Delight. Inspire. Enchant.
Story and photos by Meda Kessler
This year’s Hidden Gardens of Fort Worth Tour in the Crestwood neighborhood offers an eclectic lineup of five homes with unique landscape design.
Country Chic This property, which we featured 11 years ago in 360 West, wows visitors, starting with the massive oaks in the front yard of this double lot. Rain chains dangle from the corners of the welcoming front porch. The elevated corner property also features a streetside stone retaining wall studded with seashells from beach vacations, colorful glass, metal objects, marbles and more. Follow the sound of water through a landscaped side yard, as wall fountains fill the small pool that sits next to the home’s spacious screened-in porch. Borders of greenery and seasonal flowers soften the hardscaping. Overall, the design creates a lot of impact in a small space. On the other side of the home, a former garage with a vaulted ceiling is now a “she shed.” It’s furnished with shabby chic pieces and opens onto an expanse of landscaped lawn. Separated by a rustic fence made of intertwined branches, a raised garden in the sunniest part of the lot boasts flowers, herbs and vegetables in powder-coated stainless steel watering troughs. Nearby, a gate featuring vintage stained glass adds a colorful touch.
Festive Delights The lush front yard and a patio with Mexican tile and a fountain whet the appetite for what’s to be discovered in the back. The homeowner is an avid gardener who attends to the pruning and trimming himself. Water features include a stacked stone waterfall and pool.
Wooded Splendor Outdoor living is in full effect here, thanks to multiple sitting areas, an outdoor kitchen, a container garden and a deck cantilevered over a ravine.
Spanish Inspiration This 1940s home is one of the oldest in Crestwood, but the new outdoor design includes a pool and water features, kitchen and areas for entertaining.
Meadow Modern Xeriscaping, including the use of ground covers and native grasses, hardscaping and terraced slopes complement this contemporary home.
THE DETAILS
Hidden Gardens of Fort Worth Tour Visit five residential gardens in Fort Worth’s Crestwood neighborhood during this annual fundraiser for Historic Fort Worth. In addition to a variety of flora, you’ll find inspiration in hardscaping, patios, outdoor decor and more. Plein-air artists — sales also benefit HFW — and guides are stationed at each stop. Tickets, $40, are limited; information is on the website. Addresses are provided upon purchase.
Noon-6 p.m. May 15, historicfortworth.org