Other Activities On the Weekend of the Tour
Plant Sale
During the two days of the tour, the Carlisle Garden Club will also host a plant sale featuring hearty perennials from the gardens of garden club members. The plant sale will take place at the First Religious Society from 10:00am – 4:00 PM on both days.This event is a major fundraiser for the garden club. Proceeds are used for town beautification projects, scholarships for high school students and civic programs.
Artisans, Herbs, and History at the Heald House, 698 Concord Street
Visit the Heald House, the home of the Carlisle Historical Society, where the Carlisle Artisans are selling unique hand-made crafts, including pottery, woolens, fabric creations, soaps, paintings, photography, and drawings. When you are finished shopping, view the Historical Society’s extensive display of objects from the Battle of Gettysburg. Also on view are historic artifacts from the daily lives of Carlisle’s founders and builders. Finally, check out the reclaimed herb garden as you relax with free refreshments. A portion of all proceeds from the Artisans’ sale benefits the work of the Historical Society.
Lunch, Water & Perennial Garden, Experts at Ferns Country Store, Carlisle Center
Garden Tour patrons receive a 10% discount at Ferns Country Store (see ad on the map page). Check out the piazza for a fabulous waterfall and perennial garden designed by Jay Bearfield of Liquid Landscape. The window boxes are full of blooming annuals. From 12:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. both days a variety of horticultural experts will be on hand to answer your questions, so enjoy lunch while getting free expert advice!
A Mid-Town Oasis at Center Park, 42 Lowell Street
Just north of Ferns Country Store is a jewel of a garden located in the heart of Carlisle. A flower-filled island welcomes visitors. Granite benches in the midst of an emerald lawn invite picnics and conversations, or simply quiet contemplation of the beauty surrounding you. Astilbe, peonies, roses, bleeding heart, catmint, coral bells, and geraniums are just a few of the performers offering June color. But this garden puts on a show throughout the year, so be sure to return later to enjoy the sedum, summersweet, hydrangea, and winterberry as autumn colors fill the beds. The Friends of Center Park and designer Maria von Brincken have turned what was once an empty lot into a place of serenity, open to all. The story of Center Park is presented on easels along with photos of the garden throughout the year. For more information check www.centerparkincarlislema.wordpress.com
Books in Bloom at the Gleason Library, 22 Bedford Road
The Gleason Library presents Books in Bloom, a display of novels, histories, and how-tos, all on the subject of gardening. The books were chosen from Garden Club members’ favorites. Remember loving The Secret Garden when you were young? Rediscover the joy of gardening through reading with these titles, selected to inspire the plant lover in all of us. Look for the gardening themed display at the back of the first floor reading room.
Peace and Serenity at the Infinity Garden, behind the First Religious Society
To the left as you face the First Religious Society church is the pathway to a garden designed for meditation. The main path is in the shape of an infinity symbol. Two oval beds are planted with spring bulbs, low perennials and shrubs. One boulder of Chelmsford granite was cut into five pieces to form a center with satellites facing North, South, East and West. Mature trees provide dappled shade and new native trees and shrubs lend the beauty of flowers and colorful leaves. Rest for a moment, and listen to the breeze whispering through the trees. It’s hard to believe this site was once filled with invasive Norway maples, discarded tires, and poison ivy. The garden was designed by Alison Saylor and begun in 2007 for the 250th anniversary of Carlisle’s First Religious Society. Each year sees new additions, including the Memorial Garden, new in May 2012.
Calling All Volunteers!
The Carlisle Garden Club is looking for volunteers for this year's 2013 Garden Tour! We need people to help sit at gardens as guides and ticket-takers. Even if you know nothing about gardening, now is the perfect time to learn! You'll be equipped with talking points on the different plants so you can sound like a brilliant horticulturist when visitors come through. And when you volunteer, you get free admission to all six gardens on this year's tour! If you are in high school, this is a perfect opportunity to log your community service hours, as we are a non-profit organization! You can volunteer by clicking the button below.
