We thank the members of the Cassina Garden Club for the photos of their gardens and favorite plants and flowers for our Home & Garden feature. Their pictures lend touches of color and beauty in the same way the club itself has been beautifying the Golden Isles for nearly a century. You can see their photos and learn more about some of the Club members and their favorites here in our Planter’s Pick Gallery.
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Planter’s Pick GeeGee Adams
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Planter’s Pick Molly Macauley
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Planter’s Pick Neil Henry
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Planter’s Pick Debbie Williamson
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Planter’s Pick Cindy Jacobs
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Planter’s Pick Karen Summers Welsh
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Planter’s Pick Kathy Flynn
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Planter’s Pick Joan Neely
Founded in 1928, Cassina Garden Club is the oldest garden club in Glynn County, Georgia, and
Cassina tabby cabins
is still going strong with a current membership of more than 130 women (and those two men!). In 1932 the Glynn County Commissioners granted the club stewardship of the circa 1800s tabby slave Cabins at Gascoigne Bluff that were once a part of Hamilton Plantation. They were later deeded that property in 1950. Through Cassina efforts, the slave cabins, which represent an important part of this island’s past and the legacy of its people, were placed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1988. The club recently concluded a fundraising campaign that allowed them to complete the historically correct restoration of the cabins to their original structures. Over the years, Cassina has sponsored many projects including establishing the St. Simons Island Public Library, leading efforts to designate St. Simons Island as a Bird Sanctuary, creating and assisting with the Fort Frederica Herb Garden, as well as establishing and maintaining the Pink Garden at Hospice of the Golden Isles. Their green thumbprints are all over this island and Glynn County!
On Saturday, April 27, don your garden hat and some walking shoes to join Cassina Garden Club members at their 13th Annual Tabby and Tillandsia Garden Walk. Attendees are invited to explore the flora, fauna, and other distinctive features of seven beautiful private gardens located on St. Simons Island at their own pace. Proceeds from this fundraiser, in addition to cookbook sales and the annual Christmas bake sale, will allow Cassina to continue maintaining and preserving the tabby cabins and grounds.
Cassina Marketplace
Start the day by checking in at the cabins on Gascoigne Bluff to make sure you have your map and garden descriptions for the self-guided tour. The gardens on the tour were carefully selected, from beach cottage to bungalow and historic dwelling to dream home, for the way they each distinctively tell the story of the homeowners and their love of nature. Before you embark on your tour, take some time to stroll around the festive Marketplace on the cabin grounds. Cassina Garden Club’s Plant Sale and other local vendors and artisans will have offerings for gardeners and nature lovers. There will also be a food truck on site for lunch and snacks. You can also take docent-guided tours of the recently restored cabins and gardens.
Dr. Cindy Jacobs, a UGA Master Gardener, provided dazzling descriptions of the gardens so you’ll know what to expect on the tour. Here, we’ve summarized her words to give you a glimpse of the highlights from each stop:
The “Cottage on the Green” is tucked among extensive plantings and well-designed gardens with robust native hydrangea, agapanthus, and olive trees complemented by handsome pots overflowing with seasonal color. Expansive views and a pond create the perfect setting for the pool, while the back terrace overlooks a Mediterranean garden with citrus trees and an herb garden. A children’s garden and potting bench show off an ageless passion for nature.
Cassina Garden Walk fountain
“The Family Affair” features a play gym, sandbox, and pool tucked into this beautiful garden with stunning golf course views. A generous terrace provides indoor-outdoor living area for an active young family with the garden maximizing space through the incorporation of both places for play and nooks for reflection and relaxation.
Built in 1925, “The Aiken House” on the St. Simons Sound boasts elegant gardens and breathtaking views. A courtyard of ancient oaks and decades-old camellias offers benches for quiet respite, while paths lead to an expansive veranda by the sprawling lawn and magnificent terra cotta pots of seasonal color that have adorned the patio for nearly a century.
Cassina Garden Walk 2019
“The Village Bungalow” is a charming spot that beckons guests with a tranquil garden and seating area watched over by an island “tree spirit.” Whimsical birdhouses, a delightful potting shed, and an abundant herb garden are additional highlights of this garden and home that provided the backdrop for the film Christmas on the Coast.
If you’re looking for a secluded oasis, “Curacao” is it! This gracious and sophisticated resort-style retreat has a garden that encompasses an outdoor kitchen and screened lanai, surrounding a lush and inviting pool. Visible from every room, the walled design provides privacy and a backdrop of seasonal color. Sounds of rustling palms and rippling water lend to the idea of escape.
Cassina Garden Walk flowers pool
“The Dream House” is just that — the 2017 HGTV Dream Home. From the lushly landscaped front entrance to the lakefront lanai, this home was designed for outdoor living. A variety of poolside hardscapes provide for generous seating, whether relaxing by the pool, lake, or firepit. Colorful pots of blooms and multiple levels of native plantings create “outdoor rooms” for cooking, dining, or taking in the expansive lakeside views.
Garden Walk 2019 03
Located literally steps away from the beach, “The BeachHouse” showcases an enjoyable and whimsical compact garden that provides the owners with seasonal color and has been planted with the harsh salt-climate in mind. Here, visitors lamenting their lack of a green thumb can find inspiration and hope in seeing a variety of numerous heat/drought tolerant plants that can enhance any garden or landscape.
These seven private gardens will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on tour day. Please make time to visit as many as you can and to enjoy the Marketplace at the tabby cabins. Tickets for the Garden Walk are $30 in advance or $35 the day of the event and are available at cassinagardenclub.org.
Cassina Garden Walk tree spirit
TOUR THE DODGE
In conjunction with this year’s Garden Walk, there is also a special VIP experience being offered Friday, April 26, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Guests are invited to enjoy Wine and Cheese at The Dodge, the former home of New York Times bestselling author Eugenia Price and Joyce Blackburn, if tickets are still available at time of print.
The Dodge
Built in 1967, The Dodge, as it was affectionately named by original owners/builders Eugenia Price and Joyce Blackburn, rests on a 4 1/2-acre secluded property located near historic Christ Church. Its construction was chronicled in Eugenia’s “St. Simons Memoirs.” The home, where Eugenia found inspiration for her books that sold more than 50 million copies during her career, is nestled among centuries-old oaks on a peninsula of land that offers stunning views of the majestic estuaries and salt marshes of Glynn from every room. Renovated in 2012 by the current owners, the home has been lovingly preserved to maintain the 125 year-old brick floors that were salvaged from the historic Savannah Desoto Hotel, along with beautiful woodwork rarely found in today’s homes, extensive outdoor gardens and landscaping, including a 5,000 square foot hobby garden, herb garden, koi pond, infinity-edge pool. Visitors to The Dodge will tour the 6,000+ square foot home, including the study where Eugenia penned books from the St. Simons Trilogy and other series. It’s a truly special opportunity if you are a Eugenia Price fan or an island history buff.
Tickets for this exclusive cocktail party are $75 per person and are limited due to space. Visit cassinagardenclub.org to check availability.
