The Chapel Hill Garden Club held a celebration planned by Anne Montgomery on May 1 at the N.C. Botanical Garden to distribute proceeds from the ninth biennial Chapel Hill Spring Garden Tour and  to thank  those who made the tour possible.

The tour, a Town of Chapel Hill sponsored event, showcased eight distinctive private gardens, the school garden of Mary Scroggs Elementary School, and the North Carolina Botanical Garden April 14 and 15.

Garden hosts Laura and Jeff Abbey, Mary Clara Capel, Joan Gillings, Barbara Hershey, Eva and Jim Hoke, Hanna and David Kelchner, Pat and John Marson, and Gail McKinley and Bill Poteat received hand-crafted, ceramic plaques denoting their participation in the tour.

Mary Scroggs Elementary school garden received a $500 gift to enhance their horticulture curriculum; the same sum was given to Alamance Community College to fund a horticulture student scholarship.

A much-needed check for $22,500 was given to Peter White, director of the Botanical Garden, to use for general operating expenses. The club's total donation to the garden since its first tour in 1996 is approximately $140,000.

Tour proceeds provide funds for club members to teach elementary students at McDougle Elementary School with the award-winning Seeds Program, maintain two planters on Franklin Street, and purchase garden tools for new owners of Habitat for Humanity houses as well as other community outreach projects.

Adding to the uniqueness of the 2012 tour was, “Art in the Garden,” in which 10 plein-air artists painted in North Carolina Botanical Garden. Club member and artist, Jan Lamm, coordinated this talented group of artists: Jane, Brenda Behr, Lynda Chambers, Barbi Dalton, Jean Grunewald, Anne Avent Johnson, Wendy Musser, Carolyn Schrock, Kristen Stamper, and Dan Vaughn.

Many business and individual patrons played a crucial part in the tour's success: Marilyn Cox, owner of “I Must Garden,” supported the tour as Event Sponsor and The Chapel Hill Magazine donated coverage of the tour in their April edition. Advertisers and patrons included: Bartlett Tree Experts; Chroma 7; Big Bloomers Flower Farm; For Garden's Sake Nursery; Harrington Bank;  J. V. Brockwell Trucking; Tony Hall and Associates, Jaye Kreller; Lindsey Landscaping; Peaceful River Farm and Lee's Healthy Cooking; Piedmont Environmental Landscaping and Design; Secret Gardens; The Unique Plant; Twig; Atlantic Avenue Orchid and Garden; Bloom; Hilda and John Patterson; Niche Gardens; Playmakers Repertory Company; Poultry Villa Landscaping and Supplies; Studio G Asethetic Dentistry; The Last Unicorn; University Florist; Vimala's Curry Blossom Café; BJ and Barry Vogel; Carolina Woman; Florence Peacock; Jane Lamm; Jim and Jan Dean; Ludy Tree Care, Inc.; Vietri, Inc.; Betty Hobbs; Carol McNeel; Charles and Sharon Hamner; Michael and Gail Norwood; Ed and Nina Cominskey;  Gracia Berry.

The Chapel Hill Garden Club is thankful for the continued support of the local residents who visit the gardens as well as the tourists, some from as far away as England and Australia, who traveled here for the event.

The nominating process for Host Gardens is already underway for the 2014 tour. Contact chapelhillgardenclub.com/ if you know of a garden you would like to nominate.