A wonderful garden in the Polly Ranch subdivision in Friendswood will be on the 2025 Heritage Gardener Spring Garden Tour from April 26-27. The gardens and residence belong to Dianne and Corban Gallagher, who have lived there for 10 years. Dianne is a new member of Heritage Gardeners.
Dianne’s focus in her gardens has been on “food plants.” She grows a variety of vegetables and herbs and often walks out her back door, looks at the garden, and asks herself, “What’s for dinner tonight?” Each year, she grows most of her vegetables from seeds that she keeps from the prior year’s plants/harvest. Tourgoers will be able to see raised beds and areas for vines to grow, giving them ideas to take home and try. This area has been successfully growing vegetables and herbs for quite a while.
The rest of the yard is in transition. The yard pre-Hurricane Beryl had many trees and much shade. Then Hurricane Beryl took down all the trees in the backyard. Now, the yard is full of sun. Their vision is to put fruit trees in a new sunny area. They have planted a fig tree and will be adding citrus trees.
The garden will be both a visual and educational delight.
Also on this year’s tour will be Briscoe Gardens on the property behind the Heritage Gardeners’ clubhouse on Spreading Oaks. This beautiful front and backyard garden is planted with an assortment of plants and shrubs. All are identified for tourgoers to note. Huge oaks hold staghorn ferns, which are overhead in the fern garden. An area of bromeliads is nearby. Azaleas, coneflowers, and an area maintained by Junior Master Gardeners with a fishpond, a pollinator garden, and more are available to tour. People passing by often stop to get a photo under the arbor of Peggy Martin roses, and both prom and wedding photos have been taken there. A quaint potting shed is part of the cottage garden motif. During the tours, which run from 1–5 pm each day, a huge plant sale will be offered in the Briscoe Garden area on the side of the clubhouse from 9 am to 4 pm.
Other events are planned along with the tour and the plant sale. Any questions about gardening or specific plants can be addressed at 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.
At the same time, the Spring Market will also be underway. 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, which showcases four private home gardens and Briscoe Gardens. Tickets for the tours are available now 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 being held at 112 W. Spreading Oaks (behind the library) in Friendswood.
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