Garden Descriptions
Saturday, May 17 & Sunday, May 18, 2025
1 – 5 PM | Downtown Frederick & Baker Park
Garden Descriptions
The Garden of Leslie and Daniel Cardenas
A social destination, this garden is sorted into three areas starting with the “living room” under a shaded, wisteria-covered pergola, a fire pit section, and a dining area. In addition to serving as a place for social gatherings, the garden is host to morning coffee, evening happy hour, and a space for the owners to read and play with their dogs. A majority of the garden was planned and constructed by its previous owners. The current owners, who moved in 2020, added a fire pit, moved some bushes, and added plantings. Garden highlights include the large magnolia tree, the hydrangeas and other spring flowers, cooling off by the fountain in the summer, warming up by the fire pit in the fall, and having a place to let the dogs out in the winter. In the backyard there’s a deck the homeowners refer to as “DDD.” (You’ll have to guess what that stands for when you see it!)
Heritage Garden at Heritage Frederick
The Heritage Garden complements the historic nature of its museum building. The urban garden of this 1820’s Federal-style home is enclosed by a wrought iron gate and a brick wall – part of which dates to 1877. Traditional plantings and a stunning pergola covered in New Dawn climbing roses help you take a step back in time. The garden serves as an educational space, event venue, and peaceful refuge. A public garden, some of the most rewarding moments are often the initial gasps from visitors when they see the garden for the first time and say, “This is lovely, I never knew it was here!” Cared for by a dedicated, volunteer-based Garden Guild, the garden contains numerous mature specimens including southern magnolia, a large American boxwood, and a majestic row of Muskogee crape myrtles. The entrance ramp is lined with spring blooming bulbs and Lenten roses. Newer plantings include a spartan juniper and a native serviceberry tree. A formal garden of carefully tended English boxwoods, flanked by two pink-velour crape myrtles frames the large brick half-moon patio. A lush Hollywood juniper shows off the former smoke house. Within the garden are several special highlights including an 1819 cornerstone from Feaster’s Flour Mill in Jefferson, a locomotive bell from the Hagerstown and Frederick Railroad, and the original back doorstep of the house.
Federated Charities Nonprofit Center
Second only to the black dog on its front steps, Federated Charities’ front garden is a Market Street feature. In 2024, it underwent a significant renovation which created stable surfaces and provided full access to the original raised garden. Trees and bushes were moved to other parts of the property, and what faces Market Street is now a vibrant, usable space featuring a statue and fountain, dating to the late 1800s, public art and containers overflowing with color and native plants. This rethought and evolving garden hews to the long history of the Federated Charities building, and the soaring entrance and Wickersham fence is just the start of the tour. Less well known is the back “secret” garden, filled with brightly painted vintage lawn furniture and serves as a quiet oasis enjoyed by its nonprofit tenants. The gardens are envisioned and maintained as THIRD SPACE pocket parks, accessible by the community and used by the nonprofits who benefit from services provided by Federated Charities.
The Ordinary Hen – Secret Garden
Hidden behind an iron gate, step into this beautiful, relaxing secret garden perfect for a multitude of occasions from small intimate weddings to family gatherings. When the historic mansion was built, walnut trees were planted by the sisters who originally lived there and one of those trees still stands today. Onsite is a tool shed that was converted into an outside bar called “The Coop.” This garden bar is a highlight of the outdoor space and makes you feel like you are on vacation!
The Garden of Angela and Mark Mayer
Recently updated by Clearwater Landscape, the goal was to maintain the garden’s traditional feel while modernizing the space to be more user-friendly for family. Much of the historic brick was refurbished and salvaged, along with the beautiful wisteria. The garden serves as a space to entertain family and friends by hosting small gatherings, cookouts, and pool parties. The garden features a wonderful plunge pool (planned with the help of Abbey Herman and Mike Rempe and completed by Make N Waves), a secluded patio (its backdrop is the old carriage house), and fire pit. The yard, located near the neighbors’ Ginkgo tree, is shaded by its lovely canopy and the owners have a vantage point view of the star on the bell tower of CUMC’s Frederick Spire. The homeowners’ friend, Andrea Tauraso has lovingly cared for the garden for many years, even before they purchased the home. Intentional plantings are visible throughout the yard, but highlights include the wisteria and maple tree. The homeowners’ favorite time to enjoy the garden is early evening when the landscape lights turn on and downtown becomes quiet after a busy day.
The Garden of Bruce and Judy D’Agostino
Welcome to this delightful, relaxed, garden with stone-raised beds and a peaceful pond by the terraced brick patio. The homeowners each enjoy different aspects of their garden. Judy loves to wander the Potager-inspired kitchen garden spring and summer mornings to check on the progress of her herbs, vegetables, and flowers (many of which she grows from seed). Bruce enjoys the tranquility of the pond and caring for the variety of large goldfish. Their grandchildren enjoy looking for the elusive frogs and playing with Stella, the Labradoodle. Two Ginkgo trees – over 100 years old – adorn the property. One of the Ginkgo trees provides a canopy of shade over the pond and patio. In the fall, their golden splendor abounds drawing casual and professional photographers. The homeowners are slowly replacing and adding native and pollinator-friendly shrubs and plants including Virginia sweet Spire, Inkberry, Oakleaf Hydrangea, lowbush blueberry, cone flowers, and garden phlox.
The Garden of Jerry and Shelley Johnson
This small, casual garden is home to a variety of delights. Two large maple trees provide summer shade for the patio and welcome you to sit and visit. As you linger, you will notice handmade bird houses located on fences, ladders, and trees, antique bicycles placed throughout the garden, and a variety of plants that lend interest to the garden. This garden is the scene for bridal showers, retirement events, anniversary celebrations, club meetings, and hosting family and friends. Ever evolving, each year brings new enjoyment to the garden as plants are added and moved. Watching the birds drink and splash in the bird bath brings the homeowners joy. Apart from the two maple trees and lilac tree, nothing else was in the yard when the homeowners purchased the home. When the stone walls and unique privacy wall were added, the garden took shape, emphasizing the patio area with plants including hellebores, ferns, and day lilies.
The Garden of Jane and Robert Litterini
Welcome to this casual, family living space with multiple sitting areas and garden views. Featuring an original rock landscape that highlights the geometric privacy wall, this garden utilizes natural stone and gravel hardscape. Plant areas surround an aggregate footbridge with rock formations. A cypress wood building with an open floor plan and window walls looks out over the garden. It is evident that the owners of this midcentury contemporary home deeply enjoy gardening and groundskeeping. Since their relocation to this home a few years ago, the garden is still a work in progress. There is a modern flagstone patio shaded by a large oak tree canopy and a cedar gazebo that offers garden and backyard views.
The Garden of Renee and Marvin Ausherman
The Ausherman residence is an enchanting 60+ acre private estate with formal gardens inspired by world travel. The property began as a dairy farm and now holds the rebuilt traditional bank barn nestled into the diverse vegetative landscape. Wander through garden rooms created by formal evergreen and deciduous hedges to find calming fountains, whimsical statuary, and vast horticultural plantings. Each garden room holds its own purpose and unique styled design. The gardens are anchored by a summer house for enjoying outdoor dinners and a Hartley greenhouse for overwintering the tropical collection used for the pool garden. A collection of copper, bronze, steel, and stone artwork appear throughout the landscape, discover something special in each garden. The backyard gardens were designed with the help of McHale Landscape Design Inc. and are tended to by a full-time horticulturist.
