THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, May 7, 1995                    TAG: 9505040114
SECTION: HOME                     PAGE: G1   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY ROBERT STIFFLER, GARDENING COLUMNIST 
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   56 lines

GARDENS BY THE SEA ``GARDENERS IN THEIR GARDENS'' GOES TO THE OCEANFRONT THIS YEAR FOR LESSONS IN GROWING PLANTS DESPITE DIFFICULT CONDITIONS.

IF OCEAN OR BAY winds and salty air make gardening difficult for you, don't miss next Sunday's ``Gardeners in their Gardens Tour,'' which exhibits the wisdom and work of Oceanfront gardeners at Virginia Beach's North End.

Seven gardens will be open for the ``Gardens by the Sea'' tour, and the resident gardeners will be in their gardens to identify plants and tell the good or bad things about each one.

You can see which plants survive under the most difficult growing conditions, and what gardeners do to enhance the chances of survival. This should be especially appealing to gardeners on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, as well as Hampton Roads residents along the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean.

The gardens included on the seventh annual ``Gardeners in their Gardens Tour,'' a fund-raising event for the Norfolk Botanical Garden, are located between Atlantic Avenue and the Oceanfront, from 69th Street through 84th Street. They are some of the most beautiful and interesting gardens on the East Coast.

The gardens vary from small native plant, woodsy gardens to large Mediterranean style formal gardens.

Some are difficult to locate because of the vagaries of oceanfront addresses. Watch for signs marking the gardens. Start at one end of the tour and work your way from one garden to the next. At least two gardens can be visited each time you park your car.

The tour goes on, rain or shine. ILLUSTRATION: L. TODD SPENCER COLOR PHOTOS

MEG CAMPBELL sets out bedding plants in her low-maintenance garden,

which includes many perennials.

BETTY DARDEN's new garden incorporates numerous ornamental grasses,

creeping herbs and perennial flowers.

ETHEL GIBBS has been tending her North End garden for more than

three decades. She will turn 90 years old on the day of the tour.

Map

ADRIANA LIBREROS

THE TOUR SITES

by CNB