Ruston Garden Club to Host Garden Tour

Three of Lincoln Parish’s most beautiful and scenic gardens will be on open to the public to view during the Jolis Jardins Garden Tour, sponsored by the Ruston Garden Club. The tour is set for April 27 from 9:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

             

“Jolis Jardens means beautiful gardens and we truly have some beautiful gardens in Lincoln Parish,” said Rene Gipson, a member of the Ruston Garden Club. “People really take pride in their gardens here and have been gracious enough to allow the public to view them.”

            

 The gardens on tour are at the homes of Noula and Steve Rodakis, Mary Sue and Charles Smelley in Ruston, and Renee and Todd Davison in Choudrant.

             

Garden lovers and enthusiasts can purchase tickets to view the three gardens for $10. Tickets can be purchased in advance from several locations including: Twin Oaks Nursery, located at 630 East Georgia Street, and Townsend House Gifts, located at 410 North Bonner Street and the Ruston Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau at 2111 North Trenton Street.

           

 Tickets can also be purchased the day of the tour at any of the garden locations.

“We encourage people to purchases their tickets in advance,” said Lou Ropp, a member of the Ruston Garden Club. “Tickets will include a map to the location of the gardens so this will definitely help people who may not be familiar with the locations of the gardens.”

     

Gardens to be visited are the Tanglewood Garden, 2500 Tanglewood Dr., home of Noula and Steve Rodakis.  This garden, with its European setting, will surprise guests with its many fruit-bearing trees, one of which is registered as “Noula’s Quince,” grown from a seed brought from Greece, Noula’s native country.

The Belle Point Garden is located at 170 Ramsey Circle, the home of Mary Sue and Charles Smelley.  The quiet, country air is coupled with the abundance of fragrance of over 50 variations of trees, shrubs and blooming flowers.  More than 20 island beds with garden structures, accessories and plantings tastefully transition from garden to woodland.

The 2005 Southern Living Idea Home garden of Renee and Todd Davison is located at 202 Brookside in the Squire Creek Community.  Accenting the French country character of the home are pronounced colors of red, purple, and white in abundant spring plants.  The compelling landscape of this garden compliments the perfect setting for “southern living.”

Tour goers should also make plans to by the CVB parking lot. There will be a plant sale, sponsored by the North Central Louisiana Master Gardeners and vendors with handcrafted garden art and accessories.

Tour sponsors include the Bank of Ruston, Bromell Agency Inc., and Twin Oaks Nursery and Garden Center.

For more information, call (318) 548-6423 or email rustongardenclub@gmail.com .