Secrets from the Garden

Chandor Gardens Newsletter - January 2019

It's January, and as we enter a new year, we'd like to take a minute to reflect on the year past; all the changes and events we've had, and the joys and challenges 2018 brought to the gardens.

January 2018 started off quietly enough, but in February, while we were hosting the Texas Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboretums Conference, we were hit with a massive ice storm causing the largest amount of damage from one natural event that this garden had ever seen. Whole trees toppled over out of the ground, huge branches were strewn everywhere, the gardens were completely impassable. The worst of this was the loss of the 200-year-old Cedar Elm centered in the courtyard.

above: Goodbye, old friend – the 200-year-old Cedar Elm tree that graced the Chandor Gardens courtyard/Silver garden, destroyed by 2018's February ice storm.

We took a minute to absorb the shock and accept what had happened, and then immediately launched into cleanup and restoration mode. Thanks to our dedicated and hard-working staff, the Parker County Master Gardeners, and Blue Ox Urban Forestry's services, we were able to re-open after just over a week! (Also, if there's going to be a massive catastrophe in the garden, at least it happened while we hosted about 75 of the state's most experienced gardeners!) Then, the Chandor Gardens Foundation hosted a beautiful gala to help raise funds for the replacement of the Cedar Elm and its installation. Of course, the City of Weatherford also helped with this, and with the aid of all these groups, we were able to restore the garden. It truly was the epitome of a community coming together to help after a storm, both literal and metaphorical, and we cannot say thank you enough.

Our abnormally rainy spring also meant we couldn't host our annual Spring Fling, but we more than made up for that in October with our Autumn Art Walk, which was heavily attended by vendors as well as the community. We hope that each and every one of them come back for 2019's Spring Fling on April 6th! Please note: We are already taking vendor information for this event, so to be added to the list, please call us at 817-613-1700, or email Stephanie at and we will get your information! A reminder that this event is FREE for vendors, so if you make any kind of art or handmade goods, or if you are a musician, we want you!

Next came our highly popular Goblins in the Garden event (pictured above), and children from far and wide attended our safe trick-or-treat to get candy and prizes, play games, and compete in the costume contest.

In November we hosted the American Portrait Society's Face Off event, in which 6 portrait artists had 3 hours to paint one of 6 models. People had the rare opportunity to see an artist at work and the event was so much fun!

Finally, our last big event was our Holiday Open House in December. The mansion was decorated to the hilt to emulate a winter wonderland. Santa attended, live music was played and sang, and cookies and cider were consumed. The mansion is featured each year on the Parker County Heritage Society's Candlelight Tour of Homes, which is always the seasons most anticipated and well-attended event, and this year was no exception.

And here we are in January, with the prospect of an entire new year ahead of us. What will it bring? We don't know for sure, but we know that, no matter what it is, between our amazing staff, the city, and our Foundation, we can overcome any hardship and accomplish that which we put our minds to. We want to thank each of them and each of you for an awesome (if a little wild) 2018, and we wish to invite you to journey with us into 2019 as we discover all the new year has to offer.

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

Happy New Year,
The Chandor Gardens Staff

Art Exhibit

Texas Chapter of the American Portrait Society
Date: Through end of January 2019
Included with general admission

Through the end of January your admission to the Gardens will include a special treat! The Texas Chapter of the American Portrait Society came out to the Gardens in November and held a "Face Off." Six artists had three hours to paint one of six models and the public was invited to come out and see each artist create a work from start to finish.

The event was a big success and we are pleased to be able to show those paintings, as well as other selected works from this group of talented artists, on display in the Great Room of the Mansion here at Chandor Gardens.

A portion of the sale of these paintings will go to the Chandor Gardens Foundation.

Reception for the artists and models held January 12, 2019. Pictured above are artists (left to right): Gene Dillard, Daniel Jared Sorenson, Linghui Wang, Barbara Hack, Deborah Allison, Anastasiya Chybireva-Fender, and Mary Hull, artist and owner of Hull Art Academy

Wine, Wo(men), and Words

"Charlie Russell, 'the Cowboy Painter'
and his muse and love, Nancy 'Mame' Russell"

Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Time: 6:30 – 8pm (program begins at 7p.m.)
Admission: $25 per person
Beverages and light hors d'oeuvres

Tickets are available at the Gardens or online at www.ChandorGardensFoundation.org

Reenactor, Joe Strain, brings Montana's favorite son, Charlie Russel, and his wife, Nancy "Mame" Russell to life. A former school teacher and docent at both the Sid Richardson Museum and The Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, Mr. Strain is an authority on the Russell's and brings to life, in riveting detail, the challenging upbringing and lives of these pioneers of both art and the West.

Spring Fling

Date: Saturday, April 6, 2019
Time: 10am-3pm
Admission: $1 per person

Help us celebrate the arrival of a long-awaited spring season at our annual "Spring Fling!" This popular event features music, food, area artists and craftsmen.

Calling All Vendors!
As we grow and expand this popular event every year, we are always looking for new and talented artists and craftsmen to join in on the celebration and display/sell your goods to the public. This event is FREE (yes, free) to all vendors. We open the gates at 9am for vendor set up and allow until 5pm for vendor break down. If interested, 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.

A Wonderful Turnout

Our Holiday Open House had a wonderful turnout and we would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our guests for attending, as well as the Parker County Heritage Society for putting on the fabulous Candlelight Tour of Homes and including us on it! It's hard work, but so much fun, and it is one of our favorite events! Truly, we love being able to give back to the community this way.

Children admiring the English Christmas village scene that took over our entire credenza! Various palaces, Victoria Station, and an assortment of shops and houses took up residence, with a sweet collection of little porcelain people milling about. Santa in a motorized hot air balloon completed the winter wonderland!

Weddings

Visit us at the Chandor Gardens booth at the Modern Art Museum in Fort Worth on Monday, January 28, 2019. 360W Magazine will be holding their Bridal Fair, "An Evening of Wedding Luxury," from 5 to 8p.m. Tickets are $25 at the door or $20 when purchased in advance at 360westmagazine.com. We'll see you there!

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.

Plant of the Month

Ornamental Cabbages and Kales
Normally, we would feature an individual plant species, but honestly, anything that brings such a vibrant color and texture in a garden at this time of year deserves this title. Ornamental cabbages and kales are in the Brassica family, as are things like cauliflower, mustard, broccoli, lettuce, etc. These shown here are not for eating however, due to their rather bitter taste. They are grown for show as they tolerate the cold weather exceedingly well. They look great both in beds and in potted arrangements!

A related note for those of you planning on planting edible veggies, next month is time to plant your onions, brassicas, and potatoes. Happy gardening!

Parting Shot

Our nine month journey is nearing it's end! Fort Worth artist, Michael Pavlovsky, has completed the painstaking restoration of one of the Garden's most iconic features, the Dragon Fountain. Michael used old photographs and original Chandor sketches along with vintage Coke and 7Up bottles, antique marbles, and glass bricks, sourced from around the world, in order to recreate the piece from the ground up. The beautiful, finished product from this talented artist will be officially unveiled at a ribbon cutting in early spring. Stay tuned for the date and time – we don't want you to miss this special event!

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.