FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — Members of the Frontier Heritage Historical Society of Fort Fairfield will again celebrate beautiful places in the community during their “Home and Garden Tour, 2011” on Saturday, July 30 from noon-4 p.m.
As in years’ past, there will be delightful gardens and homes, as well as delicious delicacies at an afternoon tea. The Tour starts off at the Fort Fairfield Bandstand where persons can buy tickets for the tour and receive their map and enjoy the perennial gardens around the bandstand. This year, Dean and Kathy Hunter will host the “Tea” at their Victorian home along the Aroostook River at 30 High St. with parking on High and Brown streets.
The Hunter’s home has enjoyed more than 100 years of homeowners’ tender loving care. As quoted in a 1912 newspaper article upon original owner’s (H.N.Goodhue) death, “… he has through all these years, exercised the greatest of care in the keeping of the lawns well mown, and the trees, vines, etc. on the grounds well-trimmed, it is today one of the most picturesque and beautiful spots in the summertime for many miles around.”
That tradition continues today. Come enjoy the Hunters’ gardens and gazebo, as well as discover special features of this lovely home: built-in cabinets, glassed pocket doors, a marble-tiled corner fireplace, original woodwork, and a bullet, beveled, and stained glass window in the front door. Tea and crumpets will be served from the dining room, and participants are welcome to enjoy these in the home (which features a sunny double living room), or out of doors in the garden overlooking the Aroostook River.
The next stop is at the 44 Maple Grove Road home of Eric and Marge Hunter with parking along the house side of road on gravel or in a designated field.
Seldom does one have an opportunity of a lifetime to walk into an enchanted space which dazzles all the senses. Gardeners extraordinaire, the Hunters are opening their phenomenal gardens to the public for the first time, as a gracious gift to benefit Frontier Heritage’s ongoing projects. The Hunters have “posted” enchanting Garden Ladies throughout — each adding personality to the botanical experience.
It has taken 32 years for the gardens to develop to this magnificence. For instance, what once was a gasoline tank area, now welcomes you to: peonies, delphiniums, clematis, roses and chaxii! A former foundation for pea production machinery, once loaded with rocks and burdocks, first became a nursery bed. If plants proved “worthy” after four years of nurturing, they found homes in the permanent gardens. “Rockland” today is magnificent by itself: dried saplings from the property form arches and trellises, which support a variety of climbing flora, adding another dimension to a gorgeous space.
An arboretum trail meanders through a valley behind and below the main gardens. A stroll offers you varieties of oaks, birch, apples, pears, silver maples, roses, lilacs, peonies, day lilies, dogwoods, daffodils, clematis, and ledge gardens.
As you walk onto the property from any direction, you will immediately feel a transformation taking place. Gardens, separated by merely a few steps will emerge — each welcoming you to a new experience. Two separate water gardens create totally distinctive habitats. We urge you to sit and enjoy those contemplative moments. The vista behind the “Garden House” is spectacular — not only can you distinguish multiple gardens, separated by trees, lawns, distance and elevation, you can see for miles towards the Canadian hills. Go inside the Garden House to see dried floral beauties, a comfortable place to rest and discover the simple tools which help create this treasured spot.
Lest you think it’s all about blooms, this land is productive as well. Vegetable gardens are overflowing with on-coming crops, immaculately pruned orchards are growing an abundance of apples and pears, as well as raspberries, asparagus, hops, and rhubarb.
The earliest gardens are the most secluded. The Hunters chose first to incorporate the older trees, shrubs, and multi-leveled lawns, which had been used as gardens decades ago. A feeling of permanency and wisdom exists in those gardens. As you travel throughout this property, you will need to catch your breath often, and it won’t be from physical effort on you part! Look for bits of humor as you explore — natural sculptures appear, a large forest animal protects his habitat, and a small second house at the wood’s edge is delightful and may prove to be a welcome spot.
The tour continues to the new home and garden of Wayne and Pat Troicke at 172 North Caribou Road with parking on right side of driveway and house side of the road.
Tour participants will enjoy a picturesque hillside setting and multiple gardens, bordered by fieldstone walls. Twelve varieties of day lilies are a sight to see, as are the hearty cone flowers, dianthus, hostas, astilbes and irises. Fruit trees and shrubs sand out in this bird and butterfly-friendly site. The house, built in 2009, is a two bedroom ranch and features a large deck.
The Troickes are enjoying the creative and efficient space and urge their neighbors to take a look!
Next stop on the tour is 133 Russell Road at the home of Dan and Mary Ann Ayoob with parking along the house side of road or in designated on-site areas.
The Ayoobs welcome visitors to their newly renovated home and mature gardens. It’s amazing what time and tender loving care can do to a landscape. The patio bench swing is a welcoming place to enjoy the shade of a large white birch. Hydrangeas and roses can be enjoyed from old fashioned twig chairs, or you can meander under twig arches and rose arbors along stone walkways. Bird houses are visible and birds can be heard throughout the tour. Look for frogs on the lily pads of the water garden, as well as the snails which help keep the pond crystal clear.
Vegetable gardens are full of bounty, and the “critters” have not yet discovered the boxed colorful beet greens decorating the bulkhead! Handsome rocks, long ago discarded from the potato fields, now take on a complimentary purpose throughout the gardens. Feel free to sit at the fireside garden and admire the gorgeous view of the Aroostook River and the industrious geese with their babies traveling across the Russell Road from river to pond. Check out the rocks in that garden to see what a good time people have had before your arrival — recycling takes on a whole new dimension!
Participants are welcome to enjoy the Ayoob home and will be amazed at how open the home is now. A kitchen-living room truly capitalizes on the spectacular views of this house — both natural and manmade. Cantilevered beams have allowed a spacious upstairs deck, which can be enjoyed from the Master Bedroom Suite, and includes a tiled glassed-in shower, as well as a built-in bathtub, with a tiled surround.
Tina Boucher welcomes tour-goers to her recently renovated 1800s home at 233 Caribou Road with parking along one side of the road. The wrap-around porch is welcoming and cleverly includes a water feature, which adds to the ambiance of a restful visit overlooking some lovely gardens. If that is not private enough, meander out back to a large screened-in patio to see lovely gardens and woods. Two patios offer you a moment to rest, the largest is octagonal in shape and simply and elegantly features Stella Nona lilies.
Participants will also discover a mounded garden with a mix of blooms and a raised corner garden nestled against the home. These add dimension and frame the house beautifully. Please enjoy her home and note the efficiency of space, creative décor, and pride in this home as you travel throughout.
The final stop of the 2011 Tour is at the 265 Forest Avenue home of Cynthia and Gerald Beaulieu with parking on the house side of road.
The Beaulieus welcome you to their gorgeous hillside gardens. A rock waterfall and pond is intriguing – frogs and water lilies abound and a miniature wooden canoe is pulled onto shore. This garden sits in front of a hillside apple orchard and immaculate lawns. Climbing honeysuckle accent a delightful pastel garden house, where the tricks of the gardening trade are housed. Under the trees near the moss covered patio is a stone water fountain enhancing the ambiance of this bird sanctuary. Their patio serves as an outdoor kitchen and dining/living room during the spring, summer and fall.
A grape arbor is producing Concord grapes, barreled herbs are handy for cooking, and “Nana’s Nasturtiums” continuously provide produce which accent salads. Roses, imported from England 104 years ago, have already bloomed along the road. Hosta gardens appear in several areas and have thrived on the frequent summer showers. This hillside offers incredible opportunities for interesting levels, and each picture-perfect garden is framed by stonework. Four levels of stone steps are filled with a variety of plants: foxglove, delphiniums, and roses are punctuated by a weeping crabapple. Keep your eyes open for natural birdbaths, artistic use of trees, and contemplative spaces, which also have an expansive view over-looking the valley of Libby Brook.
Pre-sales tickets are encouraged. Tickets will be available at: Pat’s Sewing Room on Main Street, Fort Fairfield or call: Sharon Dorsey at 540-6199 to reserve tickets. Remaining tickets will be sold at the Fort Fairfield Bandstand on Main Street the day of the tour.
