Secret Gardens Tour delights admirers

Mexican petunias are popular in area gardens as they are heat and drought resistant.

Tucked away behind gates, hedges, and fences, seven gardens selected for their uniqueness played host to garden enthusiasts.

The self-guided journey though private gardens spread throughout the city, is a day of surprises and sharing of gardening ideas and projects.

Chandor Gardens, owned by the city of Weatherford, have been a part of the gardening community since 1937, when famed artist Douglas Chandor dreamed of an English-flavored garden in the heart of Texas. After his death in 1953, his wife, Ina, kept it open to the public until 1978.

The city acquired the gardens in 2002. It is a world-renowned garden, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Parker County’s Master Gardeners help keep the gardens in shape, and have their greenhouses at the back of its property.

Participating gardeners included Debbie Nelsen and Hubert Boussard, Tanga and Steve Chapman, Marion and Mike Blowers, Christie Tull, Linda and Gary Snow, and Chandor Gardens.