Garden tour features sites across Bradley

photo Amy Powell, left, hangs from a trapeze while demonstrating a technique to student Jenny Peet at Powell's studio in the Rivoli Art Mill. Chattanooga Times Free Press staff photo by Jake Daniels

IF YOU GOWhat: Spring self-guided garden tourWhen: Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Locations: Directions to the gardens are at utextension.tennessee.edu/bradley or www.kiwanisclevelandtn.orgCost: $10 for adults; free for children under 12Tickets: At garden locations on day of the show or in advance at the UT Extension Office, 95 Church St. SE from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CLEVELAND, Tenn. - Garden enthusiasts are looking forward to this year's Bradley County gardens tour in the wake of late April's tornadoes.

"We thought about not having it," said Kay Smith, with the sponsoring University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service. "But our gardeners said no, this is just what we need after all the tragedy."

Residential gardens, a daylily garden, a vineyard, alpaca farm and a historic setting are on the itinerary for the event Saturday, Smith said.

Bob and Susan Card's Chestnut Circle NW residential garden in the Mountain Brook subdivision features tranquil woodland and meadow settings with more than 7,000 new plants, two stone bridges and numerous annuals and perennials.

Another stop on the map is Foster's Trail and Alpaca Farm, the home of Peter and Susan Goodwin on North Lee Highway. Along with the alpacas, the garden features plantings, trees and summer annuals and perennials as well as potted plants.

The historic landmark is on Blythewood Road SW at the gardens of Bess Neil and Max and Margo Everhart. At the gardens, established in 1942 by Neil and her late husband, David, visitors will visit Neil's and the Everharts' gardens as well as the Hair Conrad Cabin, built in the early 1800s and a legacy of the region's Cherokee heritage.

Garden visitors also can view the setting of Blythewood Farm, known for a half century spent breeding American Saddlebred horses.

Doyle Lawson's 31/2 acres on Albert Lawson Road NE, just off Old Benton Pike, feature more than 500 varieties of daylilies in varying shapes and colors.

The tour includes Morris Vineyard and Winery at 346 Union Grove Road near Charleston. Owned by Eric and Carolyn Morris and daughter Heather, the vineyard's first feature is a view of the high hills that roll to the horizon and the Polk County mountains in the distance.

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The Morris family is keeping an eye on that horizon for rain clouds just now. Blueberries will be ready soon. The vineyard sells a variety of berries throughout the year, all the way to scuppernongs and muscadines in early fall.

"We tell people to call ahead," Morris said. "I like to get them here when they can get the fruit."

The vineyard sells picked berries or allows visitors to pick their own.

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