Gratz Park neighborhood opens garden gates for a tour

A hosta and hydrangeas make an eye-catching combination in this garden on West Third Street.

Herald-Leader

All of us have wanted to peek over a wall, sneak a look through a fence or strain to catch a glimpse of something just out of view.

The Gratz Park Neighborhood Association is offering a chance to do just that on Sunday with a tour called Secret Gardens, Fountains & Patios.

Opening the gates into the private gardens is a first for the neighborhood, said Carolyn Hackworth, who co-chairs the event with Sharon Reed and Geneva Davidson.

"These are all gardens that are not seen from the street," she said.

Visitors will have a chance to see 11 gardens in the historic neighborhood near downtown, including Hackworth's small patio garden, a space with a lap pool and what is thought to be one of the oldest elm trees in Lexington.

Some homeowners have extended their indoor space, creating outdoor "rooms," such as the three neatly arranged sections behind the gate at 258 Market Street. There, even espaliered pear trees add to the dcor, creating a green patchwork on a red-brick wall.

Hackworth suggests allowing two to three hours for a leisurely stroll through all the gardens. Homeowners will be on hand to answer questions.

Hackworth can share with visitors the history of a 200-year-old ginkgo tree that is thought to have been planted by Lucretia Clay, the wife of noted 19th-century statesman Henry Clay.

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Gratz Park neighborhood opens garden gates for a tour