Garden Visits - City of Belle Meade

Sign Up Form for the Ceres Society’s Garden Visits

Garden Visits are open to residents of Belle Meade and their guests. A donation of $20 per person per event date is required with each registration. After you submit your registration form, you will be taken to the payment portal and please select “Ceres Society – Garden Tour” to make your donation online.

April 26, 2025 Gardens of Joellyn and Eric Helman at 4404 Honeywood Drive and Garden of Vicki and Kerry McCluggage at 1311 Chickering Road

Gardens of Joellyn and Eric Helman — 4404 Honeywood Drive

In 2013, we purchased a “garden that came with a house.” It was the promise of a beautiful garden that we fell in love with. Thus began our labor of love. The Ben Page gardens within the serpentine wall are the centerpiece of our private oasis. The gardens have evolved over the years as sunny areas have become shady and perennials “travel” to new locations. Under the careful eye of the late Sigourney Cheek, the gardens were recognized in the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Gardens, Garden Club of America’s “Gardens Private and Personal,” and Flower Magazine. During our renovations, Gavin Duke added his stamp of excellence to the outside gardens and hardscapes of our 1930s Henry Hibbs home. We look forward to sharing our secret garden with you.

Garden of Vicki and Kerry McCluggage — 1311 Chickering Road

When the McCluggages moved to Nashville in 2013 they were fortunate to find a home built in 2002 with many mature trees which had been protected during the home’s construction. In 2016 they hired Clay Trabue of Kaiser Trabue to formalize the front entrance with gates and a front motor court utilizing historic granite ballast stones originally used in paving 2^nd street in downtown Nashville (privately purchased from another home) , to design a pool area and pool pavilion and enhance the back yard plantings with more floral and defined garden areas for their family. The gardens include a formal prayer garden with a background hedge of viburnum, centered on an antique iron cross brought from their former home. Their grandchildren enjoy a childrens’ garden designed just for them and grassy play areas, all of which are surrounded with thousands of daffodils, hundreds of peonies and hydrangeas, with hostas and dogwoods in the shaded areas. A rose garden for cutting is conveniently located by the side door.

May 17, 2025 Garden of Ashley and Joe Howell at 4300 Lillywood Drive and Garden of Jeanne and Gino Marchetti at 4300 Warner Place

Garden of Ashley and Joe Howell — 4300 Lillywood Drive

The Howell family gardens are a sanctuary that are tucked in a little corner on a quiet street in Belle Meade. The characteristics of the yard mirror the mid-century design of the house – functional and geometric. The rich history of the house is alive in the landscaping. The original owner started a tradition by cultivating nature with a personal touch. The base or foundational plants are old and established – with thanks to them.

After purchasing the house in 2018, one of the first opportunities for the owners was to make a house a home by creating a beautiful environment to a neglected landscape. Generational plants from both sides of the Howell family were added. Love is everywhere.

Much effort has gone into the cultivation of an environmentally friendly serene and personal space. The opportunity to share it with nature loving like-minded people is exciting. This place is a mix of old and new. Please enjoy this little spot on earth … it is special.

Garden of Jeanne and Gino Marchetti — 4300 Warner Place

When we built our home over 40 years ago, there were few trees — but today, our landscape has flourished into a vibrant, four-season garden. We’ve cultivated beautiful spaces in the front, side, and within the courtyard stone wall in the back. The focal point of the backyard is our serene pond, which provides water for pollinators and is surrounded by thriving plants.

We take pride in our Burr Oak and the 30+ trees we’ve nurtured — lasting legacies that will stand for generations to come. Come explore, find inspiration, and enjoy the beauty of the flowers and shrubs that bring our garden to life.

Questions? Contact Lisa Ellis at lemailtn@comcast.net

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Choose which date(s) you'd like to attend our Garden Visits:

April 26, 2025 – 1 pm to 3 pm at Gardens of 4404 Honeywood Drive and 1311 Chickering Road

May 17, 2025 - 10 am to Noon at Gardens of 4300 Lillywood Drive and 4300 Warner Place

I (the party agreeing to these terms by reserving, purchasing, and/or participating in the tour) affirm that I am a resident of the City of Belle Meade. I hereby waive any and all claims I may have now and in the future, and release from all liability and agree not to sue The City of Belle Meade, its officers, agents, representatives, employees or tour guides for any personal injury, death, property damage, or loss sustained by me as a result of my participation in the walking tour due to any cause whatsoever, including without limitation, negligence on the part of The City of Belle Meade, its staff, tour partners, or other participants. I further agree that if I violate this agreement and attempt to bring suit against any part of parties named herein, that I will be held responsible for attorney’s fees and any costs incurred by that person in defending such action. I acknowledge that I can fully participate in this activity. I am fully aware of risks and hazards connected with the activity, including but not limited to the risks as noted herein and I voluntarily assume full responsibility for any risks of loss, property damage, or personal injury, including death, that may be sustained by me, or any loss or damage to property owned by me, as a result of being engaged in such an activity. I am aware that the tour, in addition to the usual dangers and risks inherent, has certain additional dangers and risks, some of which include: physical exertion for which I may not be prepared and weather extremes subject to sudden and unexpected change. I accept all the inherent risks of the proposed tour and the possibility of personal injury, death or property damage or loss resulting there from. As a participant on the tour, I accept full responsibility for my behavior, well-being, and health throughout the tour. I agree to hold neither The City of Belle Meade, nor its staff liable in any way should any harm come to me. I further hereby agree to indemnify and hold harmless the releases from any loss, liability, damage or costs, including court costs and attorney’s fees, that may incur due to my participation in said activity, or not, whether caused by negligence of The City of Belle Meade or otherwise. In agreeing to this Waiver and Release, I am not relying on any oral, written nor visual representations or statements by The City of Belle Meade or its staff or any other inducement or coercion to go on the tour. I confirm that, by my own free will, I have read and understood the Terms and Conditions of this walking tour and Wavier and Release and agree that this Waiver and Release will be binding upon my heirs, next of kin, executors, administrators and successors.

I affirm that I have fully understood and agree to these Terms and Conditions, Waiver and Release of Liability.