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Chandor Gardens attendees from SSGC: Front Row (Left to Right) – Mona McMahan, Lisa Foil, and Karen Sloan; Back Row (Left to Right) – Dianna Furlan, Kathleen Hawkins, Debbie Shahan, Gail Ivey, Rhonda Killion, Georgia Harris, Sarah Lott, Jan Beaver, and Cindy Sloan. -
Waterfall and steps at Cox’s Mountain
For the final meeting before summer break, twelve members and guests of San Saba Garden Club (SSGC) traveled to Weatherford to visit the world-famous Chandor Gardens, a 3.5-acre estate where every square foot is utilized in highly original ways, combining ancient Chinese architecture and formal English garden design to create a botanical and “earth art” wonderland.
The genesis of the gardens can be traced to the partnership of a world-renowned portrait painter from Britain, Douglas Chandor, and Ina Kuteman Hill Chandor, the Weatherford, Texas, woman he married in 1934. Soon after settling in Weatherford on land given them by Ina’s father, the two embarked on their lifetime’s work of transforming a barren plot into a living work of art that includes hundreds of trees, shrubs, plants, vines, and flowers. But what makes this Garden truly unique is the integration of Chandor’s artistic creations in the form of massive water features, intricate stone arches and bridges, statuaries and sculptures, a brick labyrinth driveway—in short, imaginative creations complementing nature’s flora wherever the eye wanders. Chandor, sometimes with help from friends, hauled thousands of rocks from surrounding counties one load at a time and used them along with dozens of other arts media in his masterpieces. A visitor to Chandor Gardens will see everything from 7-Up bottles to sewer tiles in the myriad of art features.
Rhonda Killion, past SSGC president and a native of Weatherford, arranged for the Club’s tour and enlisted two highly knowledgeable docents, one of whom is her sister-in-law, Theresa Tabor. In addition to fascinating facts about the Gardens, Theresa added delightful personal accounts of herself, her brother Gary, and other neighborhood children playing on the grounds while the residents built their monument to Nature. The SSGC tour included the Chandors’ personal residence and Douglas Chandor’s art studio with a towering wall of glass facing the lush greenery outside.
Before heading back to San Saba, attendees enjoyed lunch together at Fire Oaks Grill in downtown Weatherford.
Although the Garden Club will not reconvene for regular meetings until September, several events are marked on the summer calendar:
• Kids Nature Kamp--9-noon June 1, 2, and 3 in San Saba’s parks
• Independence Day Gathering for members and guests at Mill Pond Clubhouse--July 2
• Continuing sale of note cards (local pollinators on colorful flora captured by Garden Club photographers)--$15 for 10 cards and envelopes. To purchase, contact any Garden Club member.