Events

Gardens for Connoisseurs

Tour Atlanta’s Finest Private Gardens

Saturday - Sunday, May 12 - 13
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

From tranquil woodland settings to intimate urban spaces, the 2012 Gardens for Connoisseurs Tour showcases eleven spectacular private gardens representing the finest in garden design. Both Gardening enthusiasts and the “garden curious” will delight in exploring exquisite design and enchanting planting ideas by talented landscape architects, garden designers, and local gardeners.

The Tour is an annual Mother’s Day Weekend tradition since 1984 with proceeds benefitting the Garden.

$25 Advance Ticket
$20 Advance Garden Member Ticket*
$30 Day of Tour (cash or check only)
Children under 12 Free

Tickets available at Garden Admissions, Select Retailers, by phone at 404.591.1597, or directly at the Tour Locations the day of Tour.

Online tickets purchased between May 4 and May 10 will be held for pick-up at Will-Call located at 47 Inman Circle, Atlanta, GA 30309.

Ticket FAQs
Know Before You Go

*Garden members must first login using their preferred email address and password to receive the discount. Contact 404.591.1539 or assistance@atlantabotanicalgarden.org with questions.

Tour Sponsors

Tour Location 1: Mary Wayne & Bill Dixon

3200 Chateau Court, Atlanta, GA 30305 | Tour Map

Evoking the atmosphere of southern France, a series of exquisite garden rooms features an impressive display of horticultural elements and design techniques. A stunning English knot garden, designed by Ryan Gainey, was inspired by Rosemary Verey’s renowned garden in the Cotswolds of England. More recently, Mary Wayne has collaborated on additional enhancements with designer Alex Smith whose company, Alex Smith Garden Design, Ltd., also maintains this lovely garden.

Tour Location 2: Dr. Carol Kranig & Dr. Kevin Thomas

3795 Tuxedo Road, Atlanta, GA 30305 | Tour Map

A lush retreat unfolds behind this elegant 1936 Tuxedo Park home. Thirty years in the making, gardenias, camellias, and boxwoods frame a serene pool area shaded by mature wax myrtles, palms and a cherry tree. Sculptures are interwoven across 1.5 acres, from a totem pole nestled in the shade to abstract figures watching over an English style walled garden, hedged with hydrangeas. Splendid 100-year-old gingkos and climbing roses line a side drive. The owners have collaborated with noted garden designers, including Ed Castro Landscape.

Tour Location 3: Denis Reggie

4168 Wieuca Road, Atlanta, GA 30342 | Tour Map

Designed by Alec Michaelides of Land Plus Associates, the intimate spaces in this urban garden revolve around the owner’s lifestyle. A fountain invites guests into an arrival courtyard, framed with flowering hydrangeas and boxwood hedges. Shade loving plants of autumn ferns, camellias, hellebores and fatsia line a side garden, while a rear courtyard with a dining terrace (accented by terra cotta containers) is surrounded by boxwoods, annabelle hydrangeas, gold dust acuba and pyracantha. A bocce court that doubles as a putting green completes the setting.

Parking is available across the street at the Sarah Smith School.

Tour Location 4: Doris & Rezin Pidgeon

830 Edgewater Drive, Atlanta, GA 30328 | Tour Map

A Master Gardener and retired engineer, Mr. Pidgeon has lovingly tended this naturally evolving sanctuary for over 40 years. Islands of trees with ferns, hostas, and hellebores float amidst a green sea of jamur zoysia. A mature Japanese maple beckons to a tranquil shade garden and goldfish pond overlooked by a hand-built pergola with swing. Lush with oakleaf hydrangeas, a woodland garden descends to a waterfall garden. From Mr. Pidgeon’s self-designed and constructed deck featuring a Chippendale pattern, enjoy a spectacular “tree house” view of the woodlands below.

Tour Location 5: Diane & Nicholas Quintana

33 Spring Oaks Court, Atlanta, GA 30327 | Tour Map

The owners and Marcia Weber of Gardens to Love collaborated to create a modern setting for 19th century garden heirlooms. With a stone rain garden, berms for privacy, combinations of colorful shrubbery and perennial beds with roses, the garden’s modern style complements the home’s architecture. Heirlooms from the family’s Wessonside estate along the Detroit River are incorporated, such as an armillary sundial and an unusual iron gate, while a swimming pool and outdoor kitchen provide spaces for entertaining.

Tour Location 6: Bill Hudgins

4830 Jett Road, Atlanta, GA 30327 | Tour Map

Owner of Lush Life Home and Garden, Mr. Hudgins has transformed 2.75 acres of rocky soil, pines and azaleas into a verdant paradise. Showcasing a significant plant collection, this stunning, woodland garden of textural juxtapositions includes 300 Japanese maple cultivars and over 60 boxwood cultivars. Two creeks wind across the hilly property, while antique Japanese lanterns, pottery, a koi pond and Asian water features decorate the landscape. The majority of the garden was installed without machinery, including the relocation of 100 Japanese maples from Hudgins’ previous home.

Not recommended for those who have difficulty walking. Location contains steep inclines and stone paths.

Tour Location 7: Livia & Scott Hostetler

4455 Harris Trail, Atlanta, GA 30327 | Tour Map

Influenced by 17th century French classical design principles, the gardens of this Buckhead estate exhibit elaborate geometric patterns and artistic forms. Marvel at twenty-seven spiraling white pines, elaborate knot gardens, a living fence, a topiary sofa, espalier apple trees and golden cypress in the shape of French hats. Admire a parterre de broderie garden inspired by those of Vaux-le-Vicomte. Owner and international landscape architect, Scott Hostetler, collaborated with horticultural specialist Mark Reaves of Mark of Excellence to create a garden unique to Atlanta.

Tour Location 8: Susan & David Nethero

1065 Farmington Lane, Atlanta, GA 30319 | Tour Map

Lush, sculpted elegance distinguishes the garden of this Mediterranean style home. Various textures and colors provide year-round interest: from gold mop cypress, camellias, boxwoods, espaliered maples and nootkatensis to the cultivars of Japanese maple – butterfly, bloodgood and seiryu. Over the years, the design firm Mark of Excellence has collaborated with each of the home’s three owners. As the third owners, the Netheros remodeled the courtyard pool area to compliment the Mediterranean atmosphere.

Tour Location 9: Laura & Tom Prior

1060 Farmington Lane, Atlanta, GA 30319 | Tour Map

A luxuriant southern landscape with a touch of European flair embodies this delightful garden. Stroll through courtyards of boxwoods, witch hazels and Japanese maples that mix both a formal and an informal design aesthetic. Enveloped by hydrangeas, styrax, hostas, silver painted ferns, paperbark maple, twisty baby locust and climbing hydrangeas, a lap pool hedged with boxwoods transforms this home into an urban haven.

Tour Location 10: Susi & Sandy Smith

47 Inman Circle, Atlanta, GA 30309 | Tour Map

An Asian aesthetic informs the garden of this Ansley Park home. Inspired by mountain scenes and Japanese tradition, this tiered garden features specimen conifers, boulders, rushing water features and colorful alpine perennials. Alongside colorful walkway designs influenced by early modern garden masters, an artistic arrangement of brick and natural stone represents flowing water. A diversity of textures, colors and surfaces integrate aspectsof modern and contemporary garden architecture. Garden design by Matthew Klyn.

Tour Location 11: Ryan Gainey

129 Emerson Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030 | Tour Map

A 105-year-old home is nestled within a Southern cottage garden setting of antique and heirloom plants. Originally the site of a cut flower nursery founded in 1917, this exquisite garden bursts with roses, camellias, and boxwood topiaries. The plant collection provides fragrance and color year-round, while greenhouses and a tree house delight all ages. Enamored with formal garden design seen on his many travels, Mr. Gainey has the grounds skillfully maintained by Robert Willis of Robert Scissorhands.