Nine gardens will be on display the second weekend in June as the Azalea Garden club of Manning hosts “The Art of Gardening,” the first tour the club has hosted in more than a decade.
One garden which will be on display from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 11 is the Fruit Tree Garden of Billy and Betty Coffey, 1288 Hickory Ridge Circle in Manning.
Billy and Betty Coffey’s home was constructed in 1975 at 1288 Hickory Ridge Circle, The subdivision consists of 14 large lots on a 75-acre tract. The avenue of Live Oaks at the entrance was planted in 1974. The center of the circle has been retained as an open space to provide a country feeling close to town. The area around the home consists of basic foundation plantings, including boxwoods, cleyera, tea olives, hollies and a variety of azaleas and camellias. In addition, there is a vegetable garden and a formal garden anchored by climbing roses. The formal garden also includes daffodils and snapdragons in season. Special emphasis of the plantings has been various fruit trees, including kiwi plants that are now about 40 years old and still producing profusely. The kiwi vines have generated considerable interest, and although not natural in our area, have survived many cold winters and produced a considerable amount of fruit that the Coffey’s enjoy sharing with their friends and neighbors.
In addition, there are peaches, pears, apples, pomegranates, grapes, blueberries and blackberries. The children’s play area contains a playhouse, trampoline, a zip-line and an interesting bench made of an original buggy stone that was located in the heart of Manning at the building now occupied by Gibbons and Usry CPA.
A rain date has been set from 1-5 p.m. June 12.
Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 on the day of the tour. Boxed lunches are $10 each and must be ordered by June 4, Land said. For more information, or for tickets, call Judy Langley at (843) 617-0689 or Peggy Benton at (803) 460-6593.
