Historic Garden Week will feature “Springtime in South Roanoke” on April 25th from 10 AM to 5 PM. Seven uniquely beautiful homes will be featured this year:
2731 Carolina Avenue – The Irons Home. Situated on a spacious corner lot, this 1936 Colonial with clapboard addition is surrounded by boxwoods, yews, hollies, azaleas, cherry laurels, hydrangea, viburnum, peonies, daylilies, tulips, Japanese maples, Chinese fringe, weeping cherry, ogwoods, Kawnzan and repe yrtles. The homeowners have made many updates over the past twenty years: the 2013 renovations expanded the family room, the kitchen and the brick-terraced patio, which now features a wood-fire pizza oven. Family antique pieces in the home include a mid-19th- century corner cupboard and mahogany dining table, and a walnut secretary from the latter part of the 19th century. Local artists’ works by Eric Fitzpatrick, Gari Stephenson, Mary Boxley Bullington, Tommy Lawson, Bonnie Burt, Mark Watts, Vera Dickerson and Diane Patton hang in the home as well as works by regional artists James Brewer, Baxter Perkinson, and Ethel Ferrell.
2802 Carolina Avenue – The Leitch Home. This English Tudor, built in 1926-27, and the gardens are bordered by brick retaining walls. The wall along 28th Street supports espaliered euonymus, which provides the backdrop for shrub and perennial borders. The wall along Carolina Avenue supports espaliered hollies, and climbing hydrangeas drape over the wall. Below the wall, two willow oaks shade perennial beds. Once inside the gates, a flagstone terrace, two covered porches, a fountain, a fish pond, an herb garden, and a varied collection of garden art and artifacts abound. Above the detached garage, an apartment serves as the art studio of Nan Mahone Wellborn, a plein air painter of landscapes. The homeowner is a Master Gardener and Virginia certified horticulturist, and her passion is reflected in the extensive plantings, one of which is perhaps the only pagoda dogwood in Roanoke.
2525 Crystal Spring Avenue – The Doherty Home. This Federal-style bungalow is a recent addition to the neighborhood. Built in 1984, the one-story home blends in seamlessly with the older houses. Described by the homeowners as “efficient living,” this home exemplifies smaller scale living at its best. For instance, the see-through fireplace can be enjoyed by the homeowners in two rooms. Using the interior design skills of the homeowner, the eclectic interior combines old and new, neutral tones with vibrant punches of color. On display is a collection of large-scale international art and artifacts as well as an almost life-sized bronze lion. Informal, lo w-maintenance but structured gardens surround this red brick home. Exterior highlights include a large laurel hedge, a fern garden, and a vegetable garden. A studio apartment sits above the garage.
2530 Crystal Spring Avenue – The Morris and Lee Home. Affectionately called the “White House,” this 1910 classic features Queen Anne elements, but does not represent any one style. The evocative whitewashed house is a corner landmark with a quintessential wraparound porch encased by large, white columns. Azaleas surround the porch, which is highlighted with a fall-blooming rhododendron and some of South Roanoke’s oldest Japanese maples. The flower beds include a perennial garden, boxwoods, and a row of dianthus. The interior of the home features transitional décor by Richmond designer Tripp Longest. Ikat rugs by London designer Luke Irwin and local artwork hang throughout the home. The Roanoke Star is displayed in the entry. The remodeled chef’s kitchen highlights the homeowners’ plate and vase collection. Additional features include original heart pine flooring, coffered ceilings, and a carriage house. The back flower bed marks the circle of the old carriage house turnaround.
2626 Crystal Spring Avenue – The Carter Home. Built in 1935, this red brick Tudor home sits surrounded by gardens. Flanked to the right by the home known fondly by neighbors as the “Dr. Pepper house,” the driveway features a shade border and a kitchen garden. The rear garden is a small courtyard with a central fountain. Shadeloving plants and bulbs grown among narrow garden paths invite garden guests to enjoy the small space. An original farm gate still stands and beckons to a hidden garden chair. The left flanking garden is a casual garden of rhododendron, wild geraniums, and fruit trees. The front garden is filled with old English boxwoods, peonies, lilies and iris. Two grapevines flourish, as do two plum trees, an apple and a peach tree. This yard is home to the family’s beloved St. Bernard, Fern, and in a twist of garden irony, ferns flourish in all of the gardens of this home!
2951 Hemlock Lane – The Coleman Home. This two-story white brick home with charming screened front porch sits on an elevated lot. Shaded gardens feature hostas, azaleas, ferns, Japanese maples and herbs. The back patio and driveway are part of the recent exterior renovation. Likewise, the homeowner has updated the interior of this 1940s home by renovating the kitchen, adding on to the back of the home, and screening in the front porch. The homeowner purchased the home from The Carter Burgess Estate. Mr. Burgess served as an Ambassador to Argentina and worked closely with General Eisenhower. Left behind when the Burgesses left was a very old gilt mirror rescued from the garage where the previous owner had stored it. Now repaired, it hangs in the dining room. Artwork from the homeowner’s travels to Russia and France is on display as well as works by local artists Eric Fitzpatrick, Miki Ballengee, Jeannie O’Neill and Greg Osterhus. The front porch includes wicker furniture acquired long ago during a renovation sale at The Homestead.
2812 Rosalind Avenue – The Jaeger Home. Mature evergreens surround this white brick, 1961 Cape Cod-style home. Among the French and English furniture pieces, a vintage book collection from the homeowner’s great grandfather can be found in the den, and an antique harp played by the homeowner’s great-great-grandmother sits in the living room. Other interior highlights include a childhood portrait of the homeowner, a framed antique map of Paris in the living room and a unique kitchen table crafted by a local artisan. Adding to the exterior charm of the home are the serpentine wall, the wisteria trellis on the garage and the large magnolia tree in the back of the home that shades the stone patio. Ferns, rhododendron, and perennial plants from the homeowners’ prior residence add interest to the yard.
Tour Specifics
Directions: Ronald McDonald House, 2224 South Jefferson Street, Roanoke, VA 24014, is where you will find trolley transportation, tour tickets, restrooms and lunch. Please wear flat-heeled shoes. From I-81 or 460E, take I-581S to Roanoke. Take Colonial Ave. exit; keep right at the fork onto Colonial Ave. Turn right onto Brandon Ave. Note, Brandon Ave. crosses over Franklin Rd. and becomes McClanahan St. Turn right onto South Jefferson St. From 220S, take the Franklin Rd. exit. Turn right at the end of the ramp onto Franklin Rd. Turn right onto McClanahan St. Turn right onto South Jefferson St.
Tickets: $30 per person. No single-site tickets. Children 5 and younger are free. Children younger than 17 must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets may be purchased with cash or check on the day of the tour at any of the homes on the tour or the Ronald McDonald House.
Advance Tickets: $25 per person. Advance tickets may be purchased until April 24 by mailing checks payable to “Historic Garden Week” to Roanoke Council of Garden Clubs, 3640 Colonial Avenue, Roanoke, VA 24018. Tickets are available for purchase by cash or check at: Roanoke Council of Garden Clubs, Ronald McDonald House, Townside Gardens, Black Dog Salvage, Garland s, Provisions/RSVP, and Yarid s. Online tickets at www.vagardenweek.org.
Luncheon: A $15 box lunch is available at the Ronald McDonald House from 11am to 1pm. Advance reservations are recommended. Lunches can be purchased by mailing a check to 3640 Colonial Avenue, Roanoke, VA 24018. Checks payable to “Roanoke Council of Garden Clubs” must be received by April 11. For lunch information, [email protected]. A limited number of additional lunches will be available for purchase at the Ronald McDonald House on tour day on a first-come, first-served basis.
Refreshments: Served from 2 to 4pm on the patio at the Irons home.
Trolley and Parking: The Ronald McDonald House has on-street parking and is the starting and stopping point for the trolley. Roanoke’s Star Line Trolley will take guests round trip to the tour homes. Transportation will run throughout the day.
Special Event: The Blue Ridge Wildflower Society will host a Wildflower Walk at 8:30am in the Mill Mountain Flower Garden. Meet at the Discovery Center. A Silver Tears Camper will be on display at the Irons home. Artist Nan Mahone Wellborn’s works will be on display at the Leitch home. Nick Leitch will be playing live piano at his home intermittently between 10:15am and 2pm.
Participating homeowners, The Roanoke Valley Garden Club, The Mill Mountain Garden Club, and The Garden Club of Virginia are not responsible for accidents occurring on the tour. Children age 17 and younger must be accompanied at all times by a parent or other responsible adult.
