Take a walk on the scenic side and enjoy gorgeous gardens with an eclectic feel – arcade games in a cabana alongside a four-hole putting green, the feeling of an English farmhouse, classical Italian notes and a meditation chapel are just a few of the varied styles and features to explore in the six homes open to the public during this year’s Nichols Hills Garden and Outdoor Living Tour on June 3.
Kristine and Pat Bates on Sherwood Lane had family fun (on a sizeable scale) in mind when they installed a Thunder basketball court in their garden, along with a swimming pool and waterfalls. Diane and Mike Liddell’s home has something for everyone in its 10 separate areas, including a dog run and a rose tunnel. Meanwhile, Lori and Bond Payne’s outdoor haven features a monumental sculpture titled “Crossing the Prairie” and a Celtic Cross by Texan sculptor Glenna Goodacre.
From the spirit of Santa Barbara to Spanish colonial, each of the homes featured on the tour has been carefully selected to showcase a different style.
Tour co-chairs Karen Smith and Erin Johnston describe this year’s tour as “eclectic, because of the variety of styles and individual elements that include sumptuous traditional gardens, herb and vegetable gardens and very modern gardens with dramatic simplicity, punctuated with random, bold highlights of color.”
Smith said that despite the varied styles at the heart of each garden, their core is “Okie,” with plants and landscaping carefully selected for our “wild Oklahoma climate.”
Expert gardeners will be on hand to show off their knowledge and answer any questions on the tour, which starts at 9 a.m. All benefits from the event will go toward the upkeep of the 31 parks in Nichols Hills. Visit nicholshills.net for more information and tickets.
