Visit Italy without leaving Memphis at Harbor Town’s special garden tour
By Jennifer Vollmert
Special to The Commercial Appeal
June 6, 2009
Visitors to the Harbor Town Secret Garden tour Saturday might feel like they’re walking in private gardens in New Orleans or Tuscany without ever having to leave the city.
The Tuscany-influenced gardens of Mark and Jane Stephens will be featured in the Harbor Town tour on Saturday.
Six private gardens Downtown will be open for touring from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
It’s easy to see that Jane and Mark Stephens let their travels to Italy influence the design of their garden.
The couple, with one of the largest gardens on the tour, have lived at 835 Harbor Isle Circle West for five years.
Guests enter the garden through a wrought-iron fence. The landscape includes a kaleidoscope of lush plants and flowers, accented with antique statuary, fountains (from Memphis WaterWorks), myriad adornments, an outdoor kitchen and a private pool.
The Stephenses’ garden begins in the front of the house, wraps around the side and ends in the back, where the screened sun porch and pool are located.
The garden was created and landscaped by Greg Touliatos & Associates.
Plants and flowers include nandinas, azaleas, hydrangeas, privet, yaupon holly, Knock-out roses, hibiscus, geraniums, new guinea impatiens, petunias, spider plants, lamb’s ear and mondo grass.
The Stephenses have made major changes to the garden in the five years they have lived in the home, including a kaleidoscope of plants and fountains.
Kevin Baltz of Baltz and Sons Concrete Services did the deck around the pool, the brick around the fountain and the courtyard.
Colorful flower beds complement the pool. Two bronze antique statues from Market Central in Midtown, stand on each side of the small waterfall leading into the pool.
BuzzOff Mosquito Control added the misting and mosquito systems. The Stephenses said the system, which repels bugs and cools the garden area, is imperative for entertaining.
They are elated to share their garden with visitors. “To me, it’s a little piece of heaven in the heart of Memphis,” Jane said. “It’s so serene, with the flowers and the birds — it’s like walking into a different world.”
Mary Adcox, vice president of Harbor Town Social Club, chairs the Secret Garden Tour.
Adcox said each garden will have volunteers available to answer questions about the plants, flowers, landscape design, garden art, fencing, etc.
The event is catered by Heart & Soul Catering, and refreshments will be provided by Miss Cordelia’s Grocery.
The five other gardens featured in the tour include:
The garden of Robert Marcy, 118 Harbor Isle Circle South, was also influenced by the owner’s trips to Italy. The garden incorporates Italian cypress, Endless Summer hydrangeas, Florida jasmine, summer wisteria, dogwoods, Siberian irises, rosemary, American wisteria and Japanese cherry tree.
The garden of Michelle and John McKissack at 171 Harbor Village Drive. Again enthralled by the gardens of Italy, this couple included hanging baskets and flower-filled pots, organically grown
The Stephenses’ garden begins in the front of the house, wraps around the side and ends in the back, where the screened sun porch and pool are located. The landscape also includes an outdoor kitchen.
peach trees and a vegetable garden. Adornments include a birdbath fountain and a vintage 1960s wrought iron patio set.
Jorge and Esther Pinon at 119 Harbor Commons chose to reflect the color combinations of the Florida Keys in their garden by planting Indian hawthorne, Knock-out roses, lilies, azaleas, ornamental fountain grass, rosemary and ferns.
The garden of Jane and Phil Pirani at 962 River Landing Drive reflects the tropics. Visitors will see banana and coconut plants, chocolate vine and jasmine, azaleas, magnolia trees and crape myrtles.
The garden of Betsy and Dick McStay at 964 Harbor View Drive was a late addition to the tour.
The McStay garden is natural and colorful. It includes roses, hydrangeas, Carolina jasmine, daylilies, nandinas, Sweet bay magnolia and yellow wood poppy.
Proceeds from the tour remain in the Harbor Town community and are used for beautification projects.
2008 Harbor Town Secret Garden Tour
“To me, it’s a little piece of heaven in the heart of Memphis,” Jane said. “It’s so serene, with the flowers and the birds — it’s like walking into a different world.”
When: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cost: $10
More info: Tickets can be purchased at Miss Cordelia’s in Harbor Town the day of the tour.
As a part of the tour, Tug’s restaurant in the River Inn is offering a special lunch menu for $11.95.