Allison writes in…

The Decatur Garden Tour blooms again this fall, September 25 and 26, inviting visitors to step “behind the fence” to explore extraordinary private gardens and experience first-hand thriving community greenspaces. …In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the original township of Oakhurst – annexed between 1914-1916 and now one of Decatur’s most popular neighborhoods – many of the featured gardens are located in that area.

Dates & Hours: Decatur Garden Tour hours are Saturday, September 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. and Sunday, September 26 from noon to 5 p.m.

Tickets: $20 in advance, online at www.decaturgardentour.com or at these Decatur retailers: Intown ACE Hardware, Smith ACE Hardware and The Seventeen Steps. Tickets are $25 the day of the tour and will be sold at the Oakhurst Community Garden Project at 435 Oakview Road, Decatur, GA 30030 and at Ryan Gainey’s garden, 129 Emerson Avenue, Decatur, GA, 30030

Group Tickets: For questions regarding group discounts ($15 for eight or more), call (404) 371-4444.

Location: While gardeners who purchased tickets in advance may begin the tour at any point along the route, the Oakhurst Community Garden Project at 435 Oakview Road, Decatur, GA 30030 is a suggested starting point for all others.

On the Web: For additional details, suggested Decatur dining destinations and online ticket sales, visit www.decaturgardentour.com.

Read the full descriptive list of this year’s featured gardens after the jump.

1. Oakhurst Community Garden
435 Oakview Rd. [MAP]
Explore an urban greenspace featuring a working garden, ornamental beds, and a lot of vegetables! New this year to walk through is the heated greenhouse as well as the cedar compost bins. Observe how chickens and bees work in a public garden. What are all those 5×10 plots? Those are the 32 community plots that are rented out to individuals and families. So much to see – native plants, memorial gardens, a mud house. Spend some time at the Oakhurst Garden.

Remembering Sally Wilde
The 2010 Decatur Garden Tour honors the memory of Sally Wylde who died on August 19, 2010. Co-Founder and first executive director of the Oakhurst Community Garden Project and Decatur Preservation Alliance board member, Sally leaves a lasting legacy. She is loved and missed.

2. Ally and Walt McMann
128 W. Benson St. [MAP]
Home construction, completed in February 2009, carefully considered the maintenance of a beautiful black Tupelo tree, a mature pecan, and a hickory tree on this property. Garden designer Valerie Quam created an array of plant heights, with scale, shade and texture to soften brick facades and fencing. Every season is highlighted by different blooms, leaf color and fragrance. Tea olive, Loropetalum chinense, Knock Out® roses, creeping raspberry and Walt’s potted lime tree are some examples.

Follow the drive to the backyard installed in June 2010 by hard-working landscapers Jessica Groleau and Justin Jackson. The grassy play area is framed by Cryptomeria japonica, Japanese maple, wintergreen boxwood and Encore azaleas.

3. Ruth Cargo and Len Boswell
The front garden of this 1910 house is divided between sun and shade, so Ruth developed a Yin-Yang design, creating an ‘S’ curved walkway dotted with large planters on both sides, and bright or subdued colored plants corresponding to light and dark. The yang (sunny side) is accented by a non-water feature of blue glass.

The back garden is a balance of natural and structured plantings. Sunny beds are lined with cobblestones. Note unusual hostas like ‘Limelight’ as well as blueberry bush, gingko tree and narrow-leafed mahonia. A mulch path encourages wandering through native redbud trees dotted with native azaleas. Plants were chosen to attract birds and butterflies. Ruth and Len implement many water conservation techniques in their choices of perennials, trees, downspouts and landscape materials, which were installed during the drought three years ago. A bat house facilitates the reduction of mosquitoes.

This home celebrates 100 years along with the community of Oakhurst.

4. Deborah Roberts and Perry Robinson
434 2nd Ave. [MAP]
The corner garden of this 1939 bungalow is enjoyed by everyone who passes by, and invites a variety of wildlife. Perry purchased the stacked-stone birdbath at a flea market and it became the focal point for this small space with big garden ideas. Front yard trees include willow and Shumard oak and a rare variegated redbud, which shade a variety of perennial plants and ferns. Fieldstone and chipped-slate paths lined with Burford hollies and red fountain grass lead to a Zen garden beneath a Japanese maple on the street side. Proceed through the gate on the left side of the house to the backyard oasis. A two-tiered deck with fire pit and hot tub are complimented by a pondless waterfall bursting with pitcher plant, elephant ear, Louisiana iris, horsetail and papyrus. The river bed is filled with a variety of succulents and stones with inspirational messages.

5. Sugar Creek Garden
118 2nd Ave. [MAP]
Sugar Creek Garden is the newest branch of the Oakhurst Community Garden Project, initiated and managed by Lindsey Mann of Sustenance Design. Ground was broken April 3 of this year and great progress has been made thanks to hard-working volunteers! Biodynamic and organic growing practices are employed, and regular volunteers share in the produce. Plans for the garden include farm-like rows for vegetables, a medicinal herb meadow, pollinator flowers, fruiting trees and shrubs and an outdoor classroom. The garden is located behind Oakhurst Presbyterian Church, and accessed from the parking lot off of East Lake.

Oakhurst Presbyterian Church is celebrating their founding in 1921 on Saturday with activities open to the public.

6. Diana Berry and Steve Marshall
202 Feld Ave. [MAP]
The style here imitates an English country garden with narrow paths meandering among layers of flowers, herbs and vegetables. After purchasing their home three years ago, Steve designed and built fences, arbors, a patio, and garden sculptures from reclaimed materials. Plants are from a variety of sources, including their previous home in Stone Mountain and abandoned properties. The front garden was planted less than two years ago (a testament to good soil preparation) and includes specimen trees Snakebark maple and weeping redbud. The back garden is new this year and contains several different outdoor rooms to add variety and dimension. Favorite plants are narrow-leafed sunflower, stevia plant, Amsonia and blueberry. Walk along paths that follow lines of the house and note yard art, planted log and inuksuk (stone landmark).

7. Chelsea O’’Halloran
183 Feld Ave. [MAP]
This garden is the contest winner of ‘Lawns to Lettuce’ sponsored by Oakhurst Community Garden. The first transformation of a front yard to edible landscape is underway.  A work in progress, this former lawn is turning into a lush and productive edible and pollinator attracting garden. A unique fence has been installed around the yard to support climbing vines. See an example of how to start a ‘bag garden’ as a way to create raised garden beds. Free sources for mulching and creating pathways have been utilized. The completed garden will be a combination of annual vegetables and flowers, herbs, perennials and fruit bearing trees, shrubs and vines. This garden was started in late spring of 2010 and the final installations will be complete in the spring of 2011.

8. Andrew Currie and Robert Griffin
120 Mead Rd. [MAP]
What passerby hasn€™t noticed the large colorful hanging planters and red Adirondack chairs on the porch of this 1919 bungalow? A Southern red oak tree in the front yard shades the first of several raised beds built from cobblestones collected from the property. The mixed shrub bed along the porch is a wonderful combination of texture and color. Walk along the left side of the house to the sunny perennial bed of colorful blue asters, late season sunflowers, dahlias and mums anchored by a banana tree and elephant ear grove leading to a bald cypress tree. Bordering a public alley is a variety of trees, shrubs and potted Angel€™s Trumpets in pink, yellow and white as well as a raised vegetable garden. The name of the two potted tropical ferns near the garden remains a mystery to Robert and Andrew, even after 15 years of tending them.

9. Leda Lively and Carlene Talton
136 Mead Rd. [MAP]
Leda and Carlene started transforming the mud flat surrounding this newly constructed house in 1998. Only the white oak in the front and tulip poplar in the back predate their home. A Loropetalum and Rose of Sharon create a canopy over the drive lined with Carolina jessamine, crape myrtles and Carissa hollies. Japanese maples ‘Bloodgood’ and ‘Shiraz’ invite guests into the shade garden filled with autumn ferns, hostas, Lenten roses, a Virginia sweetspire and a variety of groundcovers. The back fence is bordered by dwarf Burford hollies. A Cardinal holly more than hides the stairway to the upper deck and behind it is a cozy swing shaded by ‘Natchez’ crape myrtle and climbing hydrangea. The ‘Zeon’ Zoysia sod is the only thing not installed by the owners who obviously like to get things done.

10. Laura and Wayne Silverman
150 Mead Rd. [MAP]
This newly landscaped garden features Tennessee Field Stone boulders, and a retaining wall accented by autumn ferns, dwarf Alberta spruce and ‘Feelin€™ Blue’® dwarf deodar cedar. Earthen berms add interest. Fall color is provided by ‘Autumn Embers’ and Lilac Encore azaleas and ZhuZhou Loropetulam. Plans and installation are by Angel Landscape Design and are inspired by Laura€™s love of colorful perennials. The sloping back yard features two stone-lined dry creek beds to facilitate drainage. Wayne brings more than 30 years of experience to the raised vegetable bed surrounded by a lush lattice of grapevines. Herbs peek through openings in the cinderblocks. The garden can be enjoyed from a ground-level shaded terrace or the overlooking screened porch and balcony lined with potted plants.

11. The Solarium at Old Scottish Rite
321 West Hill St. [MAP]
Designed in 1918 by renowned architect Neel Reid, this architectural gem combines historic charm with the warmth of the surrounding neighborhood. Built to house the original Scottish Rite Children€™s Hospital, this lovingly restored structure is now operated by the Community Center of South Decatur. It will be open on Saturday to offer tour goers a restroom and water fountain. Shaded by lovely oaks, the gardens are informal and designed to handle the high traffic of a rental facility. The Solarium is the perfect setting for weddings, receptions, special events and educational and recreational classes. Visit us for more information:  www.thesolarium.com.

Sunday: Check out the garden marketplace at Harmony Park located near the Solarium at the intersection of Oakview Road and Mead Road.

12. Anne Ritter and Bob Holmes
550 Ansley St. [MAP]
Purchased by the current owners in 2003, this 1948 home offers a classic Oakhurst/Decatur garden in transition. The marble bench is one of three original steps to the home. To the left of the porch is a fountain made from a cast-iron vat used to render cane juice to syrup in the old South. Passing through the fenced side yard into the back, tall crape myrtles, an umbrella leaf magnolia and a ‘Black Mission’ fig tree shade a variety of hostas, Lenten roses, ferns and Heucheras. Ground covers of Creeping Jenny and sedum grow between stone pavers. Delicate cypress vines bloom on the back fence with small, deep red flowers. Confederate jasmine cascades over the back door€™s stair railing. New plantings reclaim a formerly muddy hillside bordering the car park which doubles as a staging area. Two rows of Bradford pear trees reach for the light along the driveway as you exit.

13. Stephanie Van Parys and Rob Cleveland
503 Ansley St. [MAP]
Before the ink dried on the house contract, Stephanie and Rob started work on their property.  Using several organic gardening methods, the front and side yards were transformed into blooming and edible gardens.  Walk through a sustainable garden that uses water-wise plant choices, paper mulch to keep down weeds, and a lot of compost! Chickens scratch in the orchard which features muscadine vines, Asian pear tree, apple tree, and fig tree. Diverse selections of summer and fall vegetables grow in the 1,000 square-foot garden. Late September features varieties of lettuce, broccoli, potatoes, greens and more. Colorful fall perennials bloom along the roadside.  This 12-year-old garden is a farm in the city.

Stephanie is the executive director of the Oakhurst Community Garden Project and is a frequent lecturer at the Atlanta Botanical Garden and other community organizations. Her specialties are introducing children to gardening and healthy nutrition.

14. Bill Pardue
328 Kings Hwy. [MAP]
An avid gardener and volunteer with Woodlands Garden and Trees Atlanta, Bill has created an official wildlife sanctuary in a small city place. Good soil preparation is the key to growing and maintaining more than a hundred varieties of trees, shrubs and perennials. Obtained through rescue and nonprofit organization sales, 90 percent of this impressive inventory is native to Georgia. A plant list will be available. Note unusual mountain mint and wild climbing hydrangea. Trees include beech, buckeye, oak and Carolina silver bell. Seasonal color is provided by berry plants, possumhaw holly, goldenrod, tea olive and strawberry bush. Continue around to the side past the above ground fishpond with waterfall to the back of the property and then around to the side on walkways constructed by Bill. Sun-loving stands of Rudbeckia and Echinacea in and around the impressive roots of beautiful old trees in the front provide bright summer color.

15. Woodlands Garden
920 Scott Blvd. [MAP]
Woodlands Garden is a seven-acre oasis hidden away in the heart of busy Decatur.  Trails meander through towering poplar and oak trees, past a screened cedar pavilion and an open amphitheater, through gardens full of blooms in all seasons, and down to a stream.  The historic gardens around the house have collections of hydrangeas, camellias, Japanese maples and more. Listen to live acoustic music in the Pavilion throughout the weekend.

16. Ryan Gainey
129 Emerson Ave. [MAP]
Ryan Gainey’s internationally known garden covers three small city lots in Decatur, but seems much larger because of the many garden rooms and passageways. Numerous water features delight the senses and the variety of plants is wondrous. Ryan Gainey with display earthenware that was inspired by flowers in his garden.

Ryan Gainey’s internationally known garden covers three small city lots in Decatur, but seems much larger because of the many garden rooms and passageways. Numerous water features delight the senses and the variety of plants is wondrous. Gainey has allowed the public to enjoy and follow the progress of his garden for more than 20 years. He has applied for local landmark status to preserve the garden permanently as a public greenspace.