Japanese Maple Garden one of 9 featured on Garden Tour

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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 Japanese maple garden of Ralph and Ellen Rossoni, 24 Pine Straw Lane in Manning.

This garden was established when the Rossonis moved into their newly built home in 2012. During the first two years, the couple planted their main structural plants, the ones which give the home a pleasant appearance. The stone planters in the front yard were a matter of necessity since the existing dogwoods and oaks made the soil difficult to plant. The couple’s love for Japanese Maples has resulted in 24 specimens being planted around the home. Their idea was to choose plants which are of the dwarf variety and those which require little to no pruning. The couple has under-planted some areas with Asiatic Jasmine. Last year, the Rossonis added a five-tiered fountain to the landscape, and have maintained a peaceful, open, shady back yard that features zoysia grass.

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.