Around Town: Atherton, Woodside gardens open to public tours in April Around Town: Atherton, Woodside gardens open to public tours in April (April 13, 2005)

By Jane Knoerle

Almanac Lifestyles Editor

March showers have produced spectacular April flowers just it time for that favorite rite of spring: the garden tour.

Clear your calendar the next few weekends as splendid private gardens in Woodside and Atherton are open to the public.

Garden gates will open Friday and Saturday, April 22 and 23, as the Mid-Peninsula League of the San Francisco Symphony presents its 16th "Symphony in Flowers," an Atherton garden tour.

Also on Saturday, April 23, the Woodside Atherton Garden Club will sponsor a tour of four spectacular Woodside gardens, and will hold a plant sale at the Woodside Library garden.

Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden will offer a peek into Palo Alto gardens on Friday and Saturday, April 29 and 30.

The Garden Conservancy Open Days program will showcase Woodside gardens on Saturday, May 14, with the garden of Larry and Susy Calof, at 126 Stockbridge Ave. in Atherton, open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 16. Admission is $5. No reservations are required.
Symphony in Flowers

In its tour of four Atherton gardens, "Symphony in Flowers" also offers "how-to" presentations by garden experts, garden table settings, musical interludes, plein air painters, items from the Symphony Store, refreshments, and a box luncheon by pre-order only.

Helen Elkus says of the Atherton home she shares with her husband, Dick: "There were no gardens. We started from scratch."

The couple moved onto the property 11 years ago. Today the 1.3-acre property with tennis court, pool and cabana, and a remodeled house are "everything Dick and I ever dreamed of being able to do."

Their garden, "Sculpture Elegance," features the water sculptures of Archie Held of Point Richmond. Ms. Elkus first saw the sculptor's work in a room created by her interior designer Robert Miller at a decorators' show house in Palo Alto. "It was just a small sculpture in a room on the third floor," she recalls.

Their first acquisition, "The Lovers" in stainless steel and bronze, was a surprise gift from her husband for their 38th wedding anniversary. Now they have six of the artist's pieces in their garden.

The sculpture was the first art the couple collected. Today their showplace home is adorned with contemporary art.

Ms. Elkus credits Jim Lord Landscape Services with keeping her garden in pristine condition.

Garden talks at the Elkus home will be given by Weedgie Caughlan ("Living with Orchids," 11:30 a.m. Friday, April 22); Ed Holm ("The Ten Most Challenging Gardening Problems," 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 23); and Grace Murata ("East Meets West in Floral Design," 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 23).
Perfection to a tee

It's too late to view the 10,000 daffodils, but such garden favorites as sweet peas, begonias, petunias, foxglove, rose bushes, clematis, iris and delphineum should be in full bloom for those visiting the home of Margaret and Victor Bellomo. Their property, Taramar, includes a two-hole golf course and putting green that was installed by a former owner.

The Bellomos bought Taramar 20 years ago, tore down the existing house and had their son, architect Joseph Bellomo, build them a new home. Ms. Bellomo, who grew up on a farm in Almaden and loves gardening, relies on head gardener Peter Cervantes, who has been with them for 18 years, to maintain the garden's perfection.

A box lunch will be served in the pool area at the Bellomo home on both Friday and Saturday. Darren Huckle will talk about growing and using plants for health at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 22. The Peninsula Rose Society will prepare a table.
Garden enchantment

Landscape designer Toni Heren will be on hand to stroll through her own garden from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, April 22, and 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 23.

Garden speakers include: Marianne Partlett ("There's Music in Floral Design," 3 p.m. Friday, April 22); Frank Niccoli ("What's Bugging Your Garden," 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 23), and Cevan Forrist ("Garden Water Features and Water Creatures," 3 p.m. Saturday, April 23).

Tour trekkers will stop for refreshments in the Lindenwood gardens of Rich and Lynnie Dewey. Their landscape designer, Jim Dixon, will be on hand to stroll the garden from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, April 22. Guests also may visit the Symphony Store and view the San Francisco Peninsula Camellia Society's table.

Louise Geraci is chairman of the garden tour. The honorary committee includes: Nan Chapman, Delia Fleishhacker Ehrlich, Helen Elkus, Roz Morris, Marilyn Pratt, Margo Ritter, Anne Seipp, and Katharine Wallace Thompson.

Proceeds from the tour support the San Francisco Symphony and its outreach programs.
INFORMATION

"Symphony in Flowers" garden tour Date: Friday, April 22, and Saturday, April 23 Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. Location: Atherton Tickets: $25 prepaid until April 15; $30 on tour days, available only at 283 Selby Lane, Atherton. Luncheon tickets, $20 prepaid. Information: 329-8187 or symphonygardentour@yahoo.com

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