by Lois Rose

Saturday, July 20 was a 96 degree scorcher, with high humidity as well. Some very brave garden lovers walked and drove around Cleveland Heights for the first day of the two day inaugural GardenWalk. Around 40 private yards and public gardens were available for viewing from 12 to 5, plus three community gardens and ten pocket gardens on Langton, in the four zip codes of Cleveland Heights.

Cleveland Heights covers about 8.13 square miles at an elevation of 935 feet. It was founded in 1903. Forest Hill is one of the historic neighborhoods, north of Mayfield between Lee and Taylor. It was purchased in 1923 by John Rockefeller from his father.

There were several homes in this neighborhood on the tour.

Further south some of the older neighborhoods featured a diverse group of gardens with wonderful water features, native plant havens, and charming displays of perennials and annuals. Friendly gardeners often greeted the visitors, offering refreshments and guided inspections as well.

One home on a small lane had crisply clipped hedges interrupted with white picket gates inviting you in.

Some homeowners placed signs in their gardens to inform visitors about their plants and other features.