BELFAST — On Saturday, July 11 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., two gardens on the street above Front Street Shipyard will be featured as part of the Belfast Garden Club’s Open Garden Days.
Christine Solet’s garden at 22 Bridge St. fills a dramatically steep hillside. This difficult-to-work space provides blooms and color throughout the seasons. The view from the home’s porch takes in viburnums, Kolkwitzia and hydrangeas, all providing habitat for many species of birds. Solet is always exploring ways to expand, improve and add beauty and interest to this lovely garden in town.
Just down the road at 37 Bridge St., Whitney McCarthy’s multi-layer garden sits above Belfast Harbor, offering beautiful views and several lovely garden spaces that create “rooms” for the visitor to pass through. On a varying slope, McCarthy has thoughtfully arranged the gardens on the perimeter of the large open space and throughout the interior, whether in full sun, full shade or something in between.
The suggested donation for visiting both gardens is $5. Proceeds go to support the Belfast Garden Club’s community programs, including the purchase of books for local libraries and the maintenance of Belfast’s 13 public gardens.