Published: June 27, 2009 08:54 pm      

Lilly estate part of garden tour

SYRACUSE

Several local residents spent a picturesque Saturday walking through other people’s yards.

Saturday marked the 10th annual Kosciusko County Garden Walk, an event that gives the public tours of some of the most elaborate gardens in the area. In all, nine gardens were featured.

Jenny Harting, member of the Kosciusko County Master Gardeners Association, said that the tour fluctuates throughout areas of the county from year to year. Included this year were three separate gardens that adorn the Lilly Estates, owned by descendants of famed entrepreneur Eli Lilly, along Lake Wawasee.

Harting explained that the three homes on the estates are not typically available to the public, but discussions between members of the Syracuse Garden Club Board and the family allowed for the tours to take place.

The property contains three houses. The first house on the tour — owned by Ted and Deborah Lilly, 7527 E. Eli Lilly Road — had an old-fashioned feel, complete with perennials including roses and hostas and a grass walkway surrounded by woods and located along the shoreline.

The second home, right next door, owned by Peter and Ginny Nicholas, had a similar set-up, with landscaping along the home. However, the third house, owned by William and Irene McCutchen, was set up to resemble a maze, complete with an herb garden, detailed shrubbery and apple and pear “espalier,” which are trees trained to grow through pruning and grafting in order to create formal patterns.

Among those who took the tour was someone who knew the Lilly family personally, Carol Bennett of Fort Wayne. Bennett said she used to come to what is now the McCutchen home every Sunday for tea and to peruse the “gift shop” that was part of the Lilly home.

“They would invite me over on Sundays just to see their treasures,” she said.

Bennett and a friend, Sarah Hoffman, of Ann Arbor, Mich., said the garden has a distinctive aroma, with so many herbs that are grown, including dill, oregano and sage.

“The tomato plants are by the oregano for an Italian feel,” Hoffman said.

Bennett admitted to having a flashback or two to her childhood upon walking through the gardens.

“To see the gardens so well taken care of,” she said, “really is a joy.”