Today: Garden Tour Showcases Local Homes

How many times have you walked by a garden or someone’s backyard and wish you could sneak a peek?

On Saturday, you can.

Five Riverton homes, and three in Cinnaminson, are part of this year’s , a bi-annual event sponsored by the Porch Club of Riverton.

(To see a PDF of the map, click to the right.)

“It’s a wonderful time to spend getting to know your towns,” said Rita Vittese, co-chair of this year’s event along with June Emens. “How many times did you walk by somebody’s yard and wish you could go into it?”

The Garden Tour includes eight private gardens in Riverton and Cinnaminson. All but one of the gardens is new and has never been on the tour before. And every one of them has a story.

The DeVrie and Leone families live in Riverton and their gardens are on the tour. Three generations have lived in this Main Street home over the years and the garden has expanded generously.

Arborists believe the tall Japanese maple and sweet gum trees there were planted in the 1860s.  Recent additions include a winding perennial path, a garden house, a pergola garden, an Italian fountain, and a weeping cherry tree.

The Smith family in Cinnaminson has their Par Drive garden on the tour this year too.

“Theirs is a woodland setting,” said Vittese. “It’s very rustic. You would never think this was in a suburban community. It just feels like a private retreat.”

Features of that garden include a pool, ponds with waterfalls and hardscaping.

“Some of the gardens are like pocket gardens you might call them,” Vittese said. “Whereas, the one on Washington Avenue (in Cinnaminson), when you go into their backyard, it’s like party central. It’s totally private and it’s all designed by the homeowner. There are beautiful plants, a pool, music and speakers hidden in rocks.”

The home on Midway that’s on the Garden Tour is certified by the National Wildlife Federation, meaning they meet four criteria for a wildlife habitat—provide food, supply water, create cover and give wildlife a place to raise young.

Many of the homeowners are available to answer questions, too.

“They really enjoy talking about what they did,” Vittese said.

Back at the Porch Club, located on Fourth and Howard streets in Riverton, there will be county Master Gardener booth, displays by local environmental organizations, a tree expert, vendors of garden-related items, and book sales. 

A goodie bag for Garden Tour walkers includes snacks and water and can be picked up at the Porch Club. 

Plants will be on sale at the gazebo on Main and Broad streets.

The “Ladies Garden” quilt, made by the Porch Club’s Stitchery Committee, will be raffled off at the end of the day. The quilt won first prize at the Wheaton Village annual quilt show this year.

All funds raised goes to the upkeep of the Porch Club and to its charitable efforts. The Porch Club is one of the oldest women’s club’s in the state. There are nearly 200 members of the club and the women work in the tri-boro area to help local charities. Last year alone, the Porch Club raised more than $53,000 for charities.

Garden Tour tickets are $15 in advance and $20 on Saturday. The tour runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets can be bought at the Riverton Library, 306 Main St. in Riverton; , 606 Main St. in Riverton; Zena’s Pattisserie on 308 Broad St. in Riverton or at www.theporchclub.org.