Bucks Beautiful Kitchen & Garden Tour
BUCKS BEAUTIFUL HOSTS 25th ANNIVERSARY KITCHEN & GARDEN TOUR
Bucks Beautiful is pleased to host the 25th anniversary Kitchen & Garden tour, to be held in historic Doylestown Borough on Sunday June 9, 2019 from 10 am-4 pm, rain or shine. This annual event is a highlight of the spring season, with visits to hidden jewels tucked away on the charming streets of Doylestown. This year includes many properties rich in the town’s history. An inspiring mix of seven homes and gardens is offered on this walking tour, with Bucks County Master Gardeners on hand to offer expertise. The properties are as follows:
The Van Dyke and Reynolds Residence at 330 Linden Avenue, containing the personal garden of renowned Landscape Architect, Carter van Dyke. One of the founding members of Bucks Beautiful’s Board of Directors, van Dyke initiated the first Kitchen and Garden Tour. This organic garden was designed in 1990 to accommodate the historic Dolington Library (circa 1857), which was rescued from destruction.
The Webster Residence at 299 Maple Avenue, a frame Victorian originally built in 1870 and sold to T.O. Atkinson in 1871. In 1886 Atkinson helped organize the Bank and Trust Co. of Doylestown. The home’s beautiful kitchen is a cook's dream. The peaceful wooded exterior exhibits a rock and fieldstone pool surrounded by newly renovated gardens providing the owners with a tranquil retreat in the heart of Doylestown.
The DiGangi Residence at 180 Belmont Avenue, a 1929 American Craftsman home featuring a stained-glass window by Bucks County artist George W. Sotter (1879-1953) in the foyer, and Mercer tile fireplace in the dining room. The kitchen was remodeled with custom crafted wall pantry, wine rack and nine-foot island, and the newly installed stone fireplace creates the perfect centerpiece to the great room.
The former Bank and Trust Building at 89 E. Court Street, built in 1866 this brick structure also served as the Melinda Cox Library and the Controller’s Office before being re-imagined into a trendy upscale residence. Sunlight floods into three levels of this 5,000 square foot living space, with 24-foot ceilings and windows to scale. An added bonus is the rooftop terrace, where the Philadelphia skyline may be seen on a clear day.
The Guibilo Residence at 205 W. Court Street, a three-story brick Victorian circa 1880 lovingly remodeled to reveal its true charm. New additions include a garden room offering prime view of the courtyard and planting beds. Stone pathways curve through the flower gardens leading to the courtyard, containing distinct entertaining spaces plus a “White Garden” inspired by one at Sissinghurst Castle in Kent, England.
The Poretta Residence at 272 W. Court Street, a beautiful Federal home which has retained the original 1916 design by A. Oscar Martin. The front terrace boasts wooden balustrades with stone pillars holding antique urns displaying seasonal plantings. The gracious outdoor living space contains a lush understory, cement urns original to the house, a secret herb and vegetable garden, and an antique fountain which creates tranquility in the heart of Doylestown.
The Kremser residence at 278 W. Oakland Avenue, built in 1840, is a large stone Colonial proudly positioned within the Doylestown borough. Innovative renovations, including an expanded kitchen, living space and second floor master suite, have been creatively crafted to incorporate the original exterior stone wall. While respecting the home’s rich historic heritage, tailored new space brings the breath of new life onto the historic property.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.bucksbeautiful.org, by phone at 215-340-3639 or at the following locations:
Blue Violet Flowers & Gifts, 1345 Easton Road, WarringtonBucks Country Gardens, 1057 N. Easton Road, DoylestownThe Doylestown Bookshop, 16 S. Main Street, Doylestown
Advance tickets are discounted at $30.00 through May 31st, after which they will be $35.00.