The annual Grayson County Master Gardeners Garden & Art Tour featured tours of gardens at five Grayson County homes, each one offering artist demonstrations, plus refreshing teas and snacks.
The Garden & Art Tour included a stop at one of the most recognizable historic homes in Denison, Joe and Marla Pollaro's Italianate Villa that was built in 1882 by George Braun.
The soothing sound of gently rushing water comes courtesy of no less than five waterfalls and two streams that meander over rocks, under bridges and through water lilies as the streams cascade down the multi-tiered garden.
The artists de jour, Earl and Sylvia Deaver, were creating ceramics under a canopy of bugle vines that covered a columned gazebo.
The Deavers' ceramic artwork can be seen at Gainesville Visual Art Studio; to learn more, please visit http://www.gainesvilleareavisualarts.org or call 940-372-8176.
In Sherman, visitors to the stately Southern mansion of Jerry and Robin Holbert were treated to their choice of rosemary infused lemonade or mint tea while savoring the Holberts' homemade Dolmas - stuffed grape leaves. While Dolmas can be made from almost any grape leaves, there is a special story behind the grapevine growing in the Holberts' "Southern eclectic" garden. The original cuttings came to North America taped tightly to the stomachs of Lebanese immigrants who managed to pass through scrutiny at Ellis Island without the cuttings being detected. Interested visitors were given the Holberts' recipe for Dolmas.
The guest artist at this location was Larry Nye, a leather and silver artist who also makes one-of-a-kind knives. You can see Mr. Nye's custom leather and hand-engraved silver at Cowboy Leather Emporium, located at 1217 W. Washington in Sherman.
For more information, visit www.cowboyleatheremporium.com.
An inviting pool beckons to sun-drenched visitors arriving in the backyard garden of Robert and Sherry Rumsey in Denison. The enchanting fragrance emanating from blossoms on a lemon tree fill the air and here a hibiscus tea, spiced with oranges and limes, delights Garden & Art Tour travelers.
The featured artist at this location was Denison jeweler Glenda Jones. A display of colorful matching necklaces and earrings caught the eye of visitors.
To see more of Glenda Jones's jewelry, stop by Kaboodles, located at 513 W. Main in historic downtown Denison, or visit www.facebook.com/sohojones
Other stops along the Grayson County Master Gardeners Garden & Art Tour included the home of Hoyte and Deneice Ridlehuber in Denison, as well as the home of Bob and Doris Whitmire in Sherman.
Home of Joe and Marla Pollaro
Home of Jerry and Robert Holbert
Raised-bed flower garden in front of
the home of Robert and Sherry Rumsey
