The Tour

WELCOME!
We are proud to present
The 23rd Kilgore Home & Garden Tour
6 beautiful gardens. 2 beautiful homes. 1 beautiful weekend!
June 10 & 11, 2023 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Rain or Shine
Tickets may be purchased at most of the homes on the Tour.
Proceeds of the tour benefit those who are unable to pay the full fee of counseling.
NO ONE IS TURNED AWAY!
Gardens on the 2022 Tour:
3601 Woodside Place—The Carriage House Gardens
Locust Hill Farm — 11811 Covered Bridge Rd*
The Tour is a self-guided tour. Please wear appropriate footwear.* Patrons may begin at any of the addresses listed. Enjoy!
206 Totem Road
A gracious hillside lot enhances the beauty of this lovely Jeffersonian Colonial home. Designed in 1954 by the firm of W.S. Arrowsmith and W.T. Tyler, local architects, it was purchased by the current owners, Carolyn and Ed Lewis in 1954, who updated and expanded the floor plan.
Entering the foyer, visitors are drawn to the brightly lit living room anchored by an expansive bay window embracing a grand piano* and boasting a view of the patio beyond. Working with several local designers, Ms. Lewis has created a charming home using antiques and beautiful colors. A blue and white tapestry on the wall of the family room is dated 1848 and was originally used as a bedspread. The Master bedroom was expanded to create a larger bathroom and add walk-in closets. There is also an access door to the patio.
The kitchen includes a comfortable seating area highlighted by a hanging quilt, made by the owners’ great-grandmother in 1858. The Oak and Reel pattern in bright pink adds stunning color, repeated in the rooms ‘décor. An acrylic cover protects the heirloom from damage.
The patio becomes “party central” for Derby and other special occasions. Ms. Lewis uses climbing Mandevilla in bright red, pink, and white to hang over the wall, and pots of red, pink, and white Geraniums to add to the festive display. In the center of it, the fountain adds charm to the scene.
*Some visitors may be lucky enough to be serenaded during their tour!
On-street parking—one side only
Directions: Indian Hills Trail to Council Road to Totem Road
Directions
Indian Hills Trail to Council Road to Totem Road
3611 Woodside Place
This beautiful estate was once featured in the book, “Country Houses of Louisville 1899-1939” by Winfrey P. Blackburn, Jr. and R. Scott Gill (pages 281:287).
Built on the original formal gardens of the MacLean estate, this beautifully designed home blends casual elegance with exquisite attention to detail. The spectacular facade is perfectly framed at the end of the pea gravel, tree-lined entry court. Perfect for entertaining, the first floor features inviting, light-filled rooms and views of the gardens beyond.
Undoubtedly the highlight of this estate, the European-style formal gardens include cast-concrete balustrades surrounding a central fountain, limestone retaining walls, a trio of keystone archways, wrought-iron trellises, an old limestone potting shed, and what remains of a former greenhouse. A vast green lawn can be found on the lower terrace. A timeless treasure that artfully blends an old-world setting with a thoughtfully constructed masterpiece, this Glenview estate is the perfect combination of home and garden.
Please look for signs regarding parking. A shuttle will be provided.
Directions
River Road to Woodside Road.
3601 Woodside Place —The Carriage House Gardens
In 1997 Mary Fallat and Tom Walker purchased the “Carriage House” at 3601 Woodside Place and began home renovations and garden construction that continue to this day. The home, grounds, and stonework reminded them of the English countryside.
The first year was consumed with clearing wild honeysuckle, runaway ivy, and scrub to expose the stonework and create vistas. 300 cubic yards of soil were brought in to fill holes, create terraces and walkways before the planting began. Early on they had no real sense of where the garden was heading but during their travels, they brought home inspiration that was added one idea at a time.
The west boxwood garden is an English design built around a reproduction of a Frank Lloyd Wright fountain. There are gravel pathways and steps that lead down to a grassy terrace. The south-facing hillside is now a grove of Oak-leaf hydrangea along the back of the house.
In 2017 they finished a multi-year project of clearing and grading along the back road to the east of the house. That opened up a view to the cottage and exposed a 60-foot curved brick wall that was cleaned, repaired, and tuck-pointed, adding a gravel seating area and garden above.
The east-side cutting garden hardscape of stonework and walls was a more recent garden addition that replaced a steep barren hillside with massive stone and boulder retaining walls, steps, and brick pavers. The plantings are new this spring and the garden is beautifully lit in the evening.
The ideas keep coming and the gardens continue to grow. They’ve recently purchased the cottage next door and an additional .7 acre and are developing plans for another garden expansion.
Please look for signs for parking—a shuttle will be provided.
Directions
River Road to Woodside Road and follow signs.
Locust Hill Farm — 11811 Covered Bridge Rd
Locust Hill Farm is the home and gardens of Jim and Marianne Welch. Built in 1820, the home has undergone several renovations while retaining much of the original structure and outbuildings. The original land grant given to John D Locke, Sr. purportedly stretched from Harrods Creek to the Ohio River, covering several thousand acres.
The primary goal of the gardens and the surrounding 40-acre landscape is to provide a haven for wildlife, especially winged creatures such as birds, bees, and butterflies. Bats also make their homes in the horse barn and 200-year-old locust trees found on the property.
Upon entering the long driveway to Locust Hill you will see Red Maple trees lining the drive. To the right side you will see the remains of extremely old Locust trees that were planted originally in 4 rows running out from the house. The grounds consist of beautiful vistas in every direction, with mature trees and open grass meadows, mixed herbaceous gardens, shade gardens, a vegetable and fruit garden, and cut flower borders. Surrounding the house and gardens are three acres of native meadows, two acres of native grass prairie, and a young native forest. Container plants around the house are designed specifically to attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
The latest addition – a sunken garden that was converted from the property’s original icehouse features delicate rock garden plants. If you would like to take a hike in the woods, there are walking paths to the native forest.
The Curator, Laura Hancock holds an Associate’s Degree in ornamental horticulture. She has worked in the commercial horticulture field for 33 years and has cared for the Locust Hill property for the last 29 years.
See signs for parking and be sure to wear field-friendly footwear.
Directions
US 42 to Covered Bridge Road, left into the driveway.
2108 Westridge Road
The gardens around the home of Bruce and Nina Maples have been a work in progress for the past 25 years. There were some mature trees when they moved to the house, but the rest of the yard was a blank slate. Each year they have taken on a new project whether it be a new structure, a new garden bed, or planting trees.
The front garden has plenty of sunlight so there are plenty of colorful plants bursting forth all season. The pebble path to the back is lined with hostas and a climbing hydrangea covering their home’s side.
The backyard features a flowing pond where the birds, squirrels, chipmunks, and even an occasional heron stop for a drink or bath. There is an English cottage-style potting shed complete with a moss-covered cedar shake roof and window boxes built by the owner.
The backyard also boasts a free-floating covered deck that entices one to sit a spell and watch the birds at the feeders. The backyard is mostly shade so it is usually about 10 degrees cooler than the front yard. There are a variety of shade-loving plants such as assorted hostas, astilbe, hydrangea, hellebores, viburnum, ferns, wild ginger, and Epimedium.
On-street parking—one side only
Directions
Westport Road to Stonehurst Drive; right on Westridge Road.
105 Tristan Road
Lovingly developed and maintained by its owner, Peggy Campbell, a Kentucky Master Gardener, this garden has evolved over the past twenty years. With many new plants and features being added each spring and fall. Located behind the Bedford Stone ranch house, this “secret garden” has over twenty trees including King Hawthorns, bald cypress, dogwoods, yellow wood, white oak, river birch and crabapples. This vast property includes four different shade gardens with native wildflowers, hostas, ferns, and shade perennials, three perennial gardens and many roses throughout the property. Among the many scenic vistas and places to sit and savor the views elsewhere on the property, is an oasis, created by the large fish pond, providing a place to rest, enjoy the wildlife and listen to the sound of water.
Parking is one-side only.
Directions
From US 60 (Shelbyville Road) turn into Bellemeade Subdivision, onto Bellemeade Road. Turn right immediately onto Tristan Road.