Rooms and Blooms: A Mystic House and Garden Tour

June 20, 2009 - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Presented by the Mystic Garden Club and the Mystic River Historical Society

Two long-standing Mystic community organizations are joining forces to offer Rooms and Blooms: A Mystic House and Garden Tour for one day only, Saturday, June 20, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is a rare opportunity to view historic and unusual homes and gardens in Mystic.  As this is a walking tour, it gives participants a chance to soak up the unique flavor and wonderful river views that are just two of the reasons why so many sea captains, artists and early entrepreneurs chose to live in this magical area.

Tour Description

Houses and gardens featured on the tour are on Gravel Street (formerly known as Captain’s Row), Eldredge Street, Park Place, Pearl Street, Grove Street, Clift Street and Starr Street.  The area was originally granted to the Burrows family in 1654.  In the early 1800s, Amos Clift acquired much of the property and began developing it by laying out the streets and selling lots.  After he died in 1819, his wife Thankful and sons Amos and David continued to build many houses in the area, some of which are on the tour. Newer homes in the neighborhood will be featured as well.  Many of the older homes have undergone extensive renovation to their interiors and their gardens, and are an example of how we are making history even today.

As an added attraction, there will be a boutique featuring a small number of local garden suppliers, artisans and more.

Parking and Getting Around

Parking will be available at various nearby locations, and there will be several jitneys running throughout the day.  Mystic Community Bikes will make their free bicycles available (with a $10 refundable deposit for bike, lock and helmet).  Ticket holders may begin at any house or garden on the tour (each will have a special tour sign outside) and pick up their tour booklets at any location.

Lunch

Mystic has a number of excellent restaurants within walking distance of the houses on tour.  St. Mark’s Church on Pearl Street is offering a boxed lunch featuring your choice of a variety of sandwiches for $10.  Proceeds go to the St. Luc’s Church and School in Haiti.  All boxes must be ordered in advance by calling Cally Evers at 860-536-0126 before June 6.    

Tickets

Tickets are $22 in advance and $30 on the day of the tour.  Tickets may be purchased in person with cash or check at Bank Square Books, 53 West Main Street, Mystic and The Whaler’s Inn, 20 East Main Street, Mystic. 

To purchase on-line, click the Buy Now button [PayPal button].  

Or you may download an order form here  and mail it with your payment.

Pre-purchased ticket sales end June 19.  Any ticket purchased by mail received after June 5 will be held at our Ticket Tent on Gravel Street on the day of the tour.

For more information, email info@mystichistory.org or call (860) 271-3980.

February 24 Meeting Speaker

Cheryl Thevenet - "Japanese Ikebona"

Cheryl Thevenet has been a member of the Mystic Garden Club since 1996.  Cheryl has had a lifelong interest in flowers and gardening.  She  lived Marin and owned and operated a successful design Atelier in San Francisco.  She specialized in corporate events, producing gala gatherings for the likes of Fetzers Winery, Mumms Vineyards, Hewlett Packard Corporation, Visa Corporation, The French biscuit company “LU”, and “Art Bash for Hot Trash” a Santa Fe Event for commercial artists. 

Cheryl’s interest in Japanese floral design dates to 1982 when she began her first formal instruction in the Sogetsu School of Ikebana in San Francisco.  Her course of studies was directed by Soho Sakai and continued for nearly a decade.  Following marriage and relocation to Tokyo, Japan, Cheryl pursued further studies at the world’s center for  Sogetsu Ikebana. Cheryl completed the requirement to obtain a teaching certificate during her residency in Hong Kong.  During her four years of residency in China, Cheryl exhibited at several international shows and collaborated in the floral design for the Italian Institute of Hong Kong’s Armani opening of Italian Fashion.  The display work involved the arrangement and presentation of 24,000 red roses.

Following her return to America, Cheryl next earned her certification as a Connecticut Master Gardener.  She has volunteered her skills to help further various community initiatives that have ranged from the Voluntown Peace Trust’s organic community garden, to habitat a garden at the Voluntown Elementary School, and teaching seed propagation to the conservation initiative, “Women in the Outdoors”.  Cheryl is presently enrolled in a course of studies with the National Garden Club’s Environmental Study School at Yale University.  Cheryl will be part of the first graduating class here in Connecticut.  She is married and lives with her husband and 2 teenaged boys, in Voluntown., Ct.