A Permanent Serenity and Recovery Garden Brought to You by The Secret Gardens Tour®

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Beverly Gianna
The Secret Gardens Tour^®
(504) 621-6828
bgianna@cox.net

MEDIA RELEASE
A Permanent Serenity and Recovery Garden
Brought to You by The Secret Gardens Tour^®

NEW ORLEANS, LA-In honor of March as National Brain Injury Awareness Month and coinciding with The Brain Injury Association of Louisiana's annual conference, the 2012 Secret Gardens Tour will take place on Friday, March 23 and Saturday, March 24, beginning at the Milton H. Latter Memorial Library at 5120 St. Charles Avenue and continuing in select gardens along St. Charles Avenue and Dufossat, Baronne, and Soniat Streets.

The Secret Gardens Tour is one of several organizations who have partnered to restore the grounds of the Latter Library. Specifically, The Secret Gardens Tour^® has funded the installation of a Serenity and Recovery garden that will be open to the public as a way to relax, reflect and experience the healing power of nature. The plans for the garden will be revealed at the Tour. Said Marianne Mumford, SGT 2012 Co-Chair, "A feature of the garden art is a whimsical garden layout intended to stimulate all the senses and provide solace for those facing stress or trauma."

Seventeen merchants will have their "secret treasures" for sale at the boutique with souvenirs ranging the popular raffia hats to jewelry and garden art; live music ensembles will be scattered throughout the gardens; and boxed lunches will be for sale from Langensteins'.

A sample of the gardens featured include:

• 1666 Soniat Street: A riot of color from a naturalistic garden spills out along Baronne and Soniat Streets with its mix of yellow cassia trees, lantana bushes and citrus plants.
• 5114 Soniat Street: Shaded by 150-year-old oak trees, lush plants and whispering antique fountains evoke the tranquil past.
• 1421 Soniat Street: Papaya trees line a high brick wall amidst checkered monkey grass and Chinese fringe trees.

Tickets are now available for both the private, guided tours and self-guided tours. Guided tours will take place every 30 minutes from 9 to 11 am on Friday, March 23, and cost $60 per person, which include a short garden presentation and free return admission on Saturday. Self-guided tours will take place on Saturday afternoon and cost $30 per person. Discounted admission is available for advance purchase online or by check for self-guided tours on Saturday and in advance for both tour days for groups of 10 or more. Advanced purchasing closes March 21, 2012 at 5 pm. Full-price tickets will be on sale the day of the Tour.

For more information, please visit http://www.secretgardenstour.org/ or call 504-838-3098.

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