Remove all graphics and images from the website so that only the text and links are visible Reverts to original layout including graphics and images The Fairfax County Park Authority has postponed the public meeting on the proposed pavilion at Green Spring Gardens due to inclement weather in the multipurpose room of the Horticultural Center The rescheduled meeting will include a presentation on the pavilion concept and an opportunity to visit the proposed pavilion site The concept team will be available to answer questions and collect feedback from attendees Community members unable to attend in person are encouraged to share their thoughts online via PublicInput The public comment period has been extended and will now close at 5 p.m The proposed pavilion is a key element of the approved Green Spring Gardens Master Plan Revision designed to enhance outdoor educational and recreational opportunities The pavilion would be ADA-compliant and include seating Its environmentally conscious design incorporates a unique “split roof” with rainwater harvesting features to minimize environmental impact and respect existing drainage patterns The Park Authority values public input and invites the community to participate in shaping the future of Green Spring Gardens a collaboration with the Friends of Green Spring (FROGS) underscores a shared commitment to inclusive and sustainable recreation and education spaces For more information about the proposed pavilion and to submit comments online, visit the PublicInput project webpage. For additional questions, contact the Public Information Office at ParkMail@fairfaxcounty.gov 703-324-7329 Website Accessibility Translate Download Mobile App ADA Accessibility FOIA Requests Website Administrator Fairfax County Public Schools Economic Development Authority Visit Fairfax Council of Governments Commonwealth of Virginia USA.gov Petrides' Jamel Kamara (44) scored the winning TD in overtime Saturday .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Joe D'Amodio | damodio@siadvance.comJamel Kamara’s 19-yard touchdown run tied the game in overtime and Mike Giordano’s PAT kick won it as Petrides stunned Springfield Gardens Saturday in a PSAL 2A Conference contest in Queens improved to 5-3 in the league and 6-3 overall Springfield Gardens fell to 6-2 in the league “It was a big against a really solid football team,” said Petrides head coach Dave Olah “They beat us in the championship last year (30-6) We’ve been in a bunch of close games this year and feel like we haven’t completed those game (We had a) 5-3 league record which we think could’ve been 6-2 or 7-1 this one feels good to complete the regular season with a win.” Giordano gave the Panthers a 3-0 lead with a 24-yard field goal in the first quarter but the host team had an 8-3 lead at the half and led 16-3 early in the third quarter who rushed for 186 yards on 29 carries and had eight tackles cut the lead to 16-9 with an 8-yard TD run and Giordano’s kick made it 16-10 Alexander’s 1-yard TD run tied score in the fourth quarter where Springfield Gardens struck first to go up 22-16 But the Panthers answered with the winning score “It’s hopefully the boost we need going into the playoffs,” said Olah whose team may get a home playoff game depending on how other games pan out this weekend NOTES: Kamara finished with two catches for 40 yards Giordano had four tackles and a pass breakup .. Jahshea McKinney carried the ball twice for 21 yards and he recorded five tackles Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices Photo: Ben Nicholson As the days get longer and the weather improves you may be seizing every opportunity to spend time in the garden If your lawn is patchy and your flower beds are sparse now's the time to get repairing and replanting — or you could save all the bother and move to a home where the outside space is already beautifully cultivated From immaculate terraces and courtyards to lush rolling acres all these properties will make you want to put down roots Urban living seamlessly integrates with nature in this new development just one minute’s walk from Acton Main Line station on the Elizabeth line Roses are growing around the front door of aptly named Spring Cottage It has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a sitting room with a wood burner in the inglenook fireplace, a dining room and a country-style kitchen which opens into a well-stocked, lawned garden. Through Butler Sherborn Read more: 11 purpose-built rental homes that provide peace of mind Orchard Cottage includes four ensuite bedrooms and vaulted ceilings in the sitting room and open plan kitchen Wide sliding doors lead out to a large south-facing patio and curved lawn, framed by picture-perfect borders. Find out more from Frank Innes Nearly six acres of land is a lot to look after but the owners of Highfield House have done a wonderful job They’ve created a gorgeous garden with well-kept lawns and colourful borders within an original walled garden The house itself has been extended and modernised, incorporating four bedrooms, four reception rooms, bay windows and a turret. Through Galbraith Moats and Springs dates from the 1600s and has been fully restored to a high standard three reception rooms and a host of period details such as oak flooring The garden is landscaped with seating areas to take in the views, and a hay barn could be converted into an annex or separate dwelling. There’s also an outdoor swimming pool, though it requires some work. Contact Beresfords Read more: 9 rural homes that are close to amenities Grade II listed Mansard House is a 17th century five-bedroom country house that takes its name from its distinctive mansard roof façade sits in a picturesque spot on the River Erme five bathrooms and a double height dining hall occupy the ground floor and a triple aspect living room and a kitchen/breakfast room with a balcony are on the first floor The grounds include courtyard and walled kitchen gardens, an orchard filled with apple, pear and plum trees and a historic grassed bridge over the river. Via Marchand Petit Read more: 9 homes to savour near Michelin-starred restaurants five-bedroom Easter Cottage looks particularly spectacular at this time of year – and has plenty of hiding places for Easter egg hunts The front and back gardens are planted with a spectacular array of shrubs and perennials, the terrace outside the kitchen is a sun trap and a flower-filled pathway leads to a pretty lawned area with fruit trees, a wildlife pond and pergola. From Savills Wisteria-clad Lower Farm House boasts sweeping views across the Teme valley a a huge paved terrace and a one and a half acre wraparound garden Renovation work carried out by the current owners on Cambridge a five-bedroom Grade II listed 16th century house included creating the lovely garden surrounding it The front path is bordered by clipped box hedges and herbaceous planting, and the seven acre grounds contain areas of lawn, a circular terrace, a wildflower meadow and a paddock. From Strutt & Parker How higher house prices are impacting young people's finances 10 home upgrades that don’t need planning permission What are green mortgages and are they the future? in Springfield was sold by the troubled Springfield Gardens along with the rest of the Armoury Square buildings in July 2024.The Republican In a move that frustrated Springfield officials the buyer was not the developer the city was working with in hopes of sealing a deal to renovate Springfield Garden’s troubled inventory of buildings “We thought we were pretty close,” Sheehan said Thursday The package of properties sold two weeks ago for more than $54 million Not only did the city not see the transaction with the eventual buyer coming but the preferred developer – which Sheehan declined to name – was taken by surprise as well despite being active in the residential property market “It’s not like there is a quick turnaround on these deals,” Sheehan said “The hard thing with Springfield Gardens is that just when the city is ready to improve things Springfield Gardens is going in the other direction.” Transactions encompassing at least 36 properties were recorded at the Hampden County Registry of Deeds July 22 20 of them are the totality of the Armoury Commons buildings on Pearl The sellers are Springfield Gardens LP and its parent The buyer is Papyrus Equities LLC of Brookline according to documents on file at the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Sideeka was sued over the conditions at 106 North East St Investigators determined the fire at 106 North East Street in Holyoke on Jan started when a wall outlet in a third-floor apartment malfunctioned The building did not have a sprinkler system Officials determined the building’s alarm system lost a connection to its monitoring company about 32 hours before the fire but no signal went out to the monitoring company which would have been required to immediately report the activation to the Holyoke Fire Department first-offense citation for failing to have the system inspected annually the state fire marshal’s office said at the time Sideeka did not return messages left with him Thursday afternoon seeking comment on the purchase of the Springfield Gardens properties Someone from Papyrus promised to get back in touch Friday Springfield Gardens made itself a big player in the Springfield housing market in 2021 when it bought some 1,500 units mostly in the Forest Park and Metro Center neighborhoods The owners took out a $12 million loan on the purchase according to records at the Registry of Deeds rents rose and drug dealers set up shop in vacant units Residents complained and the city stepped up code enforcement efforts Way Finders, a housing agency, withheld federally funded rent subsidies at Springfield Gardens apartments Springfield Gardens put its entire local portfolio on the market. A West Springfield company, Patriot Properties, bought some of the buildings but there were still complaints about conditions and rent hikes. said all properties have seen rent increases post COVID “Definitely a very difficult situation for renters,” she said She said she hopes to build relationships with building owners and work with them to address problems We have some things to offer as incentives Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site Ad Choices The public meeting at Green Spring Gardens has been rescheduled for February 6 The public comment period has been extended to 5 p.m The Fairfax County Park Authority invites the community to share their feedback in person at an upcoming public meeting on a proposed pavilion at Green Spring Gardens The public meeting will take place on Wednesday The meeting will include a presentation on the pavilion concept and an opportunity to visit the proposed pavilion site The project team will be on site and available to answer questions and collect feedback Community members who cannot attend the meeting in person are encouraged to share their thoughts online via PublicInput The proposed pavilion is a key component of the approved Green Spring Gardens Master Plan Revision and aims to enhance outdoor educational and recreational opportunities Designed with accessibility and sustainability in mind the pavilion would be ADA-compliant and feature seating program space and protection from the sun and weather Its unique 30-feet-by-35-feet “split roof” design includes gutters and downspouts for rainwater harvesting minimizing environmental impact and respecting existing drainage patterns The FCPA values public input and looks forward to collaborating with residents to shape the future of Green Spring Gardens This project represents a partnership between the Park Authority and the Friends of Green Spring (FROGS) highlighting a shared commitment to creating inclusive and sustainable spaces for education and recreation To learn more about the proposed pavilion concept and to submit comments online, visit the PublicInput project page. For additional questions, contact the Public Information Office at ParkMail@fairfaxcounty.gov From spectacular botanical displays to fun-filled activities for the whole family Courtesy Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge; Photo by Jennifer Griffin Spring blooms in Olguita’s Garden at Atlanta History Center Our furry little groundhog friend may have forecast six more weeks of winter Flowers are blooming and trees are sending out their buds Soon Atlanta will be awash in beautiful spring colors from top to bottom Wondering where to see spring color in Atlanta Do yourself a favor and enjoy at least one of our favorite Atlanta gardens attractions and events because the displays will be dazzling and they won’t last long.  Atlanta Botanical Garden is an amazing sight to behold year-round we love the amazing collection of orchids during Orchid Daze featuring the largest collection of orchids in the county ABG is in full color during Atlanta Blooms! which welcomes spring with colorful displays of hundreds of thousands of tulips is designed to show off over several weekends in March and April with various visiting times perfect for enjoying the array of spring colors The Atlanta Dogwood Festival celebrates the blooming of the native dogwood tree Rated one of the top festivals in the nation the Atlanta Dogwood Festival is alive with colorful trees April 13 through 15 are the dates to visit Piedmont Park and celebrate spring during this free annual festival Check out more festivals in the spring that will allow you to enjoy the beautiful flowers in Atlanta’s parks In addition to more than 20,000 incredible and colorful azalea plants Callaway Gardens will be welcoming blooms from daffodils You won’t want to miss the displays of spring color educational activities and special events waiting for you this season Spring brings new life to the Fernbank Forest at the Fernbank Museum in many forms visitors of all ages can explore nature close up along the two miles of trails that wind through the Fernbank Forest hear and touch nature and spring in many forms Imagine strolling through a field carpeted with thousands of daffodils in every shade a world-class garden center located just an hour north of Atlanta Gibbs Gardens encompasses more than 300 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds bridges and hundreds of varieties of flowers The season opens with Daffodil ColorFest in early March Goizueta Gardens at Atlanta History Center may not leap to the top of your mind when thinking of places to visit for spring color in the Atlanta area but with Atlanta History Center’s 32 acres of gardens it’s the perfect place to catch some beauty The Swan House lawn blooms bright in the spring which celebrates the life of Goizueta Gardens honoree Olga “Olguita” C It blooms year-a-round with an English garden aesthetic The gardens at The Carter Center encompass 35 acres of wooded land More than 40 varieties of rose are housed in the Rose Garden The “Rosalynn Carter” rose is a coral bloom named for President Jimmy Carter’s beloved wife visit the Japanese Garden designed by master gardener Kinsaku Nakane and relax by the koi pond Find more things to do in Atlanta’s parks and things to do outdoors Joleen Pete is a storyteller and dream-weaver inspired by the magic in everyday moments and the untold stories waiting to be shared and discover the best things to do around the city Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing organization for the city and serves to favorably impact Atlanta's economy through conventions and tourism Find Your Family Fun® at these beautiful gardens during springtime in the Lynchburg area What is your favorite thing about springtime and shrubs that begin to appear during March and continue into early summer the splendor of springtime is wonderful for all to see one of the most beautiful places there is in the spring But you don't have to travel out of town to enjoy the colors of spring Dogwoods will be in bloom on Fort Avenue and on Main Street Riverside Park will be filled with many blooming cherry trees.  Check out the Lynchburg Macaroni Kid event calendar any time for all of the best local events.  Find 25 Amazing Family Photo Shoot Locations in Lynchburg and Central VA on our website Here are some beautiful places to Find Your Family Fun® during springtime in the Lynchburg area: The Awareness Garden is located at 1700 Old Langhorne Road at the Ed Page Entrance to the Blackwater Creek Bikeway friends and caregivers whose lives have been touched by cancer and a variety of flowers and flowering trees and shrubs that provide splashes of color from early spring through late fall The Spring Brick Dedication Ceremony takes place in mid-May Old City Cemetery is located at 401 Taylor Street The 26-acre public cemetery features hundreds of plantings including a butterfly garden and lotus pond shrub garden and a wonderful collection of antique heritage roses there's an old-fashioned swing that's perfect for family photos Old City Cemetery hosts the Antique Rose Festival in May.  The Dorothy Crandall Bliss Botanic Garden at Randolph College is a hidden gem The plants in the hillside garden are labeled There's a peaceful pond and benches as well as a winding path through the gardens Park on Rivermont Avenue and walk down Norfolk Avenue and you'll see the garden gates across the street from Rivermont Pizza The Anne Spencer House and Garden is located at 1313 Pierce Street Harlem Renaissance poet Anne Spencer lived in the house with her husband served as Anne Spencer's writing retreat Plantings line the fences around the garden and pond The roses are especially lovely during late spring and early summer Riverside Park is located at 2238 Rivermont Avenue in Lynchburg Riverside Park has over 49 acres of rolling parkland with lovely stands of trees and walking trails The cherry trees are especially beautiful in early spring Be sure to visit the Miller-Claytor House garden located near the Sprayground and Playcore playground area Wharton Garden is located in the heart of Bedford between Robinson Way and North Bridge Street Kids of all ages will love the children's Storybook Garden featuring vignettes from children's literature Your littles will also enjoy the Turtle Climber walking along the reading walk while reading the monthly Storybook The National D-Day Memorial is located at 3 Overlord Circle in Bedford up the hill from the Bedford Visitor Center There are many plantings and gardens throughout the grounds of the Memorial.  A springtime walk along Rivermont Avenue is a great way to spend time outdoors or at Virginia Baptist Hospital and enjoy a stroll on The Avenue with the family.  Take a walk in Downtown Lynchburg. Whether you walk along the Bluffwalk between Jefferson and Commerce Streets, take a stroll on Main Street, or explore Monument Terrace at 9th and Court Streets there are many spring flowers to see along the way Be sure to bring your phone or camera along for some great selfies of the family enjoying nature Visit the Blue Ridge Parkway and stop along the way for photos or to share a picnic lunch. Check out our guide to Hiking Off the Blue Ridge Parkway for family-friendly hikes to enjoy in any season Historic Garden Week takes place the week of April 26 - May 3 Historic Garden Week celebrated 90 years of tours in 2023 Visit the website to see Garden Week tours available throughout Virginia.  Garden Day in Lynchburg takes place on Tuesday Hosted by Hillside Garden Club and Lynchburg Garden Club you can purchase advance tickets at the website to visit local homes and gardens in Lynchburg Maymont is a 100-acre historic estate and park visitors can tour Maymont Mansion during some times of the year Maymont Farm and the outdoor wildlife habitats are very popular with families too Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is located at 1800 Lakeside Avenue in Richmond Lewis Ginter is one of the top gardens in the U.S we love to visit Lewis Ginter for the Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights during the holidays U.S. National Arboretum is located at 3501 New York Avenue This huge collection of gardens spans 451 acres with almost 10 miles or roadways winding through the gardens Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service and sees over 600,000 visitors every year but there are numerous other gardens and collections United States Botanic Garden is located at 100 Maryland Avenue SW in Washington It's worth a road trip to visit this garden in any season but it's especially beautiful in springtime Botanic Garden is the oldest continuously operating botanic garden in the United States There are thousands of plants to see and the indoor Conservatory is absolutely breathtaking in the spring I've lived in Lynchburg for many years and love it here I'm mom to five young adults who now have families of their own We stay busy with kid activities and love spending time outdoors the Blue Ridge Mountains or out of state to visit family you'll find me in the garden or at the computer adding great local events to the Lynchburg Macaroni Kid calendar Get ready for spring in your garden with these must-know tips This apartment building at 51 Fort Pleasant Ave (Jim Kinney / The Republican)The Republican .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Jim Kinney | jkinney@repub.comSPRINGFIELD — A pair of nearly century-old apartment buildings on Fort Pleasant Avenue — once part of the beleaguered Springfield Gardens — have changed hands again selling two weeks ago for more than $4.2 million The most recent seller, HP Rum LLC and its management company Patriot Properties said Patriot Properties President Marc Murphy according to documents on file with the Secretary of State’s Office “We stabilized the properties since we took them over and received an offer to sell,” Murphy said Monday stabilization means making building repairs which had become hiding places for squatters and criminal activity under Springfield Gardens This apartment Building at 66 Fort Pleasant Ave redevelopment of the properties,” she said what the city sees at the apartments is more along the lines of minor rehab “When they really need reinvestment,” McCafferty said and it’s hard to fund all of these buildings.” Murphy noted that his companies have made significant improvements to 2-20 Mattoon St. bringing the buildings up to current code and reducing the need for police responses Patriot and HP Rum continue to have hundreds of units in Springfield And the Fort Pleasant Avenue buildings it sold are neighbors to buildings it is keeping to 4Spring Investments LLC for $1.4 million according to papers filed March 13 with the Hampden County Registry of Deeds 4Spring Investments’ managers didn’t respond to phone calls from The Republican They are listed with addresses in Winchester HP Rum bought the property in 2024 from Springfield Gardens for $1.24 million Company principals also could not be reached by phone HP Rum bought the property from Springfield Gardens in 2024 for $2.5 million Get important news about your town as it happens. Something went wrong. Please subscribe again. Get the top stories from across our network. Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates? A Queens man is accused of forging a $74,000 U.S. Treasury check and depositing it at a Nassau County bank, police announced on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. Dwayne S. Campbell and the Capital One Bank on 750 West Sunrise Highway in Valley Stream where he incident happened.  Dwayne S. Campbell, 40, of Springfield Gardens, allegedly carried out the brazen act on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at 11:39 a.m., when he deposited the fraudulent check at Capital One Bank on 750 West Sunrise Highway in Valley Stream, detectives said. The scheme resulted in a financial loss exceeding $74,000, according to the Electronics Squad. After months of investigation, Campbell surrendered to Nassau County detectives at the Eighth Precinct on Monday morning, police said. He is now charged with grand larceny in the second degree and criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, police said. Campbell was arraigned later that day at First District Court in Hempstead, authorities added.   Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations The NYPD and Department of Sanitation towed numerous illegally parked vehicles along a Queens street on Tuesday morning after Gothamist reported on the problem last week The two city departments worked together to tow the vehicles Sanitation Department Spokesperson Vincent Gragnani said in an email The Sanitation Department towed two vehicles that had significant damage to them and no license plates on the stretch of roadway near Springfield Park in Springfield Gardens An NYPD spokesperson did not respond to a question about how many trucks were towed Tuesday But they said the local precinct and the NYPD traffic division towed 15 vehicles they towed 13 vehicles and issued 42 summonses The action came in response to a community meeting in February Gothamist reported last week on truck parking in Springfield Gardens which residents say has turned their neighborhood into a parking lot Gothamist saw at least 17 commercial vehicles parked along the stretch of Springfield Boulevard empty liquor bottles and even the body of a dead cat dumped on the sidewalk near the trucks said one side of the street was nearly all clear of commercial trucks when she went there on Tuesday morning “The east side of the street of Springfield Boulevard was majority cleared out,” Long said Sanitation workers clear up garbage in a neighborhood near JFK Airport where parks have been parking illegally word had apparently spread about the towing operation and she saw two truck drivers working to start a truck connected to a tractor trailer on the opposite side of the street Photos taken by Long and shared with Gothamist on Tuesday show a number of NYPD windshield boots — or “barnacles” — attached to trucks that were parked in the area The devices block drivers from moving a vehicle until a fine is paid yellow box truck being towed by an NYPD vehicle Others show sanitation workers sweeping the sidewalk near where the commercial trucks had been parked who represents southeast Queens and the Rockaways told Gothamist earlier this month that a lack of commercial trucking at nearby John F Kennedy Airport was likely to blame for the issue “The origin of the problem is that we live right by Kennedy Airport I would argue that everyone knows that people are flouting the law but a real crackdown would cause Kennedy Airport — the business traffic there — to grind to a halt.” The Port Authority has been in the process of adding 150 new truck parking spots since 2023 according to a press release from that year This story has been updated to include additional information from the NYPD Ben Feuerherd covers public safety and policing for WNYC and Gothamist. He previously covered federal courts for The New York Post and The Messenger. His work has also appeared in POLITICO, the Daily Beast and NBC New York. Got a tip? Email [email protected]. A months-long investigation into decades of sexual assault allegations on Rikers Island was a finalist in the audio reporting category. The city says it hasn't been granted full access to inspect the facility, which is being operated by a private contractor. Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily. Gothamist is a website about New York City news Use this spring-harvest vegetable garden plan to grow plenty of leafy greens and root crops in a small space As you pick and eat your spring vegetables, fill in the empty spots in your raised bed with vegetables that thrive in summer heat Each of these veggies and herbs comes in all sorts of varieties or experiment with new-to-you cultivars in this garden plan Just make sure to account for the mature size and adjust the allotted square footage accordingly A raised garden bed should be at least 12 to 18 inches deep That should give the plant roots enough room to grow If your raised bed is shallow, only add a garden soil mix to the bed. If it's a bit deeper, you can place a layer of organic material such as chopped leaves at the bottom before filling your raised bed with a soil mix The organic material will eventually break down and enrich the soil If you want to make the most out of your raised bed, you should avoid planting anything that takes up a lot of space, like rhubarb If your plants are too crowded they won't grow as well 1/11Springfield Garden Club's Magical Fairy Garden Tour.st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Cori Urban | Special to The RepublicanForty miniature habitats for magical creatures surrounded by ribbons fluttering crystals gleaming and dream catchers waving in the trees and gardens will be on display for five afternoons and two evenings this month The Springfield Garden Club will host the Magical Fairy Garden Tours May 18 There will be two evening tours on May 21 and 22 from 7 to 9 p.m. so guests can watch the habitats as they sparkle and shine through dusk and to dark an exploration of places that make us feel safe or excited and that fill us with joy,” said Vana Neva Nespor one of the hosts of the event and past president of the Springfield Garden Club “Fairy gardens or magical glens have deep roots in Irish and German folklore but it was the Victorian delight in bonsai that made them all the rage,” she explained “Those miniature trees led to miniature villages and of course Tinker Bell had to have a place to live with her friends and family is to convey a sense of wonder and delight Among the titles of the designs on display are “Where Fairies Go to Meditate”; “A Desert Fairy Oasis”; “A Mossy Glen Mansion for Magical Beings”; “Red Truck Troll Wreak”; “Fairy Dancers on a Fallen Log”; “Magical Crystal Reflections”; and “A Secret Garden Protected By Dragons Garden club member and retired floral designer Robert Whitney created an Italian villa seaside stilt house and sleeping hut with the fairies who reside there using real fungi grape vine and hundreds other natural elements to create a complete world smaller than a laundry basket and fairies are tucked by the chimneys or in the sleeping nook Other members created a fountain covered in butterfly wings a frog family in raincoats playing in a birdbath One of over 30 Fairy Gardens in place for the Springfield Garden Club's first-ever Magical Fairy Garden Tour in the Springfield backyard of Vana Nespor (Don Treeger / The Republican) 5/15/2024The Republican The displays were created by garden club members; one is from Sixteen Acres Garden Center Nespor and her husband have spent the past 10 years creating meandering raised gardens around their property some of them 15 feet deep and four feet high with blooming trees and bushes and hundreds of perennials and annuals “It seemed a perfect place to tuck in the many lighted fairy gardens along the brick paths under the gazebo and sitting on the carved Thai bench,” she said each design will have its own special story page that tells of the journey of The Shy Giraffe in the soon-to-be-published children’s book “Tell Me About Your Happy Place,” by Haabiba Rothenberg-Whitne A full color version of the book and/or a coloring book of the story featuring photographs of each creation can be ordered during the tour Rothenberg-Whitney is writing a short verse for each of the magical gardens “They tell us about these happy places that we can go to in our minds when we are overwhelmed or sad,” Nespor said “We are hiding a tiny Shy Giraffe in each of the magical gardens and adding one page from the story that speaks to that garden The Shy Giraffe’s hoof prints show the path past each magical habitat.” The coloring book was designed to be fun for children 4-10 years; but the full color book is designed for adults “to remind them to that they too need a happy place,” she added Advance tickets are required for the evening tours and can be purchased via Eventbrite.com Admission for all the tours is $10 for adults $5 for children and $20 for a family (up to 6 people) All profits from the tour and the sale of the books purchased through June go to support the Springfield Garden Club and its programs For more information, go to springfieldgardenclubma.org