Downtown Augusta’s Sacred Heart Cultural Center is inviting families from all over the CSRA to enjoy an extensive garden tour on April 26 and 27 for this year’s fundraiser.
Through the center’s 20th yearly fundraiser, Sacred Heart’s Executive Director Millie Huff said she hopes attendees will happily explore more of Augusta by participating in a new multi-site garden tour.
Welcoming the community to tour five local gardens in the Greater Augusta area, Huff said Sacred Heart Cultural Center is also celebrating the 150th founding anniversary of Sacred Heart Catholic Parish.
After establishing the cultural center in 1987, following a 15-year vacancy, Sacred Heart is now home to several cultural activities, such as choral concerts, art exhibits, holiday events and more.
“Although we no longer have an affiliation with the Catholic church or any faith-based organization – as we are now a non-secular, non-profit – we definitely still honor our faith-based roots,” she said. “So, we are still celebrating the 150th year.”
From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Friday and Saturday, participants can tour multiple significant sites and enjoy the beauty of spring while supporting Sacred Heart’s artistic preservation efforts.
Located at 1301 Greene St., included amongst the other four gardens, is Sacred Heart’s historic grounds and courtyard – filled with 15 styles of brick work, elaborate Romanesque architecture and blooming flowers.
“We’re really hoping people who have visited us before will come back to tour the grounds and hear the stories of Sacred Heart,” Huff said. “They can see how all four buildings have been restored and repurposed, and it really is such a beautiful garden now anyways.”
Often acting as a backdrop for weddings and various celebratory photoshoots, Huff said Sacred Heart’s own gardens are a can’t miss.
“It’s just a beautiful spot,” she said.
In addition to Sacred Heart’s garden, the tour also features Golden Harvest’s Urban Farm, Green Court, Jenks Farmer’s Lily Farm and Twin Gables.
Established in 2017, Golden Harvest’s Urban Farm is adjacent to The Master’s Table Soup Kitchen and holds 40 raised beds through the diligent efforts of urban farmer Cara Bilven and many community volunteers.
Known as an “oasis” within a food desert, Golden Harvest’s Urban Farm had yielded over a ton of food annually since 2022 – with 85% of the fresh produce directly contributing to meals served at the nearby soup kitchen.
Aligning with Golden Harvest Food Bank’s ongoing mission to “transform lives” by feeding hungry neighbors, surplus produce is also distributed to local pantry partners to avoid any waste.
“It produces about 2,500 pounds of produce a year … so we’re really excited to kind of shed the spotlight on the mission of Golden Harvest, and realizing all the good work that they do,” Huff said. “I think for people who are growing small, at-home vegetable gardens, it’ll be super educational and inspirational.”
Another hidden community gem on the tour is Twin Gables, located on the grounds of a 1911 Dutch Colonial Revival home, which was originally designed by a Boston landscape architecture firm for a Chicago couple, who later utilized the house as a winter residence.
“Up until a couple of years ago, it was owned by Augusta University and served as its president’s home,” said Huff. “It’s now been bought by a young family, who have the history of a grandmother formerly owning the home and being a big gardener.
Huff said the lush grounds will be sure to delight visitors with its family history and entertainment areas.
Also boosting an impressive history, Green Court’s garden is located on the grounds of a historic home built in 1823, and formerly served as the Governor’s Mansion. After two years of hard work, the location’s current owners are happy to reopen the garden and present their restorative efforts.
“Gardeners at all levels will be inspired by the lovely results of their efforts,” stated a press release from Sacred Heart.
Finally, Jenks Farmer’s Lily Farm is also welcoming guests to explore a 1750s farm that includes flower fields, gardens and a rare plant nursery.
Featured in Garden and Gun, Southern Living and The New York Times, the organic lily farm specializes in big bulbs like pineapples and spider lilies.
Visitors will be able to relax under towering pecans or venture through preserved barns, which now serve as work spaces and educational spaces for gardening and writing classes.
Around the home, southern cottage gardens extend into old school perennials, while shrubs surround an old water tower, a smoke house and a donkey pasture.
“This is a magical farm where Jenks Farmer and tom Hall work hard to preserve the integrity of the land and rural nature of simple country life,” stated a press release from Sacred Heart.
Visitors to the lily farm can also enjoy family-friendly “Sowing the Seeds” activity, where gardeners of all ages learn the basics of seed germination and transplanting seedlings to a long-term home.
“A visit is worth the short drive from downtown Augusta to revel in the joys of this ‘funky little flower farm,’” stated Sacred Heart’s press release.
At each venue, Huff said there will also be a small selection of plants for sale to give inspired participants a chance to purchase thriving flora.
With advanced tickets selling for $30, Huff hopes all garden explorers will be thrilled with the various sites as each highlights outstanding history and beautiful, eye-catching plants.
“These gardens are all aspirational,” she said. “We’ll also have master gardeners on all the properties as well, so people can ask specific questions about the plants to learn more.”
To find out more about the tour or to purchase tickets, visit: https://sacred-heart-cultural-center.ticketleap.com/sacred-heart-garden-tour/dates/Apr-26-2024_at_1100AM
At the door tickets will be available for $35.
