The White Rock East Garden Tour celebrated its silver anniversary Thursday, March 19 with a sip and stroll to commemorate 25 years in bloom and prepare for the official tour in May.
The celebration, which took place at the home of Dione Lineberry, one of the founders of the tour, was extended from the front yard to the side of the house through the back with no fence to separate it. While there, guests were able to look at Lineberry’s detailed garden as it gets ready for spring. Guests could also bid on a silent auction which featured art, jewelry and purses among other items. There was also live music, food and drinks for the guests to enjoy while they browsed. A live auction closed the night out where those in attendance could bid on different art pieces and decorations for people’s gardens.
In Lineberry’s front yard, there were vendors scattered throughout selling items such as jewelry, garden decorations and cookies. One of the vendors ,Marion Arscott, was a first time vendor for White Rock East Garden Tours. She creates little aluminum figurines.
“Usually, I use a couple of colors then whatever the mood I’m in is kind of what I create,” Arscott said. “They are pretty much free flowing pieces; some of them are a little bit fancier in long dresses like they are going to the ball. The others are more whimsical like their jumping rope.”
Jenifer Christy, who has been a vendor with the tour for two years, now creates resin jewelry from cut up canvas paintings.
“It’s always fun, it’s a great neighborhood, and I just love meeting all the people and just being out in the gorgeous gardens,” Christy said. “I think it’s awesome that they have been doing it for 25 years, and I hope to participate in the future, too.”
Tour Director Thad Thigpen and Lineberry distributed custom made garden stakes to honor the founders who Lineberry described as,“the people who said yes in the living room.” Stakes were also given to individuals who have been with the tour for over 10 years as well and those in leadership positions.
“What I love about the garden tour is that we can be outside, and we can get together with all our neighbors and see these beautiful gardens. We can go to see people and meet people from other neighborhoods and enjoy our beautiful neighborhood,” Thigpen said to a crowd of people at the celebration. “Tonight, we are here to celebrate our 25th year and pay respect to the vision and hard work that everyone has put in.”
“It’s such a privilege to be able to have 25 years of this,” said Lineberry, one of the founders of the tour. “I’m just thrilled that it’s still going and an idea that has evolved. I’m very proud because I was one of the founding members, so to see that it has evolved into what it is, it’s incredible for me to see that.”
The idea for the tour started in Lineberry’s living room during a beautification committee meeting for the Casa Linda Estates Neighborhood Association.
“At the time, I’m sure we thought we could try doing a garden tour, but we had no idea it would evolve as much as it has, and now, it’s a staple in the city,” Lineberry said.
The first tour in 2001 featured five gardens in Casa Linda and was free to attend. The plants came from neighbors, and the tour made $550 from plant sales and donations. Little Forest Hills would join the next year, followed by Forest Hills.
The tour has grown to feature over 40 artists who participate in the event yearly, including music and food trucks, and over 1,000 people in attendance.
“A lot more people come now. We also have a plant sale that’s huge, and people from all over come to just the plant sale,” Lineberry said. “It’s just more people, more gardens, more donations.”
Lineberry wanted the anniversary to honor the founding members.
“We’re celebrating all the workers, volunteers and all that they have done to help create this,” she said.
Lineberry hopes that the anniversary can help continue to grow the event and get the word out there beyond the three neighborhoods it already operates in.
“They fix up their yards and spend a lot of time and put their creativity into each yard. The neighborhoods improve, and people want to move into this area because of that. I think it has just added so much to all the neighborhoods,” she said.
As for what the next 25 years will bring, Lineberry would like to see more young people get involved in the tour.
“We’ve got a lot of people that are working full time and raising kids full time, and I think it would be great if we had younger generations come in and be able to take a breath and see the creation and the beauty and come with new ideas, to see it continue on,” she said.
The tour for the past three years now has donated some of their proceeds to a local organization to bolster beautification. This year, Thigpen announced the recipient is White Rock Lake Conservancy, and the conservancy will receive a quarter of the funds raised by the tour.
The White Rock East Garden Tour will return to East Dallas for its 25th year May 17 and will feature nine gardens. Tickets are on sale now.
