The annual “Roses to Rock Gardens” tour sponsored by Van Vleck House & Gardens will take place on Friday and Saturday, June 1 and 2, 9:30 am to 2:30 pm each day. A kick-off catered luncheon at 12 noon on Thursday, May 31, will be held outdoors under a tent amid the formal gardens of the Van Vleck House. Special guest speaker for the eventwill be Emmy-award-winning TV personality George Oliphant, host of NBC’s popular George to the Rescue. The show features George and his team of contractors and designers “rescuing” the homes of deserving people. Like the Van Vlecks, the Oliphant family has deep roots in Montclair for over 75 years. George will share family stories as well as the inside scoop on his hit home renovation show.
A showcase for 7 unique private gardens running the gamut from charming to spectacular, the 2012 tour features several exceptional examples of horticultural and landscaping creativity. A magnificent Tudor manor-style house opens to an equally breathtaking terraced pool complete with plantings, waterfalls and a waterslide. Another property takes its inspiration from the gardens at Hidcote and Sissinghurst in Great Britain, featuring various “rooms” that combine ornamental plantings with perennials and garden antiques.
The Roses to Rock Gardens tour is self-guided. Admission may be purchased in advance or on the day of the tour. Guide booklets with property descriptions and maps of the tour are picked up from Van Vleck House, where coffee will be available to participants on the mornings of the tour. Tickets are valid for Friday and Saturday, but each garden can be visited only once. Audio narratives accessible by cell phone are available for each garden. Not all gardens are wheelchair accessible. Children over 12 are welcome.
Tour tickets are $30 prepaid, or $35 at the door. Prices for Friends of Van Vleck are $25 prepaid and $30 at the door. Luncheon tickets are $75; Luncheon plus tour, $100. Luncheon seating is limited. Please visit www.vanvleck.org, call 973-744-4752 or email info@vanvleck.org for ticket purchase. All proceeds benefit historic Van Vleck House & Gardens, 21 Van Vleck St., Montclair, NJ, a non-profit organization.
