TOUR GARDENS

506 Granville Drive
Sprigg Parker and Rick Henterly

Welcome! The house at 506 Granville Drive was built in 1925.The bungalow style home, born of the Arts & Crafts movement, exhibits Craftsman style in its roofline, porch detailing and columns. The pattern for the gate and fence (which we designed and constructed in 2008) was derived from the “I” shaped porch supports and columns. The stain color of the fence is a nod to the bark color of the Yoshino Cherry in the front yard.

After systematically reducing the size of the lawn, we added perennials and shrubs to the small yard to maximize interest. The south side of the yard has primarily sun plants (ex: Euphorbia, Agastache, Caryopteris and Sambucus) and the beds adjacent to the porch and surrounding the cherry are shade lovers (ex: Hosta, Geranium, Epimedium and Trillium). Although there is virtually always something in bloom, the rainbow of foliage (ex: Heuchera, Sumac, and Acorus) keeps the garden vibrant year-round.

714 Granville Drive
Marty and Joe Carruthers

Marty writes: “Our two-story Craftsman bungalow was built around 1916 and features a large front porch typical of that time period and an undated white picket fence. Our garden started in that “no man’s land” between the sidewalk and the curb with a mix of sun-loving perennials.”

“The yard itself was overwhelming so we had Jeremy Murray design the garden, place the rock and plant the structural plants. In front, the fence serves as a backdrop for flowering shrubs and perennials. Most of the perennials were rescued—day lilies from a rerouted highway exit, irises from a bed being replanted in grass and bulbs from floral pots about to be tossed. “

“The garden in the back uses Eastern elements to blend planting areas for flowers and vegetables, a fire circle and a grassy yard. The effect is equally pleasing from the garden and from the deck overlooking it, which is one of the reasons we chose to marry in our garden in April 2009.”

718 Granville Drive
Judy and Larry Sharpe

A one and a half story Craftsman bungalow built in 1916, this home’s garden boasts boxwoods that date back four generations from Larry Sharpe’s family, brought to the garden when the Sharpes bought their home in 2004. The bigger boxwoods came from Larry's dad and are from stock generations old. Larry propagated the smaller ones himself from stock from his dad’s. They were transplanted to the garden just this past spring when the front garden was redesigned and the back garden was completed (if a garden can ever be completed). The quartz rocks in the garden were brought from Judy’s family's land in Anson county, a few at a time.

You will also find a cool welcoming shade garden with ferns, hostas, coralbells and caladiums. And there is an herb garden and a vegetable garden along with a variety of sun and shade perennials – all grown organically. There are paths and picket fencing that nicely frame and guide you through this garden with its eco-friendly design that is low maintenance.

833 Granville Drive
Pam and Nat Calhoun

Built in 1953, this ranch style home is tucked in a semi-circle of mature trees with a warm and welcoming brick patio surrounded with a variety of azaleas and perennials. Pam says, “I love the fact that my garden is a little of this and that added over the past 10 years. Most of my flowers came right out of the garden of an elderly friend who gets out her shovel and pries them up and gives them to me for my garden. Because our yard is situated with woods on several sides, there are very few places I’d rather sit and read and look out over and enjoy the beauty.

732 S Green Street
Corinne and Forrest Causby

The garden of this 1918 one and a half story Craftsman bungalow provided many surprises for the new owners as the plants from the previous owners peeked through the earth. They have kept most of the original plants, added and rearranged others and include both flowers and vegetables in their garden.

You will see grapevines, Japanese maples, hydrangeas, vegetables, cantaloupes, and antique hydrangeas. There is a fire pit and a hand-built trellis (Williamsburg-inspired) and have made sure that their garden is “kid friendly.” A beautiful home and garden!

906 West Street
Jeremy Murray and Charlie Watkins

This Minimal Traditional side gable home was a one story barn that was "converted" into a two story home in 1930. The garden contains a conifer collection including some dwarf varieties. This is largely a “specimen garden,” a “AKA a “collector’s garden.”

This postage stamp garden exemplifies how downtown living can be both aesthetically pleasing as well as productive - all while being conscious of the surrounding environment.

620 S Broad Street
Patricia Olmstead

This 1925 Craftsman Bungalow sits on a hill with a tiny front and back yard. All the grass has been removed from the yard and replaced with brick or cobbled paths and filled with all manner of perennials and annuals. There are irises, old fashioned crinum lilies, yellow and pink angel trumpets, hyacinth bean vines, moon flower vines, white swan gourds, Confederate jasmine, columbine, gladiolas, bachelor buttons, coreopsis, coral bells, ferns, hostas, gardenia trees, red bud trees, and a fig that has been trimmed into a tree shape with lovely silver trunk. The Koi pond is filled with water lilies, water irises, water hyacinths, horses’ tail, and a bog with pitcher plants, sun dew, and Venus fly trap. And of course Koi. They had babies this year!

The back yard is enclosed with a privacy fence, and the patio is encircled with a rock wall lined with flowers and herbs both top and bottom. There is lavender, lemon thyme, rudbeckia, salvia, peonies, day lilies, and yard art everywhere.

The south garden has provided tomatoes, summer squash, green beans, and peppers for the gardener this year. And there are also cannas, ginger lilies, rosemary, and sage to be found there. Patricia’s prize is the chaste tree she planted last year at the end of the patio. Only a two-foot seedling, it now is over the fence and the butterfly bush type blooms attract many butterflies and bees.

713 Mulberry Street
Joann and John Reed

This 1910 one story Craftsman bungalow boasts a true cottage garden filled with a variety of perennials and annuals. These gardeners have added many “shared” plants over the past few years along with “saved” plants from garden shops and even plants thrown out by others who think they are dead. If the Reeds can get them in the ground – they grow!

As you weave through the paths under the large old dogwood  trees that flank the front walk, you’ll see jack-in-the-pulpits, trillium, a banana tree and a windmill palm along with a variety of rudbeckia, cleome, 4 o’clocks, hostas, ferns, and much more! There are also two fish ponds with a waterfall that will tempt you to have a seat on the garden bench to enjoy the beauty.

609 S Poplar Street
Estella Nuńo

This Craftsman bungalow was built in 1935. This is a true cottage garden with a large assortment of roses including red, yellow, pink, and more that fill the small front yard behind the traditional white picket fence. The fenced yard is large and contains a tomato garden, two ivy shaded gazebos a fountain and pond with Chinese gold fish.

631 S Poplar Street
Judith Ruff

This charming Victorian home was built in 1884. Judith says, "I grew up on this block of S Poplar Street and several of my family members still live here. My grandparents were from Germany and moved into 608 S Poplar where my father was born and one of my sisters still lives. The Ruff family has lived on the 600 block of S Poplar for over 150 years."

The red cannas are bulbs from her parents’ garden that have been there since Judith was a little girl. Also rooted from her parents’ garden are forsythia, lilac trees, rose of Sharon trees, old fashioned holly hocks, four o’clocks, and monkey grass.

You’ll see lots of yard art, and the flower beds are outlined with creek rock Judith brought from a creek in Elkin a few at a time.

502 Wachovia Street
Ann Geiger and Tari Hanneman

Built in 1923, this Craftsman bungalow was built in West Salem, at the time a suburb of Old Salem, for a physician and his family brought in to care for the Moravian community. They could not live in Old Salem at the time because they were considered “strangers” – a title given to non-Moravians.

Their garden receives partial sun or is completely shaded, and their plant selection reflects this. The garden’s hardscape is multilevel, with tiers created by using cobblestones from Old Salem. There is an adorable outbuilding and a fountain in a quiet corner.

1027 Franklin Street
Greg Levoniuk

Greg’s one story side gable home with a shed-roofed front porch and tall, four over four windows was built in 1915. Greg says, “I began looking at homes here in Historic West Salem in 2007 while on vacation visiting with my cousin. Late in October 2007, my real estate agent sent an email with pictures and a description of the house. The very first picture was the front of the house showing the white picket fence. I thought to myself – SOLD.”

“I flew down from New York in November to see the house in person and decided it was the home for me. I closed on in January 2008, but it was not until October that I decided to retire move on down.”

“The garden consisted of two bushes in the front yard, two maples in the front yard, and three large shade trees in the back yard. Having a warm and welcoming garden was important to me so I got to work right away.”

“In the back yard along the left fence I planted Leland Cyprus to act as a privacy fence. Along the rear I planted Rhodies that survived the winter – bloomed then for some reason died. But that’s what happens sometimes in gardens. We just try again. This year I planted daffodils, ferns, day lilies, and hostas with a border of white impatiens. On the back right side I planted three butterfly bushes with marigolds, St Johns Wort, day lilies and columbine. I love my front garden! It is a shade garden with hostas, white impatiens and a few St Johns Wort plants. The two maple trees in the front are decorated with many bird houses that have been home to at least four families. I truly enjoy working in my garden.”

BONUS - WALK/DRIVE BY GARDENS

S Green Street, Corner of Green and Bank, West Salem Community Garden
Del Perry and a collection of West Salem gardeners

The West Salem Community Garden has been in existence for six years. The purpose of this garden is to provide food for people within the West Salem neighborhood who need to supplement their food budget and to bring neighbors together to achieve a worthwhile goal.

In the six years of operation we have distributed from 150 to 350 meals per year. We separate the garden by specific plots to be individually managed. Common expenses are funded by the West Salem Neighborhood Association and the West Salem Garden Club.

The garden has made the community a much more pleasant, neighborly place in which to live. Friendships have been established among people who would not have been otherwise known each other. Gardeners have bonded and food recipients are appreciative and good neighbors.

Produce tends to be the heavier vegetables for greater food volume, i.e., tomatoes, squash, zucchini, okra and cucumbers. Participation has continued to increase. This year we have 23 plots and 32 gardeners working in the garden.  Although the heat has been hard on our garden this year, it is still worth a drive by.

600 Block of S Broad Street
Private vegetable garden of Jeff Ayers (son of Patricia Ruff Ayers)

Jeff says, “I first planted my garden as a way to practice the things I learned from my grandfather Ruff. I believe simplicity is always the way to go. I use straightforward planting with a focus on no pesticides. The bugs get their share every year and I’ve no problem with that. I was told years ago not to go for the “pretty” produce – but to buy the produce that had bug “holes” in it. That way you knew it wasn’t grown with pesticides.”

“I adhere to this method and hope my garden will provide to all who see it a little inspiration to go home and plant something – a flower, a tomato plant, or maybe even a whole garden.”

“Things grow because things like to grow. There is nothing hard about having a garden. Its good therapy, and good exercise – we all can use that. Hope you enjoy its beauty – thanks to my granddad Ruff, and thank you.”

EXTRA ADDED ATTRACTIONS!

• Harpist, Tyra Somers, will be playing for our guests on the front porch of 714 Granville Drive during the day.
• Goat Feathers Antique Shop, 908 S Poplar will have lemonade and ice water and Moravian cookies  available for tour visitors and will also make their restroom available.
• And finally, on the day of the tour, tickets will be available at the corner of Academy and Broad, Magnolia House of Health beginning at 10:30am through 3pm.

We hope you enjoy your day in
Beautiful Historic West Salem!