2011 Art in the Garden Tour – Brief Garden Tour Descriptions
1. Mary Lou Lindsey, 5943 Brace Road. 28211. This is a very personal garden with
design ideas by Mary Lou’s dear friend, Haskell Eargle and her son, Neal Forney.
Garden stones are engraved with the names and birthdays of her grandchildren and
beloved pets. Art pieces created by her son are treasures found throughout the garden.
Garden furniture from her mother adorns the restful patio. The sound of the waterfall
from the pond invites repose and reflection.
2. Neal and Katherine Forney, 237 Hunter Lane. 28211. This legacy garden, previously
owned by Leon Gutmann, has been a restoration project for the Forney family. Many of
the smaller plants had been “poached” (with permission) by Leon’s friends and fellow
gardeners. Since acquiring the property in 2003 the Forneys have faced the mighty task
of undoing decades of invasive wisteria, ivy and vinca. Using the good bones of the
existing foundation plants, they have put their own imprint on the garden. Many of the
plants and hardscape are rescued and recycled from their construction business. Neal’s
sculptures enhance this natural retreat.
3. Dean and Judy Johnson, 2237 Vauxhall Court. 28226. What to do with a small grass
yard with a limited visual appeal? How about an area of shapely paths set amongst
deciduous and evergreen trees, flowering plants for seasonal beauty, fruit trees, a
workable garden, and an ornamental hedge and fish pond! All designed to enchant the
observer, provide workable gardening opportunities and add a sense of peace and quiet
to a personal outdoor space. This was the goal and this is the new garden’s beginning!
4. Elizabeth Lawrence Garden, 348 Ridgewood Ave. 28209. In 1949, garden designer
and writer Elizabeth Lawrence began laying out a garden on a modest lot that would
embody her lifelong celebration of Southern horticulture. This graceful refuge doubled as
a living laboratory for her study and appreciation of plants and design. Lawrence’s
garden was an inspiration for her writing for thirty-five years. The property was entered in
the National Register of Historic Places in 2006, and purchased by the Wing Haven
Foundation in 2008.
5. Dr. Neal and Kelly Taub, 1737 Queens Road West. 28207. This garden is an
entertaining gem! Designer Myron Greer worked with the Taubs to create a New Orleans
style courtyard garden between the rear wings of the home. The outdoor dining room
includes a water garden that doubles as an in-ground heated spa. A large parking court
was created in the front of the house that doubles as an entertaining venue for special
gatherings such as the famous “Booty Loop” bike race parties along Queens Road West.
Plants of special interest include the Variegated Chinese Dogwood, “Wolf’s Eye” near
the spa. The large containers hold Japanese Maple specimens “Shishigashira” and
potted dwarf bamboo, “Green Panda”. Enjoy!
6. Bob and Dru Quarles, 1700 Queens Road, 28207. The McManaway house was built in
1874 on Trade Street in uptown Charlotte, and moved to its present location in 1916. It is
the former home of local Myers Park character Hugh McManaway, who is immortalized
by the bronze statue at the corner of Queens and Providence Roads. The house is n
historic landmark, but the gardens are not. The architectural style of the home is
Victorian Italianate, and to many the house looks like it belongs in the Garden District of
New Orleans. Dru considers her garden as “crumbling decadence” – a mix of the classical,
structured Italian-villa gardens, and the verdant, rusty funkiness found in the gardens of
New Orleans.