Hidden Tranquility and Oaks of La Salle are two themes at private home gardens that will be on tour April 26-27 in the 2025 Annual Heritage Gardeners Spring Garden Tour.
Residents Gage and Mike Martin certainly have ‘hidden tranquility’ in their home off Greenbriar in Friendswood. They have lived there since 1998, being the third owners of the house. It’s a sprawling mid-century modern home with huge glass windows in the rooms that face the backyard. An architect designed the house using the Frank Lloyd Wright style, which was popular when it was built.
The house sits on a multi-acre property that cannot be seen from the street. Chigger Creek forms part of the back boundary. Its beautiful, tranquil setting is the perfect escape for two very busy attorneys. A concrete walkway circles much of the backyard (courtesy of the second homeowners who were in the concrete business).
The Martins have been busy re-imagining their yard after the destruction it suffered during Hurricane Beryl. They lost many large trees, large branches from others, and several stands of bamboo across the back. A once very shady yard now has many more sunny areas.
With careful plant selection, new flower beds have been added to fit the new conditions. The property has multiple gazebos, and it boasts a new water feature in an area that was once home to a very large tree. The Martins feel that being on this year’s Spring Garden Tour was just the motivation they needed to get their vision for the “new yard” finished.
Carol and Mike Marcantel are opening their garden area in Mission Estates III with the theme Oaks of La Salle. Purchased in 2008, the Marcantel home is shaded by eight large trees, seven oaks, and a beautiful cypress. Carol and Mike have a variety of colors, front and back, and have created a cozy setting in the backyard for a quiet outdoor dinner, complete with a beautiful sunset view.
As tourgoers enter the backyard, a beautiful flagstone walkway will guide them past a small pollinator section and back to the corner where the cutest smiling ceramic frog will welcome them. The frog seems to say, “Welcome to my pad.”
The garden has a variety of plants, including several amaryllis purchased a few years ago from Heritage Gardeners. A three-tiered concrete bird bath and multiple hanging baskets of ferns adorn the side fence. Even a resident opossum has made itself right at home, much to the chagrin of the family’s pet, who considers himself the great protector of the yard.
These two homes are two of four private home gardens on the tour. Briscoe Gardens at the Heritage Garden clubhouse is also on the tour. Tickets for the tour are sold at local businesses in town and clubhouse. Tickets are good for Saturday and Sunday during 1-5 pm tour hours.
A huge plant sale will be offered in the Briscoe Garden area on the side of the clubhouse from 9 am to 4 pm each day.
Any questions about gardening or specific plants can be addressed to a table of Galveston County Master Gardeners, who will be there both days.
A biannual National Garden Club (NCG) Flower Show, Splendor of Spring will be held inside the clubhouse. The community is invited to see the Horticulture, Design, and Botanical Arts (photography) exhibits. The clubhouse with the show will be open from April 25 from 1-5 pm and April 26-27 from 9 am to 4 pm each day. Admittance is free.
The Spring Market will also be underway on Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 4 pm. Over 40 vendors will be spread out on three properties, including the clubhouse drive and two adjacent areas. A wide variety of items will be offered.
Tickets will be available for the Spring Garden Tour at the following businesses: Friendswood Chamber of Commerce, Friendswood Frame & Gallery, Silver Bee Boutique, Marrone Market, Phoenix Cleaners, Two Friends Gifts, Wild Birds Unlimited of Pearland, Friendswood Scoop Shop, Blue Goose Plant & House, and One Glance. Club members also have tickets.
The huge springtime events are held at 112 W. Spreading Oaks (behind the library) in Friendswood. Tickets for the garden tour will also be available there. All other events are free.
For more information on the garden club, follow Heritage Gardeners on Facebook.
