Gardens of Note in Reston
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Gardens of Note in Reston

Reston Chorale presents self-guided tour as fundraiser and community event.

Fannie Mae Ponds & Gardens. The Grace Notes Hand Bell Quartet — Linda Brese, Fairfax; Ingrid Bowers, Reston; Marilyn Schroeder, Fairfax; and Lisa Lane, Great Falls; perform in the stone gazebo overlooking one of the two ponds frequented with Great Blue Heron.

Fannie Mae Ponds & Gardens. The Grace Notes Hand Bell Quartet — Linda Brese, Fairfax; Ingrid Bowers, Reston; Marilyn Schroeder, Fairfax; and Lisa Lane, Great Falls; perform in the stone gazebo overlooking one of the two ponds frequented with Great Blue Heron. Photo by Mercia Hobson.

By Mercia Hobson

Friday, June 7, 2019

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Photo by Mercia Hobson

The Garden of Nedra and Peter Agnew on Hemingway Drive. "The impetus for doing all the hard and soft landscape was that we are the only house that doesn't face the cluster and people cut through our front yard and sidewalk to get to the bus stop. The day an adult rode across on his bike was the day we decided to do something. This is a garden of art, hardscape and soft scape. It's about texture, form and lighting rather than flowers,” said Nedra Agnew.

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Photo by Mercia Hobson

The Garden of Ket Vongsavat at Orchard Lane overlooking Lake Anne. "The inspiration for each rock design comes from my travels and its location. Where I live at Lake Anne, there is a sense of peace; (although) I was raised in Reston. I come from Laos. My dad is a Buddhist monk,” said Ket Vongsavat.

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Photo by Mercia Hobson

The Hunters Woods Garden Plots & Beekeepers: A plot of land turns rented garden plots because it is off limits for other uses. Located on the Transco pipeline easement that runs north-south through Reston it is a requirement to keep the area open. Reston Association rents out the plots to RA members such as Richard and Mary Badley, "Gardening is the gymnasium of life, without AC," said Richard with a grin.

The Reston Chorale presented its third annual "Gardens of Note," a self-guided tour of notable Reston gardens accented with live music presentations by its members at each site. Susan Meeks-Versteeg, General Manager of Reston Chorale, said, "Funds from this event help support the Chorale to bring music to the community throughout the year."

The June 1 tour starred six distinctly different gardens, four private gardens by Reston residents, the private "Fannie Mae Ponds and Gardens" purchased in 2018 by an affiliate of Connecticut-based Wheelock Street Capital, which bought the adjacent Hidden Creek Country Club, and the RA-owned Hunters Woods Garden Plots with managed beehives, property owned by Reston Association and used for its annual butterfly count.

After the tour, featured garden owners, ticket-holders, volunteers and members of the Reston Chorale gathered at Hidden Lane Residential Landscapes in Herndon for a late afternoon Garden Party with ensemble performances by members of the chorale and an exhibit of paintings by renowned Reston artist Pat Macintyre.

The Reston Chorale thanks its Gardens of Note committee members and volunteers who served as greeters, Hidden Lane Residential Landscapes and Myers PR for their support. To nominate a garden for next year's tour, email restongardensofnote@gmail.com.

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