Secrets from the Gardens

Chandor Gardens Newsletter - October 2018

We are officially well into fall at this point, with crisp mornings and brisk nights. Autumn is one of the most beautiful times of year in a garden, and we highly encourage everyone who can to come out and get a glimpse of the array of colors the plants put out in preparation for a wintry break to work on roots and new growth. The reds and golds make for a beautiful backdrop for family photos, so call us soon to schedule your photo sessions.

October is just full of fabulous fall festivities!

Thursday, October 18th, The Chandor Gardens Foundation will host another in their series of Wine, Women & Words evenings. This special night begins with wine and hors d'oeuvres followed by our guest speakers Katie Sherrod, a writer, producer, and commentator, who speaks on her book "Grace and Gumption: Stories of Fort Worth Women," along with contributor Carol Roark, author of books on historic Tarrant County, who will talk about the women who shaped Fort Worth from its early days through the mid-20th century.

October 21st brings our annual Autumn Art Walk, a fabulous afternoon of artists and artisans showing and selling their work, tours through the Gardens and Mansion, live music, food, and fun.

Next up is our most popular event, Goblins in the Gardens. Held on Sunday, October 28th, this is a family friendly, spook-free event. Our staff, as well as volunteers from local schools and the Chandor Gardens Foundation will be here in costumes to hand out candy to the kids. There will also be games, costume contests, and prizes! If you get hungry, fear not! Shep's Food Truck and Julie Bean Ice Cream will be on hand so plan to bring the family out to eat lunch with us.

Keep up with us on Facebook and we’ll keep you posted there too.

See you in the Gardens,
The Chandor Gardens Staff

Wine, Women & Words

Grace & Gumption: Stories of Fort Worth Women
Thursday, October 18, 2018
7p.m. to 9p.m.
In the Chandor Gardens Mansion
Wine and hors d'oeuvres

Tickets: $35 – available at Chandor Gardens or online at: http://www.chandorgardensfoundation.org/

Get your tickets now for this very special evening at the Gardens! Katie Sherrod speaks on her book "Grace and Gumption: Stories of Fort Worth Women." Ms. Sherrod, a writer, producer and commentator, along with contributor Carol Roark, author of books on historic Tarrant County, will talk about the women who shaped Fort Worth from its early days through the mid-20th century.

Autumn Art Walk

Sunday, October 21st
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Admission: $1.00 per person

Please join us as we usher in the fall season at our annual Autumn Art Walk. This year's event promises to be the best yet with over 45 vendors, wonderful live music, and scrumptious food!

ENTERTAINMENT

• Michael and Laura Anderson with Anderson's Good Medicine (12pm – 1pm)
• Ukaladies (1pm-2pm)
• Gary Gibson on the Piano (3pm-4pm)

FOOD

• Miguel and Atilana Rodriguez with Cool Arrows
• Tacos Food Truck/Tacos to Die For

Menu: Street Tacos and Original Tacos – your choice of brisket, carnitas, carne asada, chicken or pork with a variety of yummy toppings. Burgers, Nachos and Elotes (Mexican cups of corn)

Drinks: Agua Fresca (Fruit Waters) Watermelon, Pineapple, Mango and Cantaloupe. A variety of Mexican bottle Sodas as well as regular sodas and water.

Desserts: Mexican fruit trays including toppings of your choice - lime juice, chili powder, Tarjin Powder and a Chamoy Sauce and Mexican Cookies.

VENDORS

• Stephany Loveday – Jewelry
• Greg Jones – Custom Crafted Coin Rings
• Turi Snider – Travel Books
• Allyson Bailey – LuLaRoe Clothing
• Auber Dean – Custom Made Bird Houses
• Diane Brown – Bookmarks, Paintings
• Bertha Lombard – Wire Sculptures
• Marla Sheft – Watercolor Paintings
• Jan Ford – Button Art
• Michelle Crider – Weatherford Art Association
• Cindy Thomas – Paintings
• Angie Key – Photography
• Caryn Hall – Caryn Creations
• Kate Grace – Kate's Custom Creations
• Will Fowler – Custom Woodwork
• Connie Carlisle – Pottery
• Wanda Lyon – Stadium Blankets, Jewelry
• Samantha Beyl – Essential Oils
• Kylie Clay – Paintings
• Shyler Ford – Painting, etc.
• Jan Butcher – Jewelry
• Peggy Todd – Windchimes
• Julie Goode – Acrylic Paintings
• Danielle Franklin – Beaded Jewelry, Handmade Pillows
• Laura Anderson – Santa Books
• Cynthia White – Ask a Master Gardener Booth

• Martha Cox – Jewelry
• Monique Gomez – Paintings, Jewelry, Prints
• Beverly Freeman – Acrylic Paintings, Photography
• Tanner Offner – Hand Crafted Signs and T-Shirts
• Candace Heimdal – Paintings
• Oz Scott – Photography, Canvas and Watercolor Paintings
• Theresa Fuss – Plants, Handmade Jewelry
• Jack Edison Jr. – Paintings
• Shayna Littrell – Paintings
• JC Hill – End Tables, Wood Art
• Shawn Beasley – Metal, Blacksmith
• Charlise Lee – Mugs, T-Shirts, Hairbows, etc.
• Kendra Plowman – Hand Painted Etched Glassware
• Sarah Degough – Clothing for Girls
• Amanda Webb – Crochet, etc.
• Andrew Fredrickson – Painter
• Bear and Wendy Griffin – Metaphysical Pieces
• Elwin Marriott – Handmade Jewelry, Metal Art, etc.
• Amanda Melm – Greeting cards and crocheted pot holders

We will also have our wonderful Parker County Master Gardeners here with their "Ask A Master Gardener" booth to answer all your gardening questions and concerns.

We can't wait to celebrate the fall season with you!

Goblins in the Garden

Sunday, October 28th
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Admission: $2.00 per person
Children in costume, free!

Goblins in the Gardens is our annual spook-free, daytime, trick or treat, family friendly Halloween event. Costumes are encouraged!

Costumed characters are on hand throughout the Gardens handing out candy to little ghosts and goblins.

We will also be serving lunch and snacks throughout the day from Shep's Food Truck and Julie Bean Ice Cream.

Enter our costume contest and play games in the courtyard for fun prizes!

Costume Contest | Photo Ops | Games & More

Holiday Open House

Date: Saturday, December 8, 2018
Time: 11a.m. to 7p.m.
Admission: Free

On Saturday, December 8th we will be hosting our Annual Holiday Open House. Visitors to the Gardens will be able to tour the gardens and mansion, decorated for the season, and listen to a variety of talented choirs, musicians and singers featuring music to put you in the Holiday spirit! Docents will be available throughout the venue to fill you in on the interesting history of this lovely National Register property. This popular event is held in conjunction with the Parker County Heritage Society's Candlelight Tour of Homes.

We are currently in the process of scheduling musicians, singers, etc. to perform the day of the event. If you, or someone you know, would like to be a part of this special day please give us a call at 817-613-1700 or email for further information.

Yoga Classes

Tuesdays & Thursdays
5:30 to 6:30 pm
Fee: Donation based
Led by: Loretta Benham

Instructor Loretta Benham offers yoga classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Chandor Gardens. Loretta's mix of energetic sequences incorporated with stillness through breath work and meditation to quiet the mind will provide a healthy addition to any workout regimen.
 
Bring your mat and wear comfortable clothing. In inclement weather, classes will be held in the Great Room.

For more information call 817-597-1503 or 817-613-1700.

Plant of the Month

Chinese Fringe Flower (Lorepetalum)
A sure sign of fall's arrival, the Lorepetalum (Chinese Fringe Flower) bushes have put off their first bloom of the season, and are sending out runners of almost fluorescent purples and pinks. The new growth on these specimens are such a shockingly bright shade, and are a fabulous backdrop for any garden. They pull a lot of weight being semi-evergreen with soft leaves, but autumn is truly it's time to shine and bring color to a landscape.

Weddings

"Your happily ever after begins here."

Reserve your special day.

Dates are filling up fast for 2019 & 2020.

Contact us to schedule a tour.  817-613-1700 or

Gift Shop

Take the Gardens home with you. There are postcards, note cards, prints, and t-shirts sporting fabulous images of Chandor Gardens in our gift shop. We feature unique handmade items by a variety of local artisans specializing in textiles, stained and fused glass, jewelry, painting, photography and much more.

Around the Garden

Candlestick Trees
The Candlestick Trees are blooming again! These plants are technically an annual and produce a shallow root system, but they are easily regrown from the seeds they produce after their popcorn-scented blossoms fade. What's really interesting is it's size; these annuals can get over 6 feet tall, and yet still do just fine planted in pots! Their tropical foliage is also a great texture in a garden, so these are definitely worth a look-see.

Morning Glory
Morning Glories are beautiful. Vining Morning Glories are just plain stunning. Mixing in vining Morning Glories with bright Passion Flowers on an arbor together is just.... everything. These will be in bloom for a little while longer, but cooler temperatures are right around the corner, so make sure to come see these soon!

Ashley Deal Memorial Garden
The Ashley Deal Memorial Garden makeover is making lots of headway and is truly being transformed into a beautiful and quiet space. Hand-cut bricks mixed in with fresh plantings really make the whole space feel revived and new, and what better way to honor little Ashley? There is a little sitting area in a shady spot, and would be perfect for bird-watching, reading, or just self-reflection and meditation. If you're looking for a private space to stop and catch your breath, maybe find some peace, there's a spot in the garden waiting for you.

Passion Flowers
The Passion flowers are in full bloom right now in the gardens. One can find this rather wild looking tropical bloom on the arbor to the Parker County Master Gardener's Memorial Garden on the west side of the parking lot. Not only are these flowers vibrantly beautiful and smell like sweet musky lemon, but the fruits they produce are edible! They are a delight in early fall, and there's nothing nicer than to take a stroll out to the arbor and inhale a deep whiff of their heady fragrance and watch the bumblebees and butterflies alighting on the blooms.

Purple Porterweed
Purple Porterweed blooms and Orange Cosmos make for a bright mix, and also an excellent photo backdrop for fall family photos! There are several clumps of these growing throughout the courtyard and around the pergola, and if one were to pay close attention, they might just catch a glimpse of a tiny green hummingbird feeding on their nectar. It is also butterfly migration time, so now is the time to come see them getting sustenance for their winter journey down south!

Parting Shot

While walking quietly through the garden taking photos of our various plants and features for our publications, I very nearly missed this beautiful Snail Vine (Vigna Caracalla) specimen. That is, until I smelled it! The scent on this Snail Vine is out of this world! Once the source of the fragrance is discovered, the visual beauty of this flower packs another punch. It's so ethereal-looking and very different with its curly tendril of a blossom packed together in strange but beautiful little clumps, and is altogether an enchanting little vine.

Contact Information

Chandor Gardens
711 W Lee Avenue
Weatherford, TX 76086

Karen Nantz
Manager
Phone: 817-613-1700
Fax: 817-598-4354
email:

Steven Chamblee
Horticulturist
email:

Public Hours
Monday-Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Sunday, noon to 4:00 pm
Closed all City Observed Holidays

Admission
Adults: $5
Children 12 and under: Free
(Children must be accompanied by an adult.)

Private Tours and Events
Available year-round by appointment.