The Summer Solstice Celebration on June 21 was a magical evening. Themes were plentiful at the parties in private gardens to benefit the JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh -- art in the garden, ice cream socials, wine tastings, cooking lessons by prominent chefs, guests dressed as favorite plants.

Those faced with a decision about whether to host or to attend parties decided to extend the solstice celebration to include brunches or afternoon garden parties. The JCRA volunteer organizers were happy to accommodate all requests, and will probably encourage such creativity when the solstice rolls around next year.

Although there weren't as many parties as hoped for, the goal to raise $25,000 was topped by donations of more than $36,000.

Save these dates

Last September some readers were confused about the National Garden Conservancy Open Days tour. Even though I previewed each of the gardens in a series of columns leading up to the two-day event, a few readers missed the connection that those columns had with the Open Days Tour. I was chastised for "not mentioning the tour sooner" by a reader who noticed the column "after it was too late to attend."

Adding to the confusion, a garden not involved with the tour was featured on the front page of the H&G section the weekend of the tour, and prompted several eager tourists to show up at the garden gate of a wonderful gardener who was, I'm told, very flattered, but not expecting visitors.

So, this year, here's the scoop in one fell swoop.

The Open Days Tour in Wake County is Sept. 20 and 21. Begin the tour at the JCRA for directions and/or discounted tickets ($25 per coupon book).

Here are capsules on the gardens, five in Raleigh and one in Cary:

• The garden and home of earth-friendly architects Frank and Judy Harmon provide a unique blend of indoor-outdoor living.
• Karen and Ted Harris share a serene 2-acre retreat with a natural stream, ponds, waterfall and wildlife.
• A Georgian manor surrounded by flowering trees holds unique treasures as you explore the "rooms" in the 3-acre Shuping garden.
• In JCRA director Dennis Werner's garden, enjoy a 2,800-square-foot perennial border and colorful annuals surrounding an in-ground pool and gazebo.
• The Titus garden sounds intriguing with its vine-covered pergola, which includes a crystal chandelier.
• And, in Cary, Jere Stevens will show you why Better Homes & Gardens magazine picked her garden for an upcoming feature.

Six gardens and only two days to visit. Don't let this opportunity slip away.

If you happen to find yourself in Charlotte the following weekend (Sept. 27-28) six Mecklenburg gardens are on the Garden Conservancy Open Days Tour, including the famed Elizabeth Lawrence Garden.

For more information about the Open Days Tour in the Wake County or Charlotte areas, go to www.gardenconservancy.org.

About locally grown food

Last year I attended a lecture by Slow Food founder Carlo Petrini at NCSU's McKimmon Center. During Petrini's presentation -- in his native Italian, deftly interpreted by a colleague -- I learned the importance of supporting locally grown foods.

On Sept. 16, the Center for Environmental Farming Systems hosts Judy Wicks, another renowned guest in its Fall Sustainable Agriculture Lecture series, "Local Living Economies: Green, Fair & Fun."

Wicks, a national leader in the sustainable business movement and owner and founder of Philadelphia's famed White Dog Cafe, supports Petrini's global development of local food systems by working to build a local food system and living economy in the Philadelphia region. Don't miss this unique conversation at 7 p.m. Sept. 16 at the N.C. Museum of Natural History, 5 Edenton St., Raleigh. Free and open to the public. For info on reserved lecture seating visit www.cefs.ncsu.edu or call 513-3924.

I must share this news

Based on the many questions I get, repelling deer is a big issue for many gardeners. I Must Garden, a Chapel Hill company, makes earth-friendly and pleasantly scented critter repellents -- think cloves and mint rather than stinky odors. I haven't tested it because I don't have a deer problem. However, my trusted local garden center sources say that repeat customers and word-of-mouth sells I Must Garden products for them.

Inventor and owner Marilyn Cox said that business has grown quickly since she began marketing her products four years ago. "Many local garden centers in the Triangle carry our line, and we've expanded to seven other states."

Cox also makes products to repel rabbits, moles or voles, dogs or cats, squirrels and insects. As a bonus, the deer repellent contains horticultural oils that also repel chewing insects and keeps the product from washing away when it rains. Visit www.imustgarden.com to learn more.

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