Pittsburgh Symphony tour showcases Shadyside, Squirrel Hill gardens

The inaugural Symphony Splendor Garden and Patio Tour in 2021 only scratched the surface of the beautiful outdoor oases of Shadyside and Squirrel Hill.

Tour organizers decided to return to the neighborhoods this year to showcase nine more.

They already had a waiting list of willing homeowners from the first time around, according to tour chairwoman Cathy Trombetta.

The second annual tour is set for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 26 and features a mix of cottage gardens, walled gardens, patios with swimming pools, landscapes ablaze with color and others blending with surrounding woodlands. One garden even sports a 20-foot-tall totem pole.

The tour is hosted by the Pittsburgh Symphony Association to benefit symphony programs.

“Some of our homes in the city have smaller outdoor spaces, but there are so many beautiful, miraculous things hidden behind those homes,” Trombetta said.

There’s no lack of public interest in them, either.

“Last year, I walked around all day to make sure everything was going smoothly,” Trombetta said. “A gentleman came up to me and said, ‘I walk by this fence every day and wonder what’s behind it. This is the first time I’ve been able to see what’s inside.’ ”

Tour-goers come not only from Pittsburgh, but from surrounding counties and as far as Ohio and West Virginia. The association has a group of “loyal followers” who have attended its annual Symphony Splendor Holiday House Tour, Trombetta noted.

The tour also will include a Symphony Splendor Garden Boutique at the Idea Shops, 229 Spahr St., Shadyside, selling jewelry, sunglasses, purses and other gift items and accessories.

Tour participants will receive brochures with garden locations and information upon check-in at the Mansions on Fifth Hotel, 5105 Fifth Ave., Shadyside. Symphony musicians will be on the scene to entertain guests.

The self-guided tour will be held rain or shine.

Tickets are $50 in advance or $60 on the day of the event. Air-conditioned bus transportation is available to all tour stops for an additional $45. Advance registration and payment are required for the bus; seating is limited.

For details and reservations, visit pittsburghsymphonyassociation.org.