"Preserving a Golden Past" is the theme of this year's Druid Hills Tour of Homes and Gardens, slated for April 26-28.
Sponsored by the Emory Woman's Club and the Druid Hills Civic Association, the tour will highlight the architectural styles, interior designs and landscaping of some of the 1920s-era homes in the Druid Hills neighborhood.
Seven of the eight homes on this year's tour were built in the 1920s; the eighth was built in 1993. Homes on the tour include:
*2115 East Lake Road: Built in 1923, the home features a newly remodeled kitchen, wrap-around deck and wisteria arbor.
*2026 North Ponce de Leon Ave: Features of the 1921 home include a large garden room addition with coffered ceiling and a perennial flower garden.
*408 Burlington Road: Built in 1993, the home of State Sen. Mary Margaret Oliver includes an open floor plan and sunny interior.
*1687 East Clifton Road: The home, which underwent a major renovation in 1987, features a porch and family room that have been combined to form a vaulted-ceiling great room looking out on a terraced back yard garden.
*1194 Villa Drive: This 1926 Spanish-style house features a sunken living room with an 18th-century Georgian secretary, a Japanese Suma porcelain lamp and a Chippendale mirror.
*992 Lullwater Road: Built along a hill crest, this 1923 home offers impressive garden vistas, as well as a kitchen renovation incorporating an old brick wall and arched doorway into the den.
*1388 Harvard Road: Extensive renovations have been made over the past two years to this 1929 home, including a new kitchen, breakfast area and screened porch overlooking a private garden.
*1344 Springdale Road: This home includes this year's featured garden, which was begun in 1921. Highlights include a native shade garden, columbines, peonies, lenten roses, unusual climbing hydrangeas, and more than 30 varieties of hostas.
*1338 North Decatur Road: Reflecting the owners' love of the color pink, this 1925 home features extensive collections of porcelain, glass and other mementos.
Tour hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 1-5 p.m. on Sunday. Middle Eastern lunches and snacks may be purchased at St. Elias Church, 2045 Ponce de Leon Ave., from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Van transportation to all homes and the luncheon site is available Friday only, while a free trolley will offer limited-stop transport between parking lots on Ponce de Leon Avenue, St. Elias Church and a few of the featured homes on all tour days. As part of the trolley rides, members of the Olmstead Parks Society will provide a narrative history of Druid Hills during selected tour hours.
Tickets for the complete tour are $15, and single-home tickets are $5. Groups rates are also available. Tickets may be purchased at ticket outlets or at each home during the tour. For tour information, call 727-TOUR.