The Most Valuable Book in the World

What is the most valuable book in the world?

It may surprise you, but it happens to be the one that have recently read! It is the last book that spoke to you, that softened your heart or inspired you to do something.

No, it is not the rarest or oldest book. It is not the one that fetched the highest price at auction. It is the one that has currency with your inner most desires. The one that causes your thoughts to turn the pages of your life. The one that feeds you, sustains you, invigorates you and places you gently in the arms of restful exhaustion.

So keep reading my friends and being read to. Keep the most valuable book open and may it fall gently from your fingers and flow the tenderness of your emotions into your dreams. Dreams that become the dawn of your new day, filling your heart and mind with hope for tomorrow and love for the new discoveries you have found between the covers of a new book.

Tomorrow is written by the books we read today.

On FRIDAY April 12, 2012, we will meet at school to depart at 9:00 a.m. to arrive at 10:00 a.m. at the CHANDOR GARDENS, at 711 West Lee Ave. Weatherford – Telephone 817-613-1700.

Our Docent– guided tour starts at 10:00 a.m. We will spend approximately 1½ hours on our tour. Following the tour, we will travel to the Whistle Hill Café to enjoy lunch. Following lunch, we return to school. Pick-up is at School at 3:00 p.m.

Chandor Gardens is a unique world-class paradise featuring an enchanting array of creativity, color and beauty. The gardens were lovingly designed and created by renowned English portrait artist Douglas Chandor over 70 years ago yet remain a spectacular marvel.

When Douglas Chandor married Weatherford native Ina Kuteman in 1935, she convinced him to build their home and garden in the heart of her hometown. Although his claim to fame was his talent as an artist, Douglas found his real passion as a gardener. He once told Ina that his talent for painting was merely a means that enabled him to fulfill his dreams of building a “living artwork”. Douglas Chandor’s destiny would be to turn these dreams into a reality.

The gardens, originally called White Shadows, were carved from 4 acres of rock-hard terrain that was once a cow pasture. The project began in 1936 with the aid of picks, shovels, dynamite and mule-drawn plows. Truckloads of topsoil and tons of boulders were brought in to transform the barren cactus-dotted property into a peaceful haven enclosed by hedges and walls. Chandor devised a series of garden rooms, each with individual character and stunning views, all connected by meandering walkways. His creation combines the styles and ambiance of Chinese and English gardens with such delights as fountains, grottos, and even a mountain waterfall.

The Chandors worked tirelessly together in the gardens until Douglas’ death in 1953, at which time Ina renamed them Chandor Gardens as a tribute to her husband. The gardens remained open to the public until shortly before her death in the late 1970s. Because there were no direct heirs, the property remained unattended, overgrown and deteriorating for 20 years. In 1994, local residents Charles and Melody Bradford purchased the estate and took on the enormous task of restoring the gardens and home. In what could only be described as a true labor of love, they painstakingly spent years clearing and cleaning away the debris of decades of neglect. Many large old trees, Douglas’ original wisteria and boxwood plantings, and his magical hardscapes remained. Everything else was replanted by the Bradfords, and thanks to their efforts Chandor Gardens was once again transformed into a lush tranquil delight.

Please observe the POLICIES of the Garden. Uniform pants with a belt,polished shoes & red monogrammed school shirts are required.
PARENTS/GUARDIANS/NEIGHBORS/SIBLINGS/ are always invited to participate on our trips
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FINANCIAL: Admission: children – $2.00  / Adults $3.00

IMPORTANT DATES
April 30 – Scarborough Renaissance Festival
May1 – Tuition Due for 2013-14
May 6 &7 (Mon. & Tues.)  Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” at the Sanders Theater