It’s back! After a five-year absence, the Southlake Perennial Garden Society’s big event will bloom again this spring.

From 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 19, the garden society will host “Peek Behind the Garden Gate,” a horticultural experience open to the public. The tour of five Southlake gardens is inspirational and educational for both seasoned gardeners and those who aspire to have green thumbs.

“We are the premier garden tour in North Texas,” said Susan Schleppegrell, a part of the tour’s steering committee and a longtime member of the Perennial Garden Society. “People have told us how great it is. This garden tour is more valuable to people because of the education that comes with the tour.”

Master gardeners will be talking about plants, dirt, water and bugs at each of the five stops on the tour, along with an educational component at each stop that addresses some Texas-sized garden headaches. Any gardener who’s ever puzzled about drought, pests, butterflies or pollinators will dig the information. Topics from rain barrels to mosquito control to drought-tolerant plants will be discussed.

“We’ll have experts who will guide gardeners on the right path,” Schleppegrell said. The gardens themselves also teach would-be gardeners what can be done in their own yards. “If you see it in these gardens, you can grow it.”

Co-chairing the event are club members Carol Dowd and Cathy Vollmer, both master gardeners. They’re leading a team of Perennial Garden Society volunteers drawn from several Northeast Tarrant County cities.

The gardens, all in Southlake, were selected to show a variety of styles and settings. Some are formal and manicured, and others are more natural. Some have overcome challenges, such as drainage issues, and others have adapted their landscape to sun concerns.

The homes all boast beautiful front yards with plenty of curb appeal, but behind the gate is where the yards become even more interesting, Schleppegrell said.

“The front is pretty and draws your attention, but a lot of the beauty, wonder and style is in the backyards of these homes,” she said.
The five gardens will showcase eclectic styles. The home of Debbie and Terry Debo at 1365 Lakeview Drive is surrounded by a parklike setting. The lush, shady landscape features curved edges with trees and plants being the focal points. Drainage problems were solved through garden rocks, and curved pathways lure visitors through the yard.

Layered gardens were planted at the home of Linda and Pete Frederick, who live at 1345 Woodbrook Court, with a mix of sun and shade. The couple accented their home with rich landscaping, integrating a swimming pool and year-round landscape color.

Homeowners Paula and Greg Knabe created a whimsical yard at 706 Malton Lane. With a variety of groundcovers ideal for their shady gardens, their design includes creative fencing, yard art and arches constructed of twigs from their yards.

A corner lot at 112 Woodglen Court allowed Gina and Shawn LaRocco to choose sun-loving plants, using flowering perennials for colorful displays. The manicured landscape style incorporates the home’s pool and gazebo with textured plants.

A secret garden, formal serenity garden and chicken house highlight Debbie and Charlie Morrison’s home at 1508 Moss Lane. With spots of both sun and shade throughout the yard, the bee hives help the environment here by providing pollinators.