Daylily Gardens Tour Set For June 2 In Cartersville, Rydal

The Daylily Gardens Tour — Cartersville & Rydal, hosted by Northwest Georgia Daylily Society, will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 2 at four locations in Bartow County.

Tickets for the tour are $10 each, and can be purchased at any of the locations on the tour on the day of the event. Tour garden locations are:

• 22 Grove Park Circle, Cartersville, GA 30120 (off Douthit Ferry Rd.)
• 13 Ash Ct NE, Cartersville, GA 30121 (off Peeples Valley Rd.)
• 215 Knucklesville Rd, Rydal, GA 30171 (off US 411)
• 35 Northwoods Dr. NW, Cartersville, GA 30121 (off Old Cassville-White Rd.)

Here's what you can expect at each of the four gardens:

22 Grove Park Circle: This is an ever-evolving garden. Owners walk the small lot with neighbors, trading plants and ideas, and then develop a plan, only to change it when a plant entices them to buy it. In just four years the yard was transformed, from green bushes with a splash of Stella de Oro daylilies, to a garden landscape with various flowering perennials now visited by hummingbirds and butterflies. To make the garden more back-and-knee friendly and accessible, owners have installed a unique sloping raised bed in the side yard, showcasing most of the perennials that require deadheading.

13 Ash Court: “Lily Hill” is graced with stack-rock terraces and cobblestone paths. 15 unusual, miniature Japanese maples anchor the flower beds. Varied styles and colors of pottery are nestled throughout the gardens, filled to overflowing with vibrantly-colored flowers. Beneath outbuilding eaves and tree limbs dangle feeders and tiny houses to attract wildlife to stay and pollinate or protect the gardens. Whimsical yard art and statuary peek out among the shrubs and flowers. A custom-built arbor, with swing and privacy screen, invites guests to linger and become part of the artful landscape. Don’t miss the fairy gardens, fountains, patio fire pit, and decorated garden shed which accentuate the plantings of hydrangeas and named daylilies.

215 Knucklesville Rd: “Red Earth Garden” offers panoramic and peaceful views of Salacoa Valley Farm, as visitors enjoy the variety of gardens that have been created. Upon arrival, guests are greeted by a distinctive denim “flower pot” hugging the mailbox. Once up the hill, UGA fans will appreciate the ‘Bull Dawg’ garden, with plant varieties named for players and sayings, like “Run Lindsay Run,” or “Between the Hedges” or “Bark at Me.” A water garden, thyme bed with sundial, butterfly garden, and shade garden offer items of interest. A rock garden is in progress. Be sure to see the Native American garden--it lies beside a rock with a pine tree growing in it! The day lilies there all have Indian names. “Red Earth Garden” illustrates how gardeners can exercise their creativity in carving out distinct garden rooms in a way that complements their natural surroundings.

35 Northwoods Drive: “Shady Rest Gardens” is an AHS Display Garden. It features over 2,000 daylily cultivars, and includes Japanese maples, hostas, ferns, blue stokesia, native and Japanese azaleas, rhododendrons, koi ponds, and the Shady Rest cabin. The gardens cover over three acres to stroll through.

For more information, visit the website or Facebook page. You can also call 770-547-9029 or email susanhvaughan@gmail.com for more information.