Salisbury-Rowan Symphony Guild presents: A Symphony of Gardens 2012

A Weekend's Worth of Garden Inspired Events on Saturday, May 19 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 20 from 1 - 5 p.m. Rain or Shine!

9 gardens ranging from meticulously manicured rose gardens to old fashioned country vegetable plots with chicken coops!

6 bonus sites: a vineyard, a pick your own farm, a rose show, a school's "discovery" garden, a restored estate/event center, historic tree trails, plus a Saturday or Sunday luncheon featuring a Picnic-in-a-Pot served on the grounds of an antique country farmplace. (Luncheons require seperate reservations.)

Saturday evening: join us for the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra's concert, "American Light Classics" 7:30 at Keppel Auditorium, Catawba College tickets.salisburysymphony.org (Requires a separate ticket) Garden Tour ticket holders need only show their ticket at the box office Saturday night to be given a concert ticket at half price!

Door prizes include a garden consultation by The Perfect Rose, Salisbury Symphony 2013 season tickets, Planter from Garden Greenhouses, Gift Certificate from Stitchin' Post & Gifts, Gift Certificate from Green Life Massage Therapy and more!

Tour details at www.salisburygardentour.org

Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 on tour days

Online: www.salisburygardentour.org

By phone: 704-638-3100 or 800-332-2343

In person or check by mail: Rowan County Visitors’ Bureau, 204 E. Innes St., Salisbury, NC 28144. Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

For special hotel rates, check www.holidayinn.com/salisburync, enter your arrival and departure dates, and look for a listing of "symphony-n-slumber" room types.

Rowan Rose Show • Salisbury Mall 1935 Jake Alexander Blvd., Salisbury • Saturday May 19, 1-7; Sunday May 20, 1-5. 53rd year of growing and showing beautiful roses! Free admission. Have a rose in your garden you can’t identify? Bring a cutting complete with leaves and try to stump the judges.

Senter Garden • 135 Shortsail Road, Anchor Downs, Salisbury • Lakeside property. Gorgeous container plantings. Handmade planters, benches, fences, birdhouses, and trellises. Garden features dogwoods, magnolias, hydrangeas and boxwoods. Geranium sale to benefit Symphony.

Graham Garden • 300 Topsail Road, Anchor Downs, Salisbury • Lakeside retreat. Caribbean-style playhouse amidst unusual tropical plants including several varieties of palms, fatsia, even banana plants! All of this frames a view of the beautiful Uhwarrie Mountains.

Carolina Lily • 1375 Kern Carlton Road, Salisbury • Old-fashioned 3 acre country garden. Centuries-old magnolias, vegetables in the flower beds, koi pond, even an old timey tire swing. Mobile chicken coop by Rooster Hill Farms. Wine tasting with Morgan Ridge Vineyards Saturday 11-2. Reserve a Picnic-in-a-Pot for Saturday and/or Sunday by calling Julie at 704 639-0033 or at www.carolinalily.com.

Myers/Page Garden • 302 E. Glenview Drive, Salisbury • 600+ rose bushes, a riot of perennials, plus a koi pond, all in a beautiful suburban setting. Gardeners Robert and Jack, owners of The Perfect Rose, offer expert rose pruning and maintenance techniques.

Murtaugh Garden • 3507 Mooresville Road, Salisbury • Fabulous vegetable and fruit garden. Strawberries, grapes, blueberries, blackberries, arugula, kale, spinach, tomatoes and peppers. All set against a barn, w/painted quilt. Compost demo by Master Gardener Pam Irwin. Please park in the driveway. Do not park on Mooresville Hwy/150.

Comer Garden • 3511 Mooresville Road, Salisbury • Country garden surrounding 1932 home is butterfly haven: nectar plants, butterfly bushes, roses, gardenias and hydrangeas. Many plants/trees inherited by owners, including a pecan grove. Mobile chicken coop from Rooster Hill Farms. Please park in the driveway. Do not park on Mooresville Hwy/150.

Villa Franca Estate • 4530 Patterson Road, China Grove • 704-309-7221 www.villafrancaestate.com • A restored 1860s estate, now a setting for special events. Take a rest from the tour to enjoy a quiet moment inside the mansion with a glass of lemonade and a garden-inspired cookie (or two!)

Millbridge Elementary School • 155 Ed Deal Road, China Grove • School recently awarded a $60,000 state grant to build a “Discovery Garden.” An outdoor classroom, kitchen, and flower and vegetable gardens help children learn to plant, harvest and eat nutritious foods.

Maple Hill Farm • 385 Sugar Maple Lane, Mt Ulla • Peaceful country setting on grounds of former dairy farm, now planted in grains. Drive past the milk shed, silos and original farmhouse to reach the main house/garden, where deep perennial beds surround the home and pool. Watch out for wildlife: deer, turkeys, and loads of birds are frequent visitors. Plein Air Artists are working on their artwork in the gardens.

Patterson Farm • 10390 Caldwell Road, Mt Ulla • 704-636-4005 www.pattersonfarminc.com • Pick your own strawberries – show your tour ticket and receive $1 off any size box of strawberries or ice cream cone. Bedding plants and local produce also available for sale in its farm market. Check out its “Dirt on Dirt” composting tour.

Grass Creek Gardens • 15404 Mooresville Road, Mooresville • Self-taught gardeners create an event garden with mature ornamental grass landscaping, incorporating display gardens mixed with evergreens, trees and shrubs. Focus is on constant changing of colors, movement, drought tolerance, and low maintenance. Plants available for sale during tour. Please pull into the driveway to park. Watch for signs.

Sloan Park • 550 Sloan Road, Mt Ulla • Two beautiful tree trails. The Henry W. Culp, Jr. Historic Tree Trail consists of 76 trees with historical significance: seeds and cuttings from trees that were present from the American Revolution to the moon landing. The second area is the Alice Stanback Monument Forest, where one can honor loved ones with trees, flowerbeds and park benches.

Harriss Garden • 975 Briggs Road, Salisbury • Designed and maintained by 30+ year nursery owner and long time President of the Rose Society. An abundance of roses, perennials, a shade garden, an ornamental pool and fountain, and a small gazebo. Please park in the field across the street adjacent to the log cabin.Watch for signs.

Cauble Creek Vineyard •700 Cauble Farm Road, Salisbury • 704 633-1137 www.caublecreekvineyard.com • A family- owned 36 acre vineyard specializing in native muscadine grapes. Wine tasting during the tour: tour ticket entitles holder to $1.00 off a glass! Music provided by local performers in the vineyard under a tent.

Presenting sponsors: Cloninger Ford-Toyota-Scion, The Perfect Rose, Salisbury-Rowan County Tourism Development Authorities