NNER I W
e
Choic ’ s r e d a e R
2019
Thank you for voting us Best Garden Center! We appreciate your business.
656 So. Mammoth Rd. Route 28A Manchester, NH 03109 603-625-8298 www.DemersGardenCenter.com
Garden Center Family Owned Since 1970 • Open 7 Days a Week
Welcome! Dear Garden Guests, Thank you for supporting the Palace Theatres by sharing in this wonderful Garden Tour! The proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit programs at the historic Palace Theatres which include our professional shows as well as our many fantastic youth programs. These lovely, stylistically, and horticulturally diverse gardens are creations of love and inspiration - some decades in the making, others only several years. Get an up-close, behind the gates look at a variety of different landscapes! Whether you are an experienced gardener, just getting started, or just enjoy floriculture, these unique locations will give you many ideas to consider for your own landscape. Also enjoy some additional stops including Angela’s Pasta & Cheese Shop for a free coffee sampling and scone, The Crown Tavern for a 10% discount on food, the Community Garden and Compassion Garden at Brookside Congregational Church, as well as Wagner “Pretty” Park. We would like to thank all who generously participated, especially our Sponsors, Accurate Landscape & Snow Management, Bedford Fields, Bellman Jewelers, Demers Garden Center, and Jacques Flower Shop. Special thanks to Elinor Terrell, Fiona McKenna and Winnie Schmidt from the Manchester Garden Club who gave of their time talent and energy on the Garden Tour Committee. A huge thanks to the kind and creative garden owners who opened up their gardens for us to enjoy! Again, we are so grateful that you are able to join us for this event to support the Palace Theatres.
Special Thanks: Aurore Eaton Granite Street Cabinetry HB Blanchette Karen Long Louise August Manchester Garden Club Mary Heath and Bob Leclair
Marcus Forand, Andrew Freshour and Cody Carlson MCPHS University Patrick and Susan McKeown Pauline Bogaert Peter and Kate Boisvert Roby and Joyce Robitaille
BONUS: Find the “gem” hidden in each garden and be entered to win a real gem! A lovely 15.8 carat, emerald cut, amethyst! See volunteers for information.
Tour Etiquette: As gardens featured on the tour are provided courtesy of the homeowners, proper garden tour etiquette is kindly requested. Please follow the following guidelines to ensure the event is a success and enjoyable for all! ● Please show your wristband to tour volunteers to gain entry into each garden. ● Homes are closed to the public. If you require a restroom, please use the restrooms in the Palace Theatre. ● When parking, please be sensitive to garden neighbors. ● We know you love your pets, but please leave them at home. ● Smoking (tobacco, electric cigarettes, vape, etc.) is not permitted in the gardens. ● Plants prefer not to be crushed. Kindly remain on paths and follow directions through the gardens as indicated by the hosts. ● Refrain from touching, picking plants, or removing any part of a plant (even if it’s a weed)! ● Please supervise your children at all times. ● Photography for personal use only. Please ask homeowner if the use of a tripod is permissible. ● The gardener is letting you into their work and creation, compliments are welcome as there is always something amazing to find in any garden! ● Most importantly, have fun and be inspired!
T R E AT YO U R S E L F because you deserve it
BELLMAN JEWELERS 1650 Elm Street Manchester, NH 03101 603-625-4653 | WWW.BELLMANS.COM
Tour Stops ● Gardens are open from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm ● Garden Addresses: 1. 483 Coral Ave 2. 336 Whitney Ave 3. 299 Steinmetz Dr. 4. 957 Straw Hill Rd. 5. 40 Liberty St. 6. 117 Brook St. 7. 118 Hollis St. - Amoskeag Terrace Condo 8. 76 Island Pond Rd. 9. 88 Island Pond Rd. ● Gardens may be toured in any order! ● Additional Stops of Interest: 1. Angela’s Pasta and Cheese Shop – 815 Chestnut St. 2. Brookside Congregational Church – 2013 Elm St. 3. The Crown Tavern – 99 Hanover St. 4. The Palace Theatre – 80 Hanover St. 5. Wagner Memorial Park – Corner of Prospect/ Maple St. We are so pleased to highlight these gardens! We hope you will also take the time to appreciate the other gardens, yards and homes you pass by. Our community takes pride in Manchester which benefits us all!
Tour Stops 483 Coral Ave 336 Whitney Ave
299 Steinmetz Dr.
957 Straw Hill Rd
Brookside Congregational Church Angela’s Pasta & Cheese Shop 40 Liberty St. 117 Brook St.
Wagner Park
118 Hollis St. The Palace Theatre The Crown
N W
E S
76 Island Pond Rd. 88 Island Pond Rd.
Choreographed Performances Delivered!
712 Mast Road, Manchester, NH 603.625.6153 Open Monday through Saturday, 8 A.M. - 6 P.M. and Sunday, 9A.M. - 3 P.M. www.jacquesflowers.com
Garden #1: 483 Coral Ave Joyce Robitaille has lived here for over 40 years. Here she raised three sons with her husband Lou. The backyard, once the neighborhood kickball field was slowly reclaimed by Joyce as the boys grew older. Joyce created a stone patio shade garden where the swing set once stood. When the shade in the backyard thwarted attempts at creating a successful perennial garden, Lou suggested creating a garden in the front yard to the left of the driveway. Joyce had her doubts, but years later it still thrives in the all-day sun. After Lou’s death in 2005, Joyce named the front garden, “Lou’s Garden.”
In 2007 Joyce found love again with Roby Robitaille, who had also been widowed. Moving to Coral Ave, Roby brought with him many artifacts from his own gardens. When his beautiful fountain found a home in one of the back gardens, that garden aptly became “Lucille’s Garden” after Roby’s deceased wife.
Joyce and Roby have continued to expand the gardens, Roby creating the charming
corner garden in the front yard and together working in the ever evolving back gardens. They often take time in the afternoon to sit in the back yard with a drink and snack enjoying the gardens and the birds that visit their many feeders. “It’s our sanctuary,” Roby says.
Garden #2: 336 Whitney Ave We purchased the home in 2008 and started with a blank slate across the entire yard which is around 1/3 of an acre. Some trees were cut down or
limbed up and many spots have been regraded. The yard is kind of an exotic
New England style with a touch of whimsy. It’s a magical oasis that makes one forget that they are in the city. 90% of the work was completed by our family. There are a few mini gardens inside including a moss garden, vegetable
garden, scent garden and a fairy waterfall garden. Typical annual vegetables are grown in addition to garlic, strawberries, black raspberries, cherries and
blueberries. I also tap my maple trees and produce up to one gallon of syrup each year.
Plant, shrubs and trees were placed to provide the best color, texture and size combination from as many different angles as possible. Winter interest was
also a strong consideration for plant varieties. Whimsy was added with help from my wife and two lovely daughters.
The lawn was seeded with personally selected, highest NTEP rated Kentucky bluegrass seed (color, disease resistance, drought tolerance). The lawn and
the yard overall is maintained using least toxic pest/fungus management with
the preference towards organic. The soil is finely tuned through yearly tests of macro and micronutrients. Feeding is through a sprayed bacteria blend and
Boston based sewer sludge pellets. To increase organic matter I mulch over two feet worth of leaves into the lawn yearly, often taking neighbors leave
bags. I also have applied shampoo/hand soap, alfalfa, cracked corn, beer,
molasses, coffee grounds, raw milk, compost, wood pellets, kelp, and yucca as each has their own particular benefit.
What had started as a lawn hobby has blossomed into a love of gardening and getting my hands dirty. Nothing makes me happier than being outside
with nature and my yard gives me both an artistic outlet and a Garden of Eden that my whole family can enjoy.
TREE PRUNING
TREE REMOVAL
STUMP GRINDING
INSECTS & DISEASE
TREE FERTILIZATION
WEED CONTROL
60 Merrimack St. Hooksett, NH 03016 www.collinstree.com • (603) 485-4761 or (603) 746-4868
Garden #3: 299 Steinmetz Drive Our oasis in the city When we bought our home in 1981 there were no gardens. With a six-yearold, a three-year-old, and a newborn, we were too busy to notice or care. I do enjoy looking at the old pictures though and seeing not only the changes that I have made, but also the ones that nature has bestowed over these last 40 years. The trees have now grown to give us a mostly private backyard for a city location. Having an inground pool, we treasure this seclusion. White stones that were irritating to the feet back then have been replaced by softer grass that is more soothing to the eye as well as the sole! My first job as a fourteen-year-old was picking tobacco in Connecticut. I enjoyed getting in the dirt then, so it was no surprise to me that I liked getting my hands in the soil again. I began slowly with a small patch in the backyard. In addition to reading about plants, I started to notice other people’s gardens as I drove around the city. My interest and curiosity gave me the courage to stop and chat with homeowners whose gardens I admired. It was so rewarding when these skilled gardeners took the time to give me a tour. They were often happy to share some cuttings with me. I remember one lovely gentleman who shared a peony plant. He asked to come over and see my early work and I will be forever grateful to him for his encouraging comment, “Why I believe this might be the nicest garden in Manchester.” How I wish he lived to see what he did for my horticultural confidence. His peony has bloomed every year for almost 40 years! Now, I understand how pleased those gardeners were that someone just starting out was taking an interest in their accomplishments. I have now developed almost more gardens than I have the energy to weed! I have two gardens in the front yard and others that surround the perimeter of my property. My wife is especially delighted with the numerous plants I have potted surrounding the pool that she enjoys several times a day. I am happy now to show others who have an interest in gardening and share what knowledge I have acquired. With my mature plants, I have been able to split and share them with several people. My nephew and his wife recently bought a home in New Hampshire, and it has been a delight to help launch them in their landscaping pursuits. I love knowing a bit of my efforts will go on to give pleasure to others.
Garden #4: 957 Straw Hill Rd. A condo complex of 57 single standing homes, 957 is unique because it is situated with two fields and woods on the north and east sides. For over 16 years “Peeps” and Jim have turned the former neglected spaces surrounding the home into four small gardens and a large one behind the residence, all of which bloom with seasonal plants May to September. While you tour look for the hidden gems that have been embedded in the gardens. Tourers will first see a roadside garden atop a stone wall with multiple day lilies and clumps of “husker red” beard-tongues. A second garden behind the fence has annual and potted plants; an all-season green-potted Japanese ‘Katsura’ Pieris shields the home’s utilities near the gate. Hellebores lined against the home’s front bring spring’s first blooms, but day lilies rule this garden in July. The red door leads to a white/moon garden where five koi swim in the pond near a granite bench. This garden’s white blooms include dusty miller, impatiens, astilbes, Asiatic lilies and phlox. Step through an arbor and you’ll find a large swath of numerous perennials plants— yellow loosestrife, shasta daisies, autumn joy sedum, turtleheads, nasturtiums — and a boxed herb and vegetable garden. Crossing the foot bridge leads to a path back to the main road.
NO PARKING ON STRAW HILL RD. Park on Robie Street
Gift Baskets UNIQUE
FINE FOODS FROM LOCAL FARMS & AROUND THE WORLD
SENT ANYWHERE IN THE USA
Cheese
Charcuterie CHEESES, SALAMIS, OLIVES
PATÉS & BREADS
PastaWine CUT TO ORDER
FRESH
FUN SELECTIONS DELICIOUS
Dinners & LUNCH FREE MADE FRESH EVERYDAY
ANGELA’S ITALIAN ROAST COFFEE SAMPLING WITH A YUMMY TREAT ON SATURDAY JULY 17 FOR GARDEN TOUR ATTENDEES WEARING A TAG.
9-1
PERSONAL SHOPPING & CURBSIDE PICK-UP 603.625.9544 HOURS: M–F: 9–6, SAT: 9–1 815 CHESTNUT STREET MANCHESTER ANGEL ASPASTA ANDCHEESE.COM
Garden #5: 40 Liberty Street Liberty Street Rose Garden Inspired by an English cottage garden, I jokingly refer to it as the “Liberty Street Rose Garden.” My adventures began a little over six years ago when my Husband and I purchased our first home and realized that come spring we would need to tackle not only several indoor projects but also some outside ones too. My gardening experience was limited however at that time, and I knew there would be a lot to learn. Along with the overgrown weeds that came with the house I also removed a lot of old plants that were mainly invasives including barberry which had spread through the yard and was almost killing the neighboring holly bush. It had needles so long that handling it was hazardous and I was happy to see it gone. At that point I was firmly against any plant that wanted to attack me and so I pulled out several very old, overgrown rose bushes. It wasn’t until that autumn that I began looking into roses after adding a raised garden to the side of my driveway and thinking that it might be the perfect spot for a row of dark red, fragrant, hybrid tea roses. I like to joke that at this point I had become possessed by the original owner of our house as I’ve heard that she was quite fond of keeping roses also. Our garden currently is home to over seventy rose bushes, a mix of mostly English and Old garden varieties including my newly added Quatre Saisons rose which was the first repeat blooming rose in Europe and was discovered sometime before 1633. I also have seven New Dawn roses that span across our front fence which along with our blue hydrangeas remind me of Cape Cod. Our garden is far from finished and I love spending winters researching new plants and new ideas for the following growing season. Follow along with my garden on Instagram @Joshua.Al3xander and my blog @ www.urbanrosegarden.com – Also for those interested please check out my next adventure which involves flower farming and mixed flower bouquets on Instagram @blue.violet.botanicals and www.bluevioletbotanicals.com
Garden #6: 117 Brook Street Walnut Brook When looking for a house, especially in the city there is no greater selling feature than a plot of land. Three years ago we were fortunate enough to find a sturdy two family victorian with half of it’s deeded plot intact. And this section is a saturated green space, which previous owners had sculpted with patios, stone walls, and even an inground pool converted into a pond. All this hardscape gave us plenty to start with but there was a lack of planting. Fresh to gardening, but filled with ideas from previous garden tours and gardener friends, we have been feeling our way through this new lifestyle. Our little gem contains a variety of garden styles that reflects our learning; an orchard of apples, a section of shaded forest floor, a potager terraced with wattled willow borders, a rose border, xeriscaped rock garden and lastly a burgeoning koi pond that is springing forth. It is like a botanical garden compartmentalized in these sections yet grass, stone and brick paths draw the viewer through allowing one to stop and reflect on the short journey across the yard. Though it’s been only three years of growth, the space is just starting to mature.
10%
discount to tour attendees Food only. Expires 7/17/21
Proudly Supports the Palace and Rex Theatres Quality work guaranteed Residential Fencing Specialists since 2005 fully insured
ESTI E E FR
MA
TES!
since 2005 www.LRFence.com 25 C ountr y Club Rd Suite 606 Gilford, NH 03249
Call Us for a Free E stimate! 603.524.6061
Garden #7: Amoskeag Terrace - 118 Hollis St. Welcome to Amoskeag Terrace, a 40-unit condominium association in historic 103-year-old buildings. These city-center homes are an oasis in the bustling Manchester scene and the Amoskeag Millyard, and make it easy for the owners to stroll downtown to enjoy the varied and busy dining scene, watch a parade or fireworks, or walk to work. Many have commented on the uniqueness of these brick townhouses, each of which has two floors and a basement. The units are occupied in the manner for which they were originally designed and built by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company for middlemanagers and their families. The three grassed courtyards are common areas maintained by the Association. There you will see Norway maples, nearly 70 feet tall stretching above the buildings, which provide much summer shade and lend a park-like grace to the property. Significant re-planting efforts starting in 2014 include Japanese Bloodgood Maples, Blue Point Junipers, Redbud, Crabapple, Serviceberry, Steed’s Holly, Rose of Sharon, and various kinds of Hydrangea. While many plants struggle with the roots and shade of the Norway maples, Hosta in many varieties are quite at home here. The lower courtyard (along Canal Street) displays several Summersweet and is screened from Canal Street by prospering 20-foot arborvitae. On the driveway side of each row of buildings you will see that unit owners have used their creativity and effort in the patio and pocket garden designs. Summer annuals are a favorite of many gardeners, some in handsome pots, but a variety of perennials find their home here too, as well as some small trees including Japanese lilac and dogwood. Whether under a sun umbrella or shielded by plantings, the unit owners can appreciate their outdoor space and some of nature’s balm as they enjoy a cup of morning coffee or a meal at their patio table. As you stroll you will also see a couple of mini-gardens along the street. These one-yard square spaces, left open in the sidewalk after city trees were removed, have been adopted by some unit owners who have highlighted these blank canvases with bright summer color for the benefit of those who pass by.
BONUS: Walking Tour of Amoskeag Terrace 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Local historian and NH Union Leader columnist Aurore Eaton will lead half hour walking tours focusing on the architecture and history of Amoskeag Terrace and of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company that designed Manchester as a modern planned city. Aurore and her husband Scott have lived at Amoskeag Terrace for over 20 years. Please meet at the reception table.
Park on street or MCPHS lot across from Hollis St.
Become a member and start receiving exclusive benefits today! For purchasing, scheduling & inquiries, contact Sarah Souter 603.668.5588x124 or SarahSouter@PalaceTheatre.org
999 CANDIA ROAD, SUITES 5, MANCHESTER, NH 03109 WWW.ACCURATELANDSCAPENH.COM | 603-296-7792
Garden #8: 76 Island Pond Rd. Mary and Bob’s whimsical garden began with a small herb garden with sage, rosemary and thyme as well as basal, dill and cilantro and grew to include numerous irises, lilies, bee balm, daisies, a variety of hosta’s and hydrangea bushes. Spring invites the poppies and bleeding hearts to bloom and soon they give way to the irises pushing through the ground. In late July and early August, the hydrangea bushes bloom full of white flowers. Every year is a new surprise from Mother Nature. Surrounded by woods, the garden is fenced in to protect it from a variety of wildlife trying to gain entry and is a mixture of perennials, annuals and vegetables and covers an area of about 1,000 square feet. The garden has grown over the last thirty years and has become the site for family gatherings, visitors, and relaxation. Our daughter was married in the yard and we’ve hosted many events over the years for Governor/Senator Shaheen and Hassan. Every year the garden changes and as the Cherry Tree sheds its fruit, we find a whole new variety of plants that appear. As we sit by the garden or pull weeds, we can watch a Red-Tailed Hawk search for his dinner or a little brown rabbit eating the grass. Early in the morning, turkeys, deer and fox can be seen. Daisies, Bee Balm, and a variety of lilies begin to bloom in early July and as the vegetables grow, we enjoy both the wonders of the garden but also the vegetables that come from the garden. August and September take us to the kitchen to can the varieties of tomatoes for the winter ahead.
Park on Benjamin Street
Garden #9: 88 Island Pond Rd. August Gardens Although the gardens are named August, they bloom from spring to fall. Started 20 years ago with my husband Cliff as a hobby, we continually added new plants every year, and the result is a beautiful variety of flowers throughout the yard. In the spring there are a variety of flowers that make the yard so colorful. They include: May Apples, Blood Root, Virginia Blue Bells, Yellow Lady Slippers and For-Get-Me-Nots. As we move into the summer months, the yard starts to burst with color. Peonies, Allium, and Cora Bells are just a few of the flowers that add gorgeous color to the already blooming spring flowers. Also, thoughout the yard there is a variety of Hosta that add just enough greenery to enhance the color of the flowers. Late summer rolls around and we begin to see the final color for the season that will last through the fall. These plants include: Day Lillies, Holly Hocks, Tall Phlox, Smoke Bushes, Hydrangeas, and Oriental grasses As you will see, there are many more flowers than I have mentioned here. It is wonderful to walk through the gardens on any given day and see what new flower has bloomed. I hope you enjoy your visit to the August Gardens. Thank you for coming. Louise August
Park on Benjamin Street
Over 4,500 businesses turn to Spectrum because we have the strategies and solutions that deliver results.
With in-house production, a creative team of over 25 designers and marketing professionals that specialize in a range of industries, Spectrum provides our clients with unrivaled resources to ensure their success. Contact a Dedicated Spectrum Sales Representative Today
DIRECT MAIL
DATA
CREATIVE
PRINTING
SIGNAGE
95 Eddy Road Suite 101 Manchester, NH 03102 603.627.0042 spectrummarketing.com
Additional Stops: Wagner Memorial Park - “Pretty Park” Wagner Memorial Park was constructed over 75 years ago at the bequest of Ottillie Wagner, whose home once stood on the property bounded by Maple. Myrtle, Oak, and Prospect streets. Mrs. Wagner appropriated $125,000 for removal of her home and the construction of the park which featured a granite memorial in the northeast corner surrounded by bronze fencing. The rest of the park contains walkways, benches, and lamps creating space for quiet contemplation. It was Mrs. Wagner’s request that no playground be built on the grounds. Two years ago the park underwent the first phase of a two phase rehabilitation. The improvements are intended to re-establish the park’s beauty through plant replacement, brick installation, bench upgrades, and the creation of a new walkway leading to the park’s iconic domed memorial. Another project highlight was the creation of a plaza near the existing flagpole along the Myrtle Street side of the park. The park is a favorite for Manchester area wedding photos and ceremonies, and is once again worthy of its “Pretty Park” nickname.
Brookside Congregational Church There is a rich history to the grounds and gardens of Brookside Congregational Church. In 1957, Mrs. Mary Manning, daughter of Manchester philanthropist Frank Carpenter offered her 10-acre estate on North Elm Street known as “The Brook” as the site for a new church to be built. The Brookside Congregational Church property includes a 1908 neo-Classical estate house referred to as The Manning House. The large brick Georgian Revival church was built in 1960 and connects to the main house and to a circa 1908 carriage house by two-story brick hyphens. A caretaker’s cottage, gazebo, garage and shed also contribute to the complex’s historical significance. In October 2020, the State Historical Resources Council added the Brookside Congregational Church complex to the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places. The Council found that Brookside was significant for its architecture and for its role in Manchester’s religious history. Today the beautiful grounds are home to the Compassionate Friends Memorial Garden. The Compassionate Friends organization offers friendship, understanding, and hope to bereaved families that have experienced the death of a child. Engraved bricks memorialize these loved ones within the garden surrounded by symbolic butterflies, an archway and beautiful plans and flowers. The grounds are also used as a venue for church services, a children’s story hour and other local events including a production of Peter Pan. Additional highlights on the property include the rose garden that flanks the Brookside Thrift Shop, a grape arbor and the community garden. The Southern New Hampshire Resource Conservation & Development Council along with the International Institute of New Hampshire help support the community garden. The garden has been hosting families every year since 2004, including longterm gardeners from the Ukraine, Sudan, Somalia, Bhutanese, as well as Americanborn gardeners. Traditional ethnic crops such as mustards, dry corn, and hot chilies mix with Yankee favorites such as carrots, tomatoes, and garlic.
Established in 1933, the Manchester Garden Club is dedicated to furthering the beauty and development of Manchester.
91 Members and growing! ManchesterNHGardenClub.org Like us on Facebook @ManchesterNHGardenClub to get all the latest news
PRESENTS
THUR. JULY 15TH 7:30PM
FRI. JULY 16TH 7:30PM
FRI. JULY 23RD 7:30PM
Garden Notes
BROADWAY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
RETURNS
SEPT. 10 - 26
OCT. 15 - NOV. 14
NOV. 19 - 21
NOV. 26 - DEC. 22
JAN. 28 - FEB. 20
MAR. 11 - APR. 3
APR. 22 - MAY 15
JUN. 3 - 26
603.668.5588
PALACETHEATRE.ORG