• The tour includes three wonderful woodland gardens in Clifftops, a gated community 3 miles from St. Andrew’s-
  Sewanee School. The gardens selected make exceptional use of native plants, rock, water, and trails.
• A bus will provide transportation from SAS and shuttle you between gardens.
• The owners along with other knowledgeable gardeners/landscapers will be at each site to answer questions.
• Moderate walking along hilly woodland trails will be required at all three sites.
• The cost of the tour of gardens is $30.00 per person and reservations are needed. This fee includes Trails and Trilliums registration, providing admission to all other events (workshops, talks and hikes). Proceeds go to support Trails & Trilliums and St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School, an independent school leader in ecological sustainability.

GARDEN #1 ELLEN WOODS

This year's ramble will begin at the home of Ellen Woods who moved here from Minneapolis, Minn., in 2006. The site, which features a lovely view down the hill to the Clifftops Lake and abundant stands of Mountain Laurel, was heavily wooded with no gardens when Ellen purchased it. She is in the process of evolving a master garden plan in consultation with Curt and Stanley Partin. Highlights of her landscaping efforts include the addition of new plantings, large boulders, flowering understory trees and evergreen shrubs. She has also created stone walkways and a trail that leads from her house to the adjacent Kirby-Smith Point Trail.

Her vision for the property is to gradually "domesticate" and beautify the quiet woodland around the home with plants that are both drought and deer resistant. A small organically-shaped lawn in the back of the house includes shrubbery and perennial beds. The Partins imported hundreds of plants and several tons of lichen-covered boulders that have greatly enhanced the driveway.

Look for Rhododendron, Foster Hollies, Fothergilla, native and Koosa Dogwood, Japanese Maples, Soft Touch Holly, Perennial Geraniums, Treeform Hydrangea, fern, Pachysandra, Hellebores, Hemlock, Redbud, Serviceberry, Crepe Myrtle, River Birch, Stewardia, Mahonia, Otto Luken Laurel, Boxwood, Nandina, Vinca, grasses, roses, and a Blue Atlas Cedar. Ellen said it was heartbreaking to see so much of what she had planted slowly dying of thirst. "As I wait this spring to see what survived, I will continue the gentle culling of the woods, leaving all Mountain Laurel, Wild Azalea, Dogwood, Holly, and Blueberry. I will be trying to cultivate both acceptance and patience until the rains come again."

GARDEN # 2 JOHN CANALE'S "BIRDWOOD"

John Canale's garden is the result of a number of wonderful natural elements enhanced by the talents of local landscapers Grady and Curt Partin. The 5 acres of bluff property jut out on a point with beautiful views of the valley on three sides. John, who lives in Memphis, built his getaway home 3 years ago. A baited electrified deer fence around the property perimeter provides protection for the more savory plants. The entrance to the stone and log two-story house is lined with a variety of native plants and beautiful ferns including Christmas, Cinnamon, Royal, and Maidenhair.

An old logging road has been transformed into a woodsy trail and is lined with hundreds of ferns, native shrubs and wildflowers. Big Leaf Magnolias are one of the noted native trees that has been planted around the house. The walking trail winds along the bluff, passes a butterfly garden, and provides views of the cove and a beautiful creek below.

The trail leads to a dramatic three-level water garden. Beginning with several huge rock formations that were partially buried, Partin added mountain stone to create a series of pools. Water is pumped up to two bio-filtering pools that contain gravel and water plants. Two waterfalls spill over into a creek and circulate back to the lower pool. The water garden is surrounded by Mountain Laurel, Flame Azaleas, Rhododendron, and Swamp Azaleas. Less common wildflowers that may be in bloom for Trails and Trilliums include Pink Lady Slippers, Yellow Lady Slippers, Trilliums, Golden Poppies, Jack in the Pulpits and Phacelia.

GARDEN #3 THE BAKERS' "SILVER OAK"

The final garden on the tour is the home of Carylon and J.B. Baker of Nashville. Designed by Scott J. Torreano, the grounds combine porches and gardens to compliment the home and surrounding woods. Species were chosen to provide year round color and a wildlife habitat.The process began by using native shrubs such as Mountain Laurel and pink Wild Azalea, and water features, to "heal" old logging roads and areas cleared during construction. From the long winding drive, you look out on hills mixed with evergreens, ornamentals, and fern gardens interspersed with native spring wildflowers.

A special feature is a picturesque bridge that provides a perfect vantage point. Native trees such as Stewartia, Redbud, and Dogwood along with Flame Azalea and Red- and Yellow-Twigged Dogwood provide beautiful color. Two natural springs are put to good use watering swards of ferns including, Ostrich, Cinnamon, Southern, Northern Maidenhair, and Royal.

Gardens on either side of the house feature 56 sun-demanding species of flowers. In the shadier areas, 30 species of spring ephemerals have been planted. These include Mayapple, Toothwort, Dutchman's Breeches, Virginia Bluebell, Rue, Phacelia, Golden Poppies, Trilliums, Pink and Yellow Ladyslippers, Trout Lily and natives irises. The water falls and ponds provide a place for water plants and ferns that thrive in the splash zones.

A huge bear, sculpted of obsidian from a source near Mt. Shasta, sits near the front door in an ever-changing mix of flowers.