Rain or shine, spring is the best time to be inspired by beautiful gardens and imaginative home design. Fort Worth-area home owners, architects, and community groups are once again letting the public step through the doors of the most gorgeous houses and landscapes around the city.
Mark your calendars for these four spectacular spring home and garden tours.
Fort Worth AIA Homes Tour
When: 12 noon-6 pm April 7-8
Tickets: $20 (online through April 6); $25 (regular ticket price good for all homes, April 7-8); $10 (individual home, April 7-8 only).
The American Institute of Architects Homes Tour, launched in 2012, is Fort Worth’s only citywide homes tour curated by architects. The five homes on this year’s self-guided tour show off a variety of residences and architectural styles, all designed by the most acclaimed architects in thea area: Norman Ward, FAIA; Marta Rozanich, AIA; 97w; Paul Dennehy, AIA; and Brandon Allen, AIA. There's a prefabricated shipping container-residence, a renovated 1950s rancher, and more. Most of the homes are located west of I-35, but one will be in South Arlington. Funds raised through the tour benefit programs offered to the public throughout the year.
Colleyville Garden Club Promenade
When: 11 am-4 pm May 6
Tickets: $20 (available online and at Foreman’s and Market Street in Colleyville, Blooming Colors and Marshall Grain in Grapevine, Calloway’s in Hurst and Southlake, and Landscape Systems in Keller).
The Colleyville Garden Club hosts its 23rd Promenade, a nationally recognized tour that features five lush gardens around Colleyville. The showcase focuses on different types and sizes of gardens and landscapes — with pools, walkways, vegetable gardens, terraces with sweeping views, and more. Club members and master gardeners will be on hand to answer questions at each location. The event also will include a raffle and educational exhibits about bees and seeds. A plant sale, featuring plants seen on the tour as well as some from members’ own gardens, will be available at Colleyville’s historic Webb House. Promenade proceeds go toward civic beautification projects and college scholarships.
Fairmount Historic District Tour of Homes
When: 12 noon-6 pm May 12-13
Tickets: $15 online; $20 weekend of the event at the Welcome Pavilion at SiNaCa Studios.
The 36th edition of this popular Mother's Day weekend event will showcase five bungalow-style homes plus a special "bonus" property, the Arise Africa USA headquarters, located in a 1917 brick building that once served as a grocery store. Most of the homes on the tour were built between 1890 and 1930, and they showcase beamed interior ceilings, colonnades, pocket doors, antique hardware, prominent wide front porches, overhanging eaves, exposed rafters and beams, and more. New this year, Pedego Electric Bikes will be offer guided tours of the home tour houses; reserve bike tour tickets online in advance. Proceeds from the tour benefit the Fairmount Neighborhood Association for preservation in the Near Southside.
Hidden Gardens of Fort Worth Tour
When: 12 noon-6 pm May 20
Tickets: $25 (available online and at Archie's Gardenland, C.C.'s Touch of Nature, Calloway's Nursery on Hulen Street, and McFarland House).
Now in its 15th year, the Hidden Gardens of Fort Worth Tour will feature six private gardens of all sizes in the blooming Tanglewood and Colonial neighborhoods. As a special touch, local artists will be painting “plein air” in each garden. Their works will be available for sale, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Historic Fort Worth, Inc., which presents the tour. All proceeds from the event go toward preservation programs around the city. A Patron Evening party honoring Maurie Alliston Reynolds will take place May 18 and includes a private bus tour of the gardens, cocktail hour. and dinner. (Reservations are required.)
The Hidden Gardens Tour of Fort Worth is a spring tradition.
