By Maggie Beamguard
Insider Editor
The gardens of Seven Lakes welcomed visitors from across the larger community on June 13 for the biennial Garden Tour hosted by the Seven Lakes Garden Club. The tradition has brought garden enthusiasts together since 1974.
This year’s tour featured seven private gardens in Seven Lakes North and Seven Lakes West and attracted an estimated 150 visitors according to Garden Club resident Carolyn Sink. Guests spent the warm June morning strolling through a variety of landscapes, gathering inspiration and enjoying the creativity and hard work of local gardeners.
The tour is known for showcasing a variety of beautiful gardens. Among this year’s gardens, visitors enjoyed:
- the Lake Sequoia views and bright, beautiful beds of color at the home of Cheryl George;
- the lighthouse from a pretty cove garden on a peninsula of color at the home of Terry Appen;
- multiple beds of color and texture at the home of Ann and Mark Haut;
- the wildlife habitat and native plant garden at the lakefront work in progress of Susan and Ken Bonville;
- the planned design flowing to the lake with color and comfort at the home of Allison and Eric Sanders;
- the wide variety of plantings focusing on year-round color and interest at the home of Carolyn and Jerry Sink; and
- the woodland path to the multiple lakefront gardens at the home of Patti Cleary and Ed Tuton.
While the event’s main purpose is to celebrate gardening, friendship, fellowship and community involvement, visitors were invited to make donations and purchase raffle tickets for nine gift baskets assembled from donated items.
All proceeds will benefit the Seven Lakes Village Beautification Committee’s “Fix the Mess” Fund, which was established to help reinstall community signage and commemorative plaques and to replace landscaping beds affected by the ongoing N.C. 211 road construction project.
“The ‘Fix the Mess’ Fund will refund building the beds and signs that once made Seven Lakes a welcoming sight,” Sink said.
The Seven Lakes Village Beautification Committee has a long history of helping maintain the appearance of public spaces throughout the community. Formed in 2002 under the direction of Terry Hunt, the committee assumed responsibility for public beautification projects previously managed by the Seven Lakes Garden Club.
Over the years, volunteers have maintained the railroad beds along N.C. 211 through the village area, cared for the Zen Stone Garden at Seven Lakes Drive and Carthage Road and helped install welcome signs and memorial plaques honoring community leaders Fred Larence and Greg Hankins.
Many of those features were removed and placed in storage when construction began along N.C. 211. Through the “Fix the Mess” Fund, community members are helping prepare for the day when those signs, plaques and landscaped areas can be reinstalled and restored.
The beautification committee relies on support from residents, businesses and organizations throughout Seven Lakes. Donations help fund grass mowing,plants, fertilizer and mulch while committee volunteers provide much of the ongoing maintenance. Tracy Cicatelli currently serves as chair of the committee.
The Garden Tour itself is a major volunteer effort. Sink said the event is a board-led project with every Garden Club officer participating in planning, promoting, garden selection, raffle basket creation, set up and day-of coordination. Club members serve as docents at each garden, welcoming guests and answering questions throughout the tour.
A pre-tour event held the prior evening allows homeowners and volunteers to enjoy the gardens together. This year’s gathering included a progressive dinner throughout the featured gardens and concluded with dessert and refreshments at the LDIG demonstration gardens.
The Seven Lakes Garden Club provides opportunities for education and fellowship throughout the year. The club meets on the second Thursday of each month from September through May and offers guest speakers, projects and field trips. Household membership is $15 per year, and no gardening experience is required.
Contributions to the “Fix the Mess Fund” can be mailed to 2164 SLS, West End, NC 27376 Checks payable to SLVBS.
The Seven Lakes Garden Tour is scheduled to return in 2028.
Contact Maggie Beamguard at maggie@thepilot.com.
