The focus of the Chandor Gardens Foundation is to preserve the heritage of the Gardens and work with the City of Weatherford to further develop the Chandor property, in keeping with Douglas Chandor's artistic vision.
Douglas Chandor was one of the great portrait artists of the 20th Century. Five of his paintings are on display in the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. His portrait of Eleanor Roosevelt is displayed in the White House, and his coronation portrait of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, graces the British Embassy in Washington, DC.
His passion for gardening and his artistry intertwined to be beautifully expressed in the gardens he created and named White Shadows. After the untimely death of Douglas in 1953, his wife, Ina, paid tribute to him by changing the name to Chandor Gardens.
Today, Chandor Gardens is a destination unto itself. It is the location of joyous events, memory-making occasions, and pleasant wanderings.
FEATURED SPECIAL PROJECTS
Steinway & Sons Model M Chippendale Style Walnut Piano for Chandor Gardens
We are excited that we are the proud owners of an exquisite 1979 Steinway & Sons Model M Chippendale style walnut piano, just like Ina Chandor's original piano. The piano arrived at Chandor Gardens on Feb 1, 2024, and now has a permanent home in the Great Room.
Thank you so much to; all those who personally donated to this project as well as the following; Parker County Historical Society for a $5,000 grant, Weatherford College sponsored concert by Dr Song & Mr Sanders, and the two very successfull Secret Gardens of Parker County Tours in 2023 and 2024 put on by the Friends of Chandor Gardens members.
The fundraising goal for this project was $45,000 which included; the 1979 Steinway & Sons Model M Chippendale piano, matching Chippendale piano bench, spider dolly, as well as delivery and set up at Chandor Gardens. By June 5, 2024, we were able to pay off the bank loan thanks to a community of supporters who believed in this project.
For more details about this project: CLICK HERE
SNAPSHOT OF UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES:
Friends of Chandor Gardens Members Activity: Lunch & Learn at Dove Ridge Vineyard & Winery - Wed, October 15, 2025
The next Friends of Chandor Gardens members activity will a private lunch and learn at Dove Ridge Vineyard & Winery located at 6060 Tucker Dr, Weatherford, TX 76085 [off of the Azle Highway, approx.12.5 miles from downtown Weatherford] on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Dove Ridge Vineyard & Winery produces boutique wines from exclusively Texas sourced grapes. They bring unique and complex flavors into their wines, making each bottle a memorable experience. Dove Ridge Winery produces various varieties of wine, including Tempranillo, Marsanne, Petite Sirah, Vermentino and Sangiovese under their own private label.
We will meet at the Tasting Room and have a speaker tell us about the vineyard and the wines followed by lunch.
For more complete details, including menu - CLICK HERE
This will be an excellent opportunity to see and learn about this unique business that is right here in Parker County and to have time to just socialize and enjoy each other's company.
Space is limited, as such this is a MEMBERS ONLY event.
If you want to participate in this activity please RSVP and advice what you wish to order for lunch (menu options can be found by clicking the link above) by Friday, October 10, 2025 with Nancy Wester - (call or text) 972-746-6078
Friends of Chandor Gardens Special Evening Meeting (Kick off to Christmas) - November 20, 2025 @ 6:30 PM
Friends of Chandor Gardens members mark your calendars, and plan to attend the Friends of Chandor Gardens "Kick off to Christmas Season" members event on November 20 @ 6:30 PM in the great room at Chandor Gardens.
This special evening event features guest speakers Duane & Donna Patrick at 7:00 PM sharing their experiences "Farming Christmas Trees & Pink Chicken Wine" as owners of Sunset Hill Tree Farm (Alvarado, TX) and Pollo Rosa Vineyard and Winery (Cleburne, TX). Duane & Donna both have a love of growing things.
Duane has also written and illustrated a childrens (adults like it to) book titled The Leaner, which tells the true tale of an unsuual tree that, despite being unwanted for years, ultimately fulfills a special purpose. Duane will have copies of his book available for purchase.
There will be festive refreshments and snacks, games and prizes.
The Chandor house will be decorated for the Christmas season with over 10 trees and a Christmas village.
Space is limited, as such this is a MEMBERS ONLY event.
Danny Wright "A Glorius Christmas" Live at Chandor Gardens! - Thursday, December 11, 2025
Chandor Gardens Foundation is honored to again host "piano sensation" Danny Wright in concert Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 7:00 P.M in the Great Room of Chandor Gardens, Weatherford, TX. Concert tickets included complimentary pre-concert wine and lite hors d’oeuvres from 6:30 PM to 7:00 PM.
For this very special Christmas concert Danny Wright will be featuring a number of songs from his last Christmas album of his career A Glorious Christmas (2023). This album features holiday standards including Joy to the World/Canon in D, as well as Where are you Christmas from the popular holiday movie Polar Express. The album, A Glorious Christmas, showcases his knack for transforming holiday classics into serene melodies.
The Fort Worth Texas native Danny Wright states “A Glorious Christmas features 12 beautiful arrangements and medleys, as well as a few originals. The tones in the music are unique and artistic. This is probably my favorite holiday album I have ever recorded.” He also states “God’s music is needed in this world, and I pray that this last Christmas album of my very long career touches the hearts and souls of everyone who hears it.”
To round out the evening Danny will select a few songs from his many other Christmas albums; Remembering Christmas (1989), Just Wright For Christmas (1992), Christmas by Candlelight (1998), An Intimate Christmas (2004), Merry Christmas (2012), and Christmas Time is Here (2013).
For more details about the program and performer - CLICK HERE
Tickets: $55 (includes complimentary pre-concert wine/beer and lite hors d’oeuvres)
*** Tickets will go on sale in October ***
Friends of Chandor Gardens Meeting - January 21, 2026 @ 11:00 AM, Chandor Gardens
“A bonsai tree can be understood as a physical sculpture, a stationary image, yet its very being as a living tree is ephemeral like a performance or a dance.” Ricardo Nagaoka
Mark your calendar, and plan to attend the Friends of Chandor Gardens meeting on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM in the Great Room at Chandor Gardens.
Mix and mingle time will you from 11:00 to 11:30, and then our guest speaker Dave Manuel, an avid bonsai enthusiast for the last 35 years and who actively cultivates bonsai trees, will give a presentation on "Bonsai - The Art and Horticultre of Growing Trees in Pots". He is also bringing with him a number of his own bonsai trees as examples of the art form and inspiration.
Dave is a part of a team of Fort Worth Bonsai Society members who are working with the Botanical Reaserch Institute of Texas (BRIT) and the Fort Wroth Botanic Garden to establish a permanent public exhibit of bonsai trees in the Fort Worth Japanese Garden. When the exhibit opens in 2026 it will be one of only 26 such exhibits in the U.S.
"To Shape a Tree is to Shape Oneself"
This is a FREE event and everyone is WELCOME!
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For more information about any of our featured events please call 682-268-0102.
