Hilltop Northshore Cavort!
Saturday, JULY 25, 2009
7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
MEMBERS: $110 / NON-MEMBERS: $145
(fee all inclusive)
To register, contact Hilltop at (225)767-6916 / hilltop@tigers.lsu.edu
On July 25 … predicted by the Cajun Country Almanac to be the coldest day in July … Hilltop will host a trip to the famous Greater New Orleans Northshore summer resort area featuring jaunts to Covington, Bush, Abita Springs and Mandeville. We will travel by air conditioned motor coach, departing Hilltop at 7:30 in the “beat the heat” a.m. returning to Hilltop at 7:30 in the p.m.
A trilogy of neighboring gardens located within walking distance of each other on River Road in Covington and recruited for us by one of the homeowners, Mark Grote, will set the tone for the day … the Grote garden has an undulating, free flowing planting plan with a focus on native plants. The Bravo Garden takes advantage of plantings inherited with the property and mingles them with antique roses and masonry structures that lend structure and interest to the property. Maurice Guillerman’s small cottage garden has a Japanese flair and expands as needs dictate by getting permission from the neighbors to plant their roadside easement.
John Mayronne included his garden in the afternoon roster of gardens and recruited two additional gardens for our viewing pleasure ... John describes his garden as southern “junglesque” with plantings designed to attract butterflies, birds and young maidens. The Petagna garden mingles structured and informal plantings tapping into native as well as exotic plants to set off the unique and intimate entertainment venues. The Rathe garden in Mandeville is a garden with a view fronting on Bayou Castine and abutting Fontainbleau Park and Tammany Trace and offers an opportunity to view significant mature trees.
In addition to catering to our gardening lust, Paula “Deen” Dillemuth has made arrangements for Zea’s to cater to our gustatory needs. Thanks to Suzie Ehrlicher the UCM Museum in Abita Springs … written up in the August 2005 issue of Southern Living, thank you very much … has been added to our agenda to insure we get our “funk” fix. Devout nursery patrons need not fear. We will be paying a visit to Amazing Graces Nursery in Covington and The Price is Right Nursery in Mandeville. A visit to the Ponchartrain Vineyards at prime grape harvesting time is also on our list. Do your toe lifts just in case we are asked to stomp a few!
For research purposes, Hilltop tripsters are invited to bring along a bottle of their favorite wine to compare and share on the way home. It is our fond hope that it will not only help you wet your whistle, but also wax eloquent about the trip on your evaluation form.
Music throughout our journey will be provide by a CD featuring any song that is rated PG13 and has the words Abita Springs in it put together especially for the occasion by Deb McMillin.
Be sure you are on our e-mail list for further information:
e-mail hilltop@tigers.lsu.edu or give Paula a call at Hilltop (767-6916). As always, it promises to be a trip not-to-be-missed!
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Northshore Cavort!
July 25. 2009
GARDEN DESCRIPTIONS
Kit and Mark Grote Garden, 75343 River Road, Covington
Hopewell has been in the same family for four generations. The house, designed by architect John Lawrence in the early sixties, is a true 60’s classic. Present owners, Kit and Mark Grote, began the garden in the late 80’s planting mostly native plants from Johnny Mayronne’s Natives Nursery.
Over the years they have collected plants from other parts of the country. Some of the more unusual ones are Davidia involucrata (Dove tree), Cryptomeria Black Dragon and numerous grasses. Kit has a collection of several gingers plus many other perennial plants purchased from Hilltop over a fifteen year span.
The garden has two small ponds. One is an old cattle tank from the St. Benedictine Abbey just across the road from the property. This is incorporated with a minimal steel basin that mimics the form of the adjoining sculpture. Additional sculptures by Mark are scattered throughout the garden.
Mark is a professor in the Visual Arts Department at Loyola and has participated in teaching for the Fullbright Institute and numerous European exchanges. As gardeners the Grotes have been mindful of their observations of English gardens, mixing structure with an undulating free-flow planting.
Katrina toppled over 100 trees offering the Grotes more opportunity to expand the garden. Nature continues to open up new possibilities for future planting.
Mary and Clint Bravo Garden, 75397 River Road, Covington
Clint and Mary Bravo feel it would be a crime not to garden on their property. They inherited beautiful Live Oaks, mature Formosan Azaleas, a pond fed by an artesian well as well as many other native trees and shrubs. The gardens also reflect a strong interest in old garden roses and perennials inspired by a visit to The Antique Rose Emporium in Brenham, Texas years ago.
The gardens have been resurrected since Katrina with the new planting of a Trident Maple allee and large Japanese Maples field dug in Amite. Projects included creation of a pool area with garden walls of old St. Louis brick, a pigeonaire and a large masonry fire pit all of which lend structure and interest to the property and blend in with the original barns and outbuildings built in the 1940's.
A work in progress, this year's plans include a large vegetable garden and a screened pavilion overlooking the pond and pool areas. The property is named Abbey Gates, because the original turn of the century gates on the bridge across the road to the St. Joseph Abbey were given to the previous property
owner and adorn the columns of the entrance.
Maurice Guillerman Garden, 75293 River Road, Covington
The garden is best described as a small cottage garden with Japanese influence. Japanese maples and black pine serve as anchors for the different beds planted with a choice selection of annuals and perennial color. The garden’s future holds a tea house/potting shed in store as soon as just the right person is found to build it ... “it must be done in proper fashion.” Metal sculptures are spotted throughout the garden. The Iris sculpture on the front lawn is the work of Wayne Morgan, widely known for his garden sculpture. Maurice has cleverly expanded his garden’s horizons by requesting permission from his neighbors to plant their roadside easement and/or driveway borders.
Keith and Sidonie Petagna Garden, 29 Durel Drive, Covingtion
This is a very casual garden with structured beds and informal plantings. Gingers and Bananas provide a lush southern feel to the rear garden. This home has unique entertaining venues in an intimate private setting. There is a mix of both native and exotic plantings, some from the famous Hilltop sales.
Richard Rathe Garden, 777 Dupre Street, Mandeville
This garden has a wonderful location. It abuts the Tammany Trace and Fountainbleau State Park and fronts on Bayou Castine. The setting offers great views out across the bayou.
Mixed evergreens are used to screen views from the Trace create privacy. Significant mature trees and beautiful Japanese Maples grace the site. The rear boardwalk leads visitors to the bayou where guests can canoe and fish. The site’s plant roster includes several species of deciduous oaks, Silverbell, Red Buckeye, Mamou, Louisiana Iris and Native Hibiscus.
John Mayronne Garden, 1018 W. 23rd Avenue, Covington,
This small cottage garden is southern “junglesque”. There is no lawn and lots of plants. The garden was mostly destroyed in Katrina, and only remnants remain of the original garden which has changed from very shady to almost full sun exposure.
Trellises featuring a mix of different vines are used to develop privacy. Plantings are used to attract birds and butterflies and young maidens. Most of the plantings are relatively new, as is the home which is just 2 yrs. old. |
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