The second week of the Garden Club of Bermuda's Open Houses and Gardens series moves to Hamilton Parish tomorrow, with three homes on Long Lane in Tucker's Town on show. Each property offers beautiful land and seascapes.

'Humdinger', is owned by Shirley and Karl Wildi. Seeing this comfortable home today, it is hard to imagine the original, modest late 19th century cottage hidden amongst the cedar trees, palmetto and sage, and all overgrown with jasmine. Like so many properties, 'Humdinger' has undergone changes over the years. Renovations, completed in 2003, joined the original cottage to the separate nanny's cottage, built in the 1950s, and a terrace and swimming pool were added. The spacious, high-ceilinged rooms contain handsome oak furniture, hand-carved in Toronto in the late 1920s.

The home is decorated in rich terracotta colours, and enhanced by bright kilims woven by nomadic tribal women and collected in Morocco by the current residents. Their art collection includes paintings by Bermuda's first modernist painter, Alfred Birdsey, and family friend Hilton Hassell. The pool and its surrounding patio provide a sheltered corner to relax and enjoy a good book.

'Roughill', owned by Rebecca and Mark Byrne, is a two and one half-acre property overlooking the second and 14th fairways of the Mid-Ocean Club, and the Atlantic to the south. Built in 1957, with additions in 1964 and renovations in 2000, the house affirms both tradition and 21st century technology. The reception rooms, with lofty tray ceilings, are rich in Bermuda cedar, including a panelled wall of the living room. An exquisite antique rock crystal chandelier illuminates the dining room, while a companion pair in the living room originally lit the Royal Box for Princess Diana at London's Royal Opera House. Curtains, lights, music, room temperature and more are computer controlled. Its pub, with stained glass windows made in Chartres, France, sports a bar which was once part of the original at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. Fresh vegetables and citrus are grown in the garden, and a swimming pool, bubble-covered in winter, is another highlight.

'Hillside', owned by Ann Smith, is situated on the crest of a hill looking over the Mid-Ocean Club's 12th green. Its garden, which sweeps down to the roadside next to the 12th hole, delights passersby on the South Road. Its terraces, created by the owner in the last eight years, provide a riot of colour amongst the green fairways. In fact, these eye-catching displays, regularly updated, caught the eye of the Garden Club of Bermuda's judges, and received its Gold Certificate, honouring owners who establish beautiful gardens. This beauty was not easy to achieve, for the land first had to be cleared, followed by the building of a 280-foot, low, dry stone retaining wall.

The original cottage, designed by Onions and Bouchard in the 1950s, has since been updated with a swimming pool, covered terrace and the addition of glass doors. The interior colours of the house reflect the owner's preference for the pale, soft colours of flowers, and the light rooms contain collections of fine porcelain, including rare, antique plates from Russia; paintings and antique furniture.

Hostesses and flower arrangements at each residence are by the Hibiscus Garden Club.

Parking for all three open houses and gardens will be at the Smith's Parish Community Field, located at the corner of Sommersall Road and Harrington Sound Road. As this is some distance from Long Lane, attendees will be shuttled to Long Lane by Garden Club volunteers. Please note: there will be no entry to Long Lane for any vehicle other than the shuttles. Alternatively, the No. 1 bus from Hamilton or St. George's stops right at Long Lane.

The event will proceed rain, blow or shine, and admission to all three attractions is $30 per person. Monies raised are part of the Garden Club's annual fund-raiser for horticultural scholarships and environmental projects — a programme which has been running for over 50 years.

* For further information on the properties, as well as details of the full schedule of Open Houses and Gardens tours for the season, visit website www.gardenclubbermuda.org and click on 'Events'.