtle next to the house, the potted kumquat and lemon trees, and the showy orchids on the porch. Continue on out the driveway and admire the verdigris pots which Pat arranges to maximize a display of seasonal color. See photo gallery>>
Garden 2 - View Photos>>
Home of Sally Williamson
3505 Devine Street
This French Country style home was extensively remodeled just eighteen months ago by its new owner. Sally's bold renovations included freshly landscaping the one and one-half acre grounds using a series of parterres with gravel pathways and a large parking court, all designed by Charleston landscape architect Sheila Wertimer. A brick wall and a row of Cathedral oaks border the Devine Street side of the garden. The Albion Street side features several camellias that were salvaged from the previous garden, an armillary sphere on a pedestal, holly ferns and wigelia. A brick wall encloses the large private back garden featuring a raised rectangular pond and fountain, an arbor-covered outdoor room with a fireplace, and a handsome Pennsylvania bluestone patio. Plantings nearest the patio include several Japanese maples, hollies, Lady Banks roses and Confederate jasmine. Sally intends to use flowering shrubs for interest rather than the more labor-intensive perennials. You'll notice the repetition of rectangular patterns in the landscape design.
The newly-renovated house has been featured in several magazines. The spaciousness and configuration of the rooms, the construction materials, and the furnishings all stand out as unusual and attractive. Sally's work experience includes selling antiques--you will quickly see that she has a knack for attention to detail, as well as combining the old with the new in a classy and comfortable setting. See photo gallery>>
Garden 3 - View Photos>>
Garden of Ann Foster
711 Elizabeth Avenue
A low brick wall and cast iron fence define the front garden of this Classical Revival home. Don't be fooled by the narrow front garden...it's the extensive back garden that's the in-town treasure. It is comprised of a series of plantings connected by a meandering path through the two acre site. The effect is a sense of flow and an invitation to explore an interior accentuated by delightful surprises at every turn. There are mature oaks, pines, and crepe myrtles providing a shady canopy. The trees are underplanted with numerous Indica azaleas, camellias, hollies, viburnums, hydrangeas, mountain laurels and native plants. There are many roses and day lilies planted in little patches of sunlight. You will see new gardening projects underway here and there, particularly where a few old trees damaged by lightning had to be removed. Take note of Ann's attention to understory plants, including hostas, anemones, and 
Jack in the Pulpit along the path and the feeling they evoke of a pleasant walk amid nature at its best. There are many specialized areas, including one planted to attract butterflies.
At every turn, you can't fail to appreciate Ann's love of gardening and this garden originally planted in the 1950's by her grandmother, Minnie Murray. (The fist sculpture is the sign language for her initial, "M".) The large terrace decorated with pots at the back of the house overlooks the garden and from that vantage. See photo gallery>>
Garden 4 - View Photos>>
Garden of Beth and Bud Kibler
15 Heathwood Circle
As you approach this garden from the street you'll notice the curvilinear design of the lawn and shrub beds. The "relaxed-formal " style was developed by landscape architect George Betsill. English boxwoods, viburnums and hollies are planted across the front of the house; the side and front beds contain hollies, azaleas and camellias. An arched wood gate opens from the parking area to the back private garden. There the Kiblers enjoy two outdoor living areas, one simply called "the fireplace" and the other "the outdoor den". Be sure to notice Beth's collection of birdhouses neatly tucked into the niches in the brick wall, the potted windmill palms and dwarf boxwoods on the fireplace hearth, and other pots of colorful annuals and perennials. Beth is a blue ribbon grower of old roses which are sprinkled throughout the garden. Bud's special area is the greenhouse in the back corner of the garden. He says he "rescues" ailing plants, and it is in this mountain-like retreat where he nurses them back to health. You'll notice the neatly trimmed boxwood borders and large shrub beds, but also take note of the hidden meandering brick pathway along the back of the garden leading from the service gate to the greenhouse. The garden is perfect for entertaining, with guests moving easily from the inside to out and enjoying an ordered ambience throughout. See photo gallery>>
Garden 5 - View Photos>>
Garden of Ethel Trapp
12 Heathwood Circle
Breathtaking when in flower, a huge saucer magnolia (Japanese magnolia) dominates the street view of this former home of Governor James F. Byrnes. The signature Heathwood brick pillars are covered with Confederate jasmine, as is an arched entryway in the back garden. Knockout roses line the driveway. A handsome limbed-up loropetalum is tucked in the corner near the side gate. Here also is a coral bark Japanese maple, especially colorful in the fall and one of Ethel's favorites. Large pots with sky pencil hollies decorate the pool deck. The walled-in back garden is spacious and uncluttered, an ideal place for entertaining a passel of energetic children with a swimming pool and lawn area perfect for tossing a football or playing croquet. Mature camellias, azaleas and oakleaf hydrangeas fill the beds surrounding the lawn. 
Be sure to notice the deep red/purple accents provided by the loropetalums and varieties of Japanese maple.
Ethel is a devoted collector of Columbia artist Stephen Chesley's paintings, which are expertly displayed throughout the first floor of the house. Her elegant home is furnished with English antiques and Oriental carpets; the kitchen is modern and fit for gourmet cooking. See photo gallery>>
Garden 6 - View Photos>>
Garden of Tom McCutchen
6 Heathwood Circle
The grounds of this house, built about fifty years ago, have four separate and interesting areas of note. The front garden is populated by a magnolia and an American holly tree, azaleas and dogwoods. The open side garden, known affectionately as "Jane's Garden", was the special domain of Jane McCutchen, who imported Lexington County red clay to properly grow her beloved roses. The side garden also features a handsome fig tree, lengthy perennial beds, and a boxwood quatrefoil. The private interior garden is framed by a brick wall with a fountain. Boxwood -bordered beds planted with hydrangeas and large camellias line the lawn. A spacious terrace looks out over the garden, offering a view of the orderly environs. Of special interest on the terrace are two della Robia glazed terra cotta wall hangings, brought back from Italy by the McCutchens many years ago. A tall podocarpus hedge separates the interior garden from the service area designed for parking and pens for Tom McCutchen's four hunting dogs. The back gate leads to the McElveen's garden...#7 on the tour. See photo gallery>>
Garden 7 - View Photos>>
Garden of Sally and Robert McElveen
3610 Cassina Circle
The view of the house and garden from the street is impressive, made so by a circular driveway with a large urn-shaped fountain set inside the curve. Beds at the front of the house are planted with a low hedge of podocarpus and an espaliered pyracantha. A low brick wall separates the driveway and front courtyard, where a limbed-up wax myrtle shades the entryway and a Lady Banks rose frames the scene. You will know that a gardener lives here when you see the charming back garden. The focal point is an arbor supporting clematis and a climbing rose and a fountain set against a garage wall. An open lawn area is surrounded by beds of shade loving plants such as viburnum, laceleaf Japanese maple, plumbago, phlox and hellebores. In the sunnier areas you'll see roses, peonies and salvia. Although not in bloom now, take special note of the Exbury (native) azaleas planted in the side bed and the numerous birdbaths throughout the garden that encourage frequent feathered visitors. A brick patio is decorated with pots of annuals for seasonal interest and color and a handsome sasanqua is espaliered against the house wall. This enclosed garden has a pleasant restorative and calming effect, perfect for lounging on a chaise while sipping a glass of lemonade and reading a book. The side bed along the driveway is generously planted with roses and Gerbera daisies. The back gate leads to Tom McCutchen's garden…#6. See photo gallery>>
Garden 8 - View Photos>>
Garden of David Williams and Ray Cobb
27 Heathwood Circle
This Colonial Revival style home was extensively remodeled five years ago. David says the ¾ acre garden is a "work in progress", as it too is undergoing extensive reconfiguring. From the street you'll see a low brick wall bordered in front by Vinca, Otto Luken laurel, loropetalum and day lilies. A large circular driveway and parking area are in front of the house, accented by pillars with urn shaped planters. The driveway leads to the former garage, now an office, and the back gardens. As you walk through the passageway, notice the obelisk and the clematis in square pots. The back garden has several "rooms" separated by holly and boxwood hedges and perennial beds. The owners have created a secluded play area for children, a hidden seating area and pond, and a place for their outdoor grill. They enjoy the best of outdoor living in a screened porch overlooking a large patio and expanse of lawn. Surprisingly, two large Deodar cedar trees are planted in pots adorning the patio. An adjacent bed contains crepe myrtle and a handsome stand of Siberian iris with interesting foliage all year long. Looking out from the screened porch the focal point is a fountain set against the dark green viburnum hedge in which lamium spills over the edge of the bowl. The beds on the sides of the lawn are planted with gardenias, camellias and azaleas. A low wall separates the front garden from the back and side gardens. Note how effectively the grounds are subdivided into small areas with special functions and features, thereby creating places for displays and groupings of compatible and complementary plants. See photo gallery>>
Garden 9 - View Photos>>
Garden of Hannah and Ron Rogers
828 Kilbourne Road
You'll need a notebook to write down all the names of the plants you will want after seeing Hannah's showplace garden. It contains an amazing assortment of unusual plants expertly grown and arranged and interspersed with whimsical sculptures and garden art. At the street you'll notice Hannah's use of pavers interspersed with squares of dwarf mondo grass to form a checkerboard pattern. The bed under a large oak tree has boxwoods, holly ferns, lamium, atemesia, ligularia and variegated liriope. Notice the large pots planted with tea olives on the front steps. Pruned viburnum and mahonia provide a lush backdrop for flowering perennials, including her mother's campanula in the front beds. You can't miss the wonderful, giant sleeping lady sculpture with grass "hair" that will make you smile. The back garden has no lawn, but rather, a sunny center composed of a circular flower bed and four ancillary beds planted with a mix of boxwoods, sasanqua and other shrubs and flowering perennials, all connected by curved gravel or grass paths. One of Hannah's signature plants is larkspur which is in full bloom in May and intergrown with poppies and delphinium. These flourish in the rich soil, reseeding every year for a dramatic and reliable display of color. Wander through Hannah's garden to discover a pond at the back--don't 
miss the "man reading a newspaper" sculpture, a recent addition found on a trip abroad. At the other corner is an inviting little garden house with a mirror reflecting the garden scene. The deep side beds are composed of pittisporum, lorapetalum, and snowball viburnum. At ground level you'll see a variety of shade-tolerant perennials including New Guinea impatiens, hellebore, hosta and ferns. Closest to the back porch are Hannah's favorite Taylors Pink Perfection camellias and Silybum (milk) thistle bordering an intimate sitting area surrounded by pots of hot pink geraniums and a fountain. See photo gallery>>
