Marilyn Green's husband, Dale, was in the Army, and while they were stationed in England three decades ago, they rented a "hall" -- a gargantuan, 6,000-square-foot structure, parts of which dated back to the 1500s.
The experience changed Marilyn Green's life.
FAQ
Through the Garden Gate
WHEN — 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday
WHERE — Seven private gardens plus the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks in Fayetteville
COST — $15 at all Westwood Garden Centers and at the Botanical Garden in Fayetteville now; all tour locations on Saturday
INFO — 595-2298
FYI
Through the Garden Gate
Locations
Parkside Retreat — Cathy & Bill Hairston, 657 N. Wilson St.: “We are the fifth generation to own this little bit of dirt. Our driveway is flanked by tree hydrangeas, crepe myrtle bushes and a river birch. Our front lawn is tall fescue planted with lilacs, male trees, hostas, peonies, hardy geraniums, hollies and azaleas. The back deck features a Japanese maple surrounded by hostas.”
An Heirloom Garden — Carol Sue Wooten, 279 Ila St.: “At first glance, one may miss the treasured heirlooms, hidden among the tailored evergreens and tidy structure of the street side lawn and landscape, but it’s these unseen features and adornments, passed down from grandmothers, fathers, mothers and friends, that provide special memories and tell the story of this family’s garden.”
Dingley Dell — Keith & Elaine Blowers, 1879 W. Archer Drive: “A few years ago, we created a rain garden after hearing several how-to presentations. More recently we have reduced maintenance by eliminating some Bermuda grass lawns and created new beds using mulch and dwarf Mundo grass.”
Blooms and Bliss — Judy & Jack Henbest, 2901 W. Mount Comfort Road: “The gardens are planted on land that is occupied by the fifth generation of Henbests. The second largest Hackberry tree identified in Arkansas is a prominent feature of the property.”
Summershade Retreat — Charlotte Quattlebaum, 3040 E. Summershade Drive: “Having a fondness for Arkansas native plants, I do use them as often as possible. They were the start for additional trees in the garden with the eastern dogwoods and the Forest pansy redbud as a transition from lawn to woods.”
Mon Jardin — Cindy & Mark McNair, 3483 E. Fredricksburg Circle: “Herbs include rosemary, thyme, sage, mint, chives and parsley. Several Amur Maples anchor the pool garden [and] the five deciduous azaleas (‘Snowbird’) were purchased at the 2001 Biltmore Estate’s Spring Festival of Flowers.”
"It got us into the English way," she says with a chuckle.
One result of that abiding passion will be revealed to the public on Saturday, when the Flower, Garden & Nature Society hosts its annual Through the Garden Gate tour. Green's garden at 1035 N. Park Ave. in Fayetteville will be one of seven homes open to visitors, along with the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks.
Green says she has always liked to garden, but "I don't do formal gardens. Everything is very casual." So were the gardens at their English hall, which she says she didn't tend. "They just grew." Among the plantings were roses, lavender and an apple orchard, and the Greens often entertained outdoors. One Fourth of July, she remembers, they made homemade ice cream for guests, then retired inside to gather around one of the many fireplaces. "We called it a five-sweater house," she says. "It had central heat, but it cost $1,000 a month to run it. We just put on more clothes." Their English friends approved. "They think Americans all keep their homes too warm."
Returning to the United States after traveling the world, Dale Green went to work for Walmart, and Marilyn convinced him to settle in Fayetteville, where the couple had met. They've been in the 80-year-old house on Park Avenue for nine years. But, she says with some pride, much of the garden looks like it's been there "forever."
"Our garden has developed over the years, starting with the front yard," Green says in the pamphlet for the tour. "We first added the antique iron fence, once belonging to a friend's mother in Harrison. Since there was a limited amount of fencing, we enclosed the yard with the hedges. ... The Arkansas climate does not lend itself to growing many English flowers but, by staying with plants cultivated for our area, a similar effect can be created. We have vines, like ivy, Carolina Jasmine and sweet autumn clematis. They give the garden an established appearance, when not taking over. Herbs can be as beautiful in a garden with their architectural shapes as flowers or shrubs. We have always planted culinary here in with the flowers. And, of course, there needs to be roses -- Zephirine Drouhin, New Dawn, Lady Banks, David Austen's 'Graham Thomas, along with a variety of Knockouts, [and] Winners Circle, a climber in the side yard, is trimmed to make a large shrub."
"We just sort of lost our heads," she adds in a conversation. "I say I'm not a gardener, I'm a planter."
And her husband?
"He's a good weeder," she says.
NAN What's Up on 06/10/2016