Now you’re going to be humming the old Ricky Nelson tune, after that title, right?
I really did go to a garden party last week. One of my Marietta friends, Rachel, of the beautiful Trammell House, invited me to tag along with her to this annual garden party event in Old Marietta. Now, I will tell you that Old Marietta is not usually on my radar and I don’t know many of those folks at all, but the neighborhoods and older homes around the town square vicinity of Old Marietta are so pretty and impressive. I can see why people want to live in these older neighborhoods, full of lush vegetation and gardens to be envious of.
The Chilton family hosts this big soiree every year and I was excited to see the garden myself. Rachel and I snuck in the back gate right as the sun was starting to creep down. The candles were lit along the garden path and people were eating and sipping drinks, enjoying the beautiful early summer evening. There must have been at least 75 to 100 people there when we arrived. All were gathered in the backyard, on the lush patio and lawn, and scattered around the extensive back yard pergola and other seating areas. It was such a pretty sight to see!
I asked if I could snap some pics and got the OK from the homeowner, so I’m sharing a few of these with y’all. What’s better than a summer garden party, inviting friends and neighbors? Quite the Southern thing to do.
I heard the party got started when this particular tree in the front yard began blooming and hence, The Blooming Tree garden party began many years ago. I’m not sure what kind of tree this is, but they call it the blooming tree. And it certainly is doing that!
Coming up the drive in the front of the house is this extensive rock wall, full of hosta. Oh, how I love hosta! And I love a well established garden too. I’m extra excited about getting mine started.
The front yard is lush and green with lots of trees and ivy. And a few cardboard critters scattered around. Not to mention, lots more hosta. They love the shade.
A huge Japanese maple guards the front door entrance. Sorry these pics are not so great, I only took my point and shoot camera, hoping for a few shots.
Front entry of brick and plants.
Rachel told me this is a 1950’s house and it’s built in an L-shape, which was very unique. The backyard opens from all sides of the L and makes for a very inviting home.
A very Southern dining room awaits just inside the front door.
And living and sitting rooms are beautifully appointed too. Lots of gorgeous antiques and collectibles in this home.
A peek inside the next room with the sofa and Asian inspired feel.
A grand piano sits in front of the large picture window.
More blooms inside, this is a type of dogwood blossom.
And snippets from the blooming tree in an inside arrangement.
The double French doors opened onto a large patio out the back. I didn’t want to intrude on people’s privacy, so tried to shoot around all the people.
This beautiful arbor takes guests from the stone patio to the grassy back yard.
A potted plant in bloom on the back patio.
Another patio area of flagstone and dwarf mondo grass. I love how this looks, so established and quaint.
People gathered under the pergola and seating areas.
I roamed around, taking pics of statues and all the lush greenery.
Another seating area, this iron gazebo held a few folks who wanted to sit for awhile and visit. Pretty strings of light were wrapped on top.
More statues around the backyard paths.
A beautiful fountain makes a soft noise in the woods.
Another statue and shades of green and purple.
Rock riverbed among all the green.
These pretty tealights were spaced around the stepping stone path way in the backyard. They were beautiful all lit up in the dusk.
This was the biggest hosta I have EVER seen! It’s hard to capture the scale, but it was one big plant!
There were plenty of hosta and ferns back in the shady parts of the garden. I love how well taken care of this old and established garden is and how evident it is that the homeowners love their piece of property and want to share it with friends.
Garden parties are fun, I’d highly recommend them!
I’m also over at the Wayfair blog today, sharing all about getting ready for the beach and all those beach essentials. I’ve got to get a beach trip planned soon, how about you? Love the beach!
Beautiful. Love the garden and hosta.
Love the pictures….thank you so much for sharing!
Thanks Rhoda for sharing these photos – it gave me tons of ideas for my wooded back yard! I love hosta’s too and have a wide variety which includes some big ones like you showed – they are my favorite especially when they bloom!
The blooming tree is a magnolia of some sort. It probably had a lovely scent.
What a gorgeous garden! The inside of that beautiful home just oozes Southern charm–or at least what I imagine it to be since I live nowhere near the South! 🙂
You’re right–I have Ricky Nelson singing away in my head!
Thank you for sharing this beautiful home and gardens. All the arrangements are exquisite! I loved the wallpaper in the room with the console and I spotted the Waterford Crystal. I have those pieces too. A beautiful place to spend an afternoon. The homeowners are very gracious to open their home for a garden party. Not too many here in New York have garden parties.
Rachel told me about this fun party and I was hoping you would show us photos! So pretty and lush. Makes me miss Marietta!
What a gorgeous home and garden!! We just moved in to a new house earlier this month with a big old backyard that’s largely a blank slate right now, I can’t wait to get started on it and start to transform the space!
Here’s a post on what the outside looks like right now: http://lemongroveblog.com/take-a-walk-outside/
Gorgeous home and gardens, you are so fortunate to be able to go to all these fun events. I’m green with envy!
Thanks for sharing the gorgeous pictures, Rhoda! I adore garden tours and this one did not disappoint!
Love the pictures, it gives me lots of ideas for my house. We’re having a big pulled pork barbeque in a couple of weeks and now I have lots of more ideas about what I’d like to get done before company comes. The only trouble is that I have an infant and three-year-old and I have no idea where the time is going to come from. There’s always something waiting to be done, isn’t there? At least I got the more important job of pulling out the poison ivy done this morning, right?
Rhoda – I saw the rock wall and though of the concrete wall at the end of your driveway. I can see you doing something like this at your home! Fantastic pictures! I have to come see you soon!!! Homesick!!!
Beautiful garden! BTW Rhoda, don’t miss the “Living Sculptures” at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, they’re extraordinary. Take lots of pictures, it would make a great post.
Hugs,
j
What a beautiful home & garden. Thanks for sharing it with us.
What an incredible garden, I cannot only but imagine the work that has gone into it and also must still go into it to retain its neatness. It reminds me of an English garden. The cushion that is in, I think image 9 is amazing, I wonder where she got it from. The house definitely has an English/Oriental feel about it, especially with the decorative wallpapers.
Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
Lee 🙂
We have a narrow strip of woods for our backyard. I love hostas….unfortunately, so do the deer. Luckily they came back this year, but we keep spraying them with Deer Off to keep the deer away. Can’t wait to see your new landscaping.
Rhoda, that was such a lovely evening in Pat’s garden and your photos are wonderful! The “blooming tree” is a Stewartia. Weren’t we lucky to catch it in full bloom!? Ideas galore in this garden!
This inspires me to invite a few neighbors over! Cheryl Ann
Beautiful! I love hostas! Such a southern classic. Lovely photos!