The Friends of Symphony New Hampshire Garden Tour is set for 3-7 p.m. on Sunday, July 19, and highlights four amazing properties.

The four Nashua gardens will be open for viewing and will feature very distinct styles: a bonsai garden, an Asian-inspired garden, a lushly planted garden filled with uncommon perennial and tree specimens and a backyard oasis with plunge pool and waterfall at woodland’s edge.

The event also will include a plant sale at home No. 3.

Donations for entry are greatly appreciated.

Those wanting to attend do not need to purchase a ticket beforehand. Simply begin at any of the homes (there is no right or wrong order) and give your donation. Those attending will then be given a wristband to show at the other homes to show a donation already has been made.

All proceeds will benefit Symphony NH’s Move NH Music Forward campaign. Although symphony musicians are not currently on stage, the 97-year-strong organization is working hard to ensure that when they can all be safely back in concert halls, they will be stronger than ever.

Guests will be required to wear a mask and to socially distance while touring the gardens.

There will be hand sanitizer available at all locations.

Please note, there will be no public restrooms available at any of the homes.

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GARDEN NO. 1

Carol and Sean Duffy

9 Cheyenne Drive,

Nashua

Gardeners, Carol Duffy, and husband, Sean, bonsai hobbyist, have enjoyed 36-years co-landscaping a variety of outdoor spaces at their 9 Cheyenne Drive, Nashua, home.

A backyard area once reserved for an above ground pool, has been transformed into a secluded and shaded oasis with a stunning array of tropical and deciduous bonsai artfully displayed much like a sculpture garden. Specimens include Chinese Elm, Weeping Ambrosia Fig, Beech, Schefflera, Ginkgo Biloba, Natal Plum, and more.

Additionally, Sean will offer Symphony NH supporters the opportunity to view a select group of exquisite specimens courtesy of a private bonsai nursery in the region: Hinoki Cypress, Black Pine, 5-Needle White Pine, and Korean Hornbeam.

The terraced backyard – built with sweat and wheelbarrow – includes multiple beds of hosta, daylilies, garden stock, and unique dwarf maples in training. Mini-dwarf African jade trees in training are staged on the deck area with local ferns beneath. Also, in the backyard, a terraced raised garden offering an assortment of vegetables.

As Asian influence can be felt in the front of the property with a fine collection of maples: a red Japanese tea maple, dwarf sugar maple, red dwarf lace leaf maple, and a 15-year-old dwarf Fugiami Japanese maple. Not to be missed is a 6-foot weeping Japanese larch. Holly, liatris, and calla lily embellish the home’s foundation.

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GARDEN NO. 2:

Carolyn Choate

59 Cheyenne Drive, Nashua

Long-time gardener, Carolyn Choate, took a decidedly Japanese approach when personally renovating her backyard space some 10-years ago. With limited sun and unlimited passion for shade plants, she has created a zen-worthy respite with mounding bamboo, 10 varieties of viburnum, and an assortment of umbrella hostas surrounding a karasenzui – or dry – Japanese pond with figurative mountain. Other specimens include Japanese maples, weeping conifers, ferns, kiwi vine, and multiple exotic hydrangeas. The custom built potting shed with pergola proved the perfect place for wisteria. And, the expansive, open outdoor shower with a rainfall head and mahogany boardwalk, is the perfect place for a steamy, hot shower after a long day spent gardening

Carolyn’s terraced rock garden of mature boxwood, daphne, fothergilla, and spruce, lead to her organic vegetable/herb/cut flower garden through a 20-year-old arbor of climbing hydrangea. A newly installed rabbit fence has successfully prohibited Peter from devouring her lettuces, arugula, and chard – among other crops.

The front yard is a work in progress with flowering nicotiana, nepeta, salvia, tick weed, and scented geraniums placed among an impressive collection of shrubs and trees. A weeping larch and a mature, waterfall Japanese maple are two of Carolyn’s favorite specimens.

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GARDEN NO. 3

Barb Young

11 Brackenwood Drive, Nashua

There will be a plant sale at this location.

The Big Little Garden is a 25-year work in progress. It comprises twelve individual small gardens, each one featuring trees, shrubs and perennials that are well suited for each micro-climate. Gardens are lush and packed with an astounding array of plants that thrive in full sun to total shade, including a water-wise, sunny gravel garden and an intricately textured shady moss garden. Intimate gardens wrap around the property in undulating curves featuring stone walls, paths, patio and gazebo.

A professional garden designer, Barb has access to highly unusual plants which she weaves into unexpected tapestries of color and texture. From exotic, low ground covers to towering native perennials, planting beds are packed with interest. Each plant must provide interesting structure, texture, color and foliage to earn a place in her garden. Most specimens offer four season interest and habitat for beneficial insects and pollinators, including her husband, Dave’s, native bees. Many species of wildlife thrive in this 100% organic lawn and garden. Even the bunnies are kept happy and (mostly) out of the garden with an immense carpet of clover lawn.

Change in the garden is constant, with color palettes evolving completely every few weeks.

So, even if you’ve experienced this garden in spring, it will surely surprise and delight you in summer!

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GARDEN NO. 4

Kathleen and Michael Munster,

11 Governors Lane, Nashua

Refreshments will be served at this location for a small donation thanks to Parker Garden Design.

This woodland garden was only completed in 2019 in collaboration with Parker Garden Design of Nashua. Building from the original waterfall and terraced flower beds the rear garden has been totally transformed into a peaceful oasis. Where there was once a mossy bank bordered by dense scrub and protruding thick tree roots there is now Winterberry, Canadian azalea and Birch and an unhindered view of the woodland. The terraces have been planted with native perennial species, e.g., Astilbe, sedge grass, echinacea and rudbeckia. The patio, bordered by Calamint and an espalier Fuji apple tree, is the perfect place to relax and take in the tranquility of the surroundings. The Canadian maple when mature will provide shade to the patio.

Follow the natural New England stone path past the water feature to the plunge pool patio. This west facing heated spa/pool surrounded by sedum and mountain laurels can be used throughout the year to enjoy both summer and winter sun. The path continues to the front shade garden of hosta, native grasses, ferns and mountain hydrangea.

The gardens support many wildlife species including hummingbirds, amphibians, reptiles and dragonflies. The abundance of perennial plantings ensures plenty of choice for pollinators.

Planted with the four seasons in mind, foliage, blooms and berries constantly provide color and texture in the garden.

Several other additions to the gardens are in the planning stage.

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