3/13/2006 Houston-- Houston Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, the American decorative arts center of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, celebrates the season with spring open house Tuesday, March 14 through, Saturday, March 18, during which reservations are not required. The week includes two special events, the introduction of the first audio tour for the gardens and a book signing on March 18 by David Warren, founding director emeritus of Bayou Bend Gardens: A Southern Oasis," has just been published by the Houston Museum of Fine Arts, in association with Scala Publishers.
Bayou Bend is the former estate of renowned collector and philanthropist Miss Ima Hogg (1882-1975). The remarkable collection of decorative arts and painting she founded is displayed in more than 20 room settings in the impressive home.
The house is set among 14 acres of formal gardens and lush woodlands. The gardens created by Miss Hogg, features a variety of regional plants including azaleas, camellias, daffodils, paper whites and red buds and other small trees now in bloom, the gardens are a spectacular show of color. The dogwoods and roses are expected to add to the color soon.
Spring open house guests also will have the opportunity to try the newly available 45-minute audio tour of the gardens, produced by Antenna Audio. The tour is narrated by Houston former television anchor Steve Smith and includes comments from officials from the garden.
The tour takes visitors on 21 stops through all of the gardens, including the ravines and woodlands. Listeners will learn about the design and development of the gardens; special features and plantings; organic gardening; the Bayou Bend Gardens Endowment, a permanent trust for the care of the gardens, which provided funding for the audio tour; and the role of the ROGC, which maintains, preserves and enhances the gardens as Miss Hogg intended them through a master plan.
During spring open house, visitors may explore both floors of Bayou Bend, which will be decorated with flower arrangements by ROGC members. Admission to the spring open house is $10 for adults; $8.50 for senior adults and students with ID; $5 for children 17, and free for children 9 and under. Call 713-639-7750 for more information.
