A very wet stormy June made for lush green gardens, and the skies even cooperated, lending a little sunshine for the 2013 Garden Stroll last Sunday.

A few highlights...

SARPA Garden Stroll in the News

Check out this article in the Strib highlighting the Garden Stroll:

The Dirt: Summit Av., Prospect Park and Twin Cities pond and garden tours

• Article by: LYNN UNDERWOOD , Star Tribune 
• Updated: June 18, 2013 - 3:01 PM

Summit tour and tea

Historic homes will showcase their legendary landscapes for the Summit Avenue Garden Stroll & Tea on June 23 from noon to 4 p.m. Here’s a chance to explore the front and back yards of the grand homes along St. Paul’s renowned avenue. Heirloom and English country gardens surround century-old Tudor villas. A secret garden hidden by vines, fish ponds and fountains, and a tropical paradise with grapefruit and banana trees are some of the highlights. Take the herb challenge to win prizes at a Georgian Revival herb garden. The informal back-yard Garden Tea will be catered by Laurie Crowell, owner of the Golden Fig. Ramsey County master gardeners will be on hand to answer questions. Tickets are $10 for the stroll and $12 for the tea in advance; $15 each on tour day at 1359 Summit Av. Advance tickets are available at various retailers or online at www.brownpapertickets.com. For information, go to www.sarpa.org.

Carilloneurs

There is a unique event going on during most of this week in Saint Paul--a convention of carilloneurs! 

From a local post:

What, you say, is a carilloneur? Somebody who plays a carillon! No, I didn't say carrion!

What's a carillon? A set of tuned bells in a bell tower!

Why haven't I seen one? There are only 164 of them in the entire United States, while there are 182 carillons in The Netherlands!

The three carillons in Minnesota are at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, at Central Lutheran Church in downtown Minneapolis by the Convention Center, and at House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St. Paul. 

All this week there will be free public concerts which you can listen to from the lawn of House of Hope Church at 797 Summit Avenue in St. Paul. A tent is set up to protect listeners in case of rain. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on!

The world's leading carillon players are coming to town to play for each other and for us.

Think of your kids. Maybe this would be something they'd enjoy. The last convention of carillon players in St. Paul was 50 years ago! There IS a weekly Sunday afternoon carillon concert series at House of Hope every Sunday beginning on the Fourth of July and every Sunday for the next several weeks, at 4 p.m. Remember, they are outdoors. And if you become bored, you can just walk away or amuse yourself with a book. 

Garden Stroll Sunday June 23rd, 2013

A perennial favorite, the Summit Avenue Garden Stroll, returns Sunday, June 23^th from Noon to 4 p.m.  Ticketholders explore one of our country’s most magnificent stretches of urban green spaces as well as walk into ten Summit Avenue gardens.

Tickets may be purchased in advance at several Grand Ave. locations in Saint Paul:

·        A. Johnson & Son’s Florist                   1738 Grand Ave.

·        Frattallone’s Ace Hardware Stores       650 Grand Ave.  & 1676 Grand Ave

·        Kowalski’s Market                               1261 Grand Ave.

·        Online at www.brownpapertickets.com  or at www.sarpa.org

Ticket prices:   Purchased in advance, $10 for the Garden Stroll and $12 for the informal tea.  On the day of the event, Stroll and Tea tickets may be purchased for $15 each at the featured gardens or tea location, 1358 Summit Avenue.  

Garden strollers are encouraged to park their cars and walk to the featured gardens.  Free parking is available at Mount Zion’s Temple, 1300 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul, as well as ample street parking.

 Proceeds from this year’s event will support new traffic-calming features for the public garden at the Lexington and Summit Ave. Boulevard, one of the busiest intersections in the city for motorists, bikers, runners and walkers each day. 

“We want to call attention to the volunteer-organized park on the east end of the boulevard at Summit and Lexington. It used to be a favorite photo spot for bridal couples and we want to help beautify this space again with proceeds from this year’s stroll,” said Bethany Gladhill, President of the Summit Avenue Residential & Preservation Association (SARPA).  “Garden strollers will also find this section particularly lovely and walkable. Lilac bushes fill the center boulevard for several blocks and stately old oak and elm trees provide a cooling shade canopy,” said Gladhill.  Retired gardening columnist for the Pioneer Press, Marge Hols, will be in her garden to answer questions.  Ramsey County Master Gardeners will also be ready to answer questions in several of the other gardens.

An informal Garden Tea will be held during the stroll from noon to 4 p.m. at 1358 Summit Ave. catered by The Golden Fig owner and Twin Cities Live celebrity chef, Laurie Crowell. Diners will have the

option to take their tea inside or out at the pool side garden of this historic home.  Throughout the afternoon tea, gift certificates will be raffled off from local nurseries including Highland Nursery, Leitner’s and Heart & Soil Design.  

While at the Garden Stroll Tea, take in a special photo exhibition by Michael Armstrong, carefully curated for the Summit Avenue Garden Stroll.  Armstrong’s show will focus on horticultural and Saint Paul images.  A portion of event day sales will go to support the mission of the Summit Avenue Residential and Preservation Association. 

                       

The Summit Avenue Garden Stroll & Tea will be held rain or shine.  Watch for more details the gardens at www.sarpa.org.   Tickets for the Stroll & Tea go up to $15 each if purchased at the tea or at any of the featured gardens.

The Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association sponsors the Stroll and Tea and is proud to be recognized as the “Nation’s Best Intact Street from Victorian Era,” by the American Planning Association.

 

Final Lecture - Nicole Curtis — The Rehab Addict — on May 1

Our series wraps with one of the most well-known popular voices in preservation. A self-taught home rehabber and designer, Nicole is also a mom, a master of salvage picking, and a spirited advocate for saving old houses. Resourceful, creative and always in motion, Nicole is hands-on with all of her projects and wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s a whirlwind of ideas, energy and vision, skilled with every tool in her belt (plus a few secrets she’s got tucked up her sleeve).

Nicole harnesses her experience with interior design, contracting and real estate in Rehab Addict, her show on the DIY Network and HGTV. She also consults and tackles projects for clients ranging from revamping a single room to redoing an entire home.

You've seen Nicole's work locally in her incredible Minnehaha project, the Minneapolis "Dollar House," a project on Case Avenue in Saint Paul, and even in consultation on a Summit landmark.

Above all, Nicole is passionate about saving and restoring old homes. Don't miss this evening; even a few minutes spent with Nicole will forever ignite your preservation spirit.

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All lectures being at 6pm and last for one hour. Our generous host is the German-American Institute at 301 Summit Avenue.

Spring Art & Architecture Tour: Celebrating 125 Years at St. Thomas More

Saint Thomas More Church

1079 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55105

Saturday, April 20, 2013

6:00 p.m.

Join in an entertaining and informative evening to learn about the beautiful art, architecture and 125-year history of Saint Thomas More Church, located on historic Summit Avenue in Saint Paul.

Saint Thomas More Catholic Community, founded on January 1, 2008, is the union of two Catholic Parishes on Summit Avenue: The Church of Saint Luke (1888) and The Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (1949). Our rich heritage from these two communities of faith has blessed us with over 125 years of Catholic worship, community and ministry in this historic area of Saint Paul.

Father Joseph Weiss, SJ, will lead this tour of the interior (and exterior, weather permitting) of this beautiful church, accompanied by wine, appetizers and good company. All are invited to attend - please invite your friends!

Suggested donation for the event is $10.00 per person to cover the costs; a free-will offering will be collected. Reservations are requested to Patti Day in the Saint Thomas More Parish Office, at (651) 227-7669, ext. 302, or pday@morecommunity.org.

This event is sponsored by the Saint Thomas More Women’s Group

Lecture #2 - Wednesday, April 3

It's already time for the second lecture!

Last year's "Buying and Selling on Summit" was one of our hottest topics. In that vein, we wanted to give you some information about what to look for when you are remodeling.

Renovation on Summit

with Carlsen and Frank Architects, Paul Ormseth LLC,

and A-Squared Construction

Renovating a historic home includes particular challenges. What kind of renovations are the most necessary — or value-enhancing — or cost-effective? What should you know before you begin your project, and how can you get the most from it? This panel of neighborhood-based experts has particular expertise in historic homes, and a love of Summit Avenue architecture.

The lecture begins at 6pm, and lasts an hour.

Our generous host this year is the Germanic-American Institute, 301 Summit. Please consider joining them, or attending one of their many open events!