Lakewood Arts Annual Garden Tour took place on a beautiful Saturday with lots of people enjoying the gardens and responsibly social distancing. As a volunteer garden sitter, I got to enjoy welcoming visitors to the Railroad Garden at 2783 S. Meade St, lovingly cared for by owners Byron and Marta Fenton.
It was fun to watch the expressions of amusement on everyone's faces (behind the masks of course!) and hear their comments when they encountered the whimsical elements hidden amongst the train tracks and miniature trees. Dinosaurs roamed through villages, with a T-Rex roaring at the unsuspecting passer-by.
A Volkswagen beetle was parked outside a Victorian abode, while stuffed animals rode in the coal car of Byron's steam train.
Garden gnomes popped up here and there, and lots of garden sculptures graced the property.
Byron loves to answer questions about his hobby, telling me that each year he takes all the houses and creatures inside for storage, while the train tracks are subject to the elements.
Sometimes he mixes up the placement of the buildings and such to give it a new look when setting up in the spring. Marta is also enamored with the garden and helped with its creatiion, lending a hand in the building of the amazing trestle bridge.
Robyn Cochran-Ragland painted a pastel of the garden to give to the owners.
Lots of folks wandered through on Saturday: neighbors, members of the Fenton's railroad club and ticket holders from the Lakewood Arts fundraiser. They were then treated to a sack lunch at the gallery (in lieu of the usual buffet) and a look around at the exhibits. The Gallery is now open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11-5. I bet there will be some new art showing up inspired by the Garden Tour. Stop in and visit!
Stop in the Gallery to see the complete show. The Gallery is open Friday-Sunday 11-5 for now.
