Tucker Gardens opens to the public Saturday for annual CVAN fundraiser
The annual fundraiser opens the gates to one of Cabarrus County's most unique private gardens, with donations benefiting CVAN and the families it serves.
This story was adapted from a CVAN news release.
One of Cabarrus County’s most unique annual fundraising events returns Saturday as the Tucker family once again opens its private 12-acre garden to the public in support of CVAN (Cabarrus Victims Assistance Network), Cabarrus County’s Battered Women’s Program.
The annual Tucker Garden Tour will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at 621 Hermitage Drive SE in Concord. Admission is by donation, with proceeds supporting CVAN's efforts to provide safety, shelter and support services for battered women and their children.
The gardens, which blend Carolyn Tucker’s Christian faith with a love of fantasy, feature winding woodland paths, waterfalls, koi ponds, fountains, a conservatory, a greenhouse and a variety of themed spaces.
Visitors can explore everything from a Narnia-inspired cottage and a secluded “Secret Place” tucked among shade plants to the Moon Gate, Narnia Door and a stumpery nestled in the lower gardens. The property’s unique mix of natural beauty, spirituality and imagination has made the annual tour a popular destination for nature lovers and photographers alike.
New this year are the Amazing Grace Bells along the Meditation Pathway. Handcrafted from repurposed oxygen tanks, the bells have been cut and tuned so visitors can play the hymn “Amazing Grace.”
The garden tour has become one of CVAN’s signature fundraising events. Since 2017, the annual tour has raised more than $77,500 for the organization, with a record attendance of 1,297 visitors.
Carolyn Tucker said the gardens provide an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of nature while supporting an important community cause.
“My garden displays a small part of the beauty and peace of God’s creation,” Tucker said. “I am pleased that it can also be used to draw attention to CVAN as they show compassion and protection to battered women and their children who are in crisis situations.”
CVAN officials expressed gratitude to the Tucker family for continuing to share the private gardens with the community.
Founded in 1982, CVAN serves as Cabarrus County’s primary resource for battered women and their children. The organization provides a range of services including a 24-hour crisis hotline, emergency shelter, support groups, court advocacy, a teen program, a women’s jail program, a friends and family program and an outreach center.
According to CVAN, the organization provided support to 1,744 women and children during the past year.
Admission to Saturday’s garden tour is by donation at the gate, though contributions may also be made in advance through CVAN’s website.
For more information about CVAN or to make a donation, visit CVAN.org.
If you are a battered woman in need of assistance, or know someone who is battered and needs to talk, call CVAN’s 24-hour hotline at 704-788-2826.