• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Longboat Key Garden Club Home Tour: 6890 Longboat Drive South – Luke Home

The Longboat Key Garden Club home tour runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 2.


  • By Katie Johns
  • | 8:50 a.m. February 20, 2019
  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
  • Share

6890 Longboat Drive South – Luke Home 

Virginia Luke’s cottage in Longbeach Village was built in 1969 on three lots.

Off the outdoor patio and pool area, complete with lounge chairs and a Tiki bar, the home opens up to a living room with brick walls. To the left of the living room is the dining room, where Luke recently redid the walls with Venetian plaster, which she also did in the bathroom.

If You Go

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 2

Where: Seven Longboat Key homes will be on display:

  • 3354 Bayou Gate
  • 3408 Winding Oaks Drive
  • 3470 Gulf of Mexico Drive
  • 5005 Gulf of Mexico Drive #6
  • 780 Old Compass Road
  • 536 Reclinata Drive
  • 6890 Longboat Drive South

Cost: Tickets are $25 and available at each of the homes on the day of the tour.

After a quick walk through the living room, a hallway to the left leads to the two bedrooms. Behind the living room is the kitchen, where Luke’s late husband converted a built-in oven into a 12-bottle wine rack.

The kitchen leads to a guest suite with a couch and TV in addition to the bed.

Outside, two areas provide seating away from the pool. A bistro-style table and chairs and a set of Adirondack chairs complete “Luke’s holiday beach resort,” which a sign on the garage signifies.

One of the most unusual aspects of the backyard is a dolphin carved into a dead tree. When the tree was chopped, the Lukes used a chainsaw and carved the dolphin into it, giving the yard a one-of-a-kind look.

Virginia Luke’s home has an outdoor pool complete with a tiki bar.
Virginia Luke’s home has an outdoor pool complete with a tiki bar.
Virginia Luke’s home has an outdoor pool complete with a tiki bar.
Virginia Luke’s home has an outdoor pool complete with a tiki bar.
The living room offers various seating options for guests.
The living room offers various seating options for guests.
The kitchen is off the living room and leads to a guest suite.
The kitchen is off the living room and leads to a guest suite.
The dining room walls were recently redone with Venetian plaster.
The dining room walls were recently redone with Venetian plaster.
The bathroom walls, along with the dining room ones, were recently redone with Venetian plaster.
The bathroom walls, along with the dining room ones, were recently redone with Venetian plaster.
A guest bedroom gives off coastal vibes.
A guest bedroom gives off coastal vibes.
A guest bedroom gives off coastal vibes.
A guest bedroom gives off coastal vibes.
The master bedroom is painted a light green color with a calming effect.
The master bedroom is painted a light green color with a calming effect.
The guest suite has its own entrance.
The guest suite has its own entrance.
Luke’s late husband made this wine rack out of an old oven.
Luke’s late husband made this wine rack out of an old oven.
The pool, tiki bar and outdoor seating complete “Luke’s holiday beach resort.”
The pool, tiki bar and outdoor seating complete “Luke’s holiday beach resort.”
The pool, tiki bar and outdoor seating complete “Luke’s holiday beach resort.”
The pool, tiki bar and outdoor seating complete “Luke’s holiday beach resort.”
This dolphin was carved from a dead tree.
This dolphin was carved from a dead tree.
Virginia Luke’s Village cottage was built in 1969.
Virginia Luke’s Village cottage was built in 1969.

 

Latest News

Florida Highway Patrol says it clocked this Ford Mustang GT at 142 mph on Interstate 75 late Friday.
  • June 27, 2026
Sarasota driver charged with hitting 142 mph on Interstate 75
The lunch and dinner buffet at Der Dutchman is available from 11:45 a.m. to close. The breakfast buffet is offered from 7 to 11:15 a.m.
  • June 27, 2026
Sarasota Amish eatery ranks as No. 2 buffet restaurant in US
Savanna at Lakewood Ranch's Camden Bedinghaus, 23, is running for the District 5 seat on the Manatee County school board to be a "voice for his generation."
  • June 26, 2026
Lakewood Ranch 23-year-old wants to represent Gen Z on Manatee school board
1000 Boulevard of the Arts will replace a portion of the former Hyatt Regency hotel and parking structure, which have been demolished.
  • June 25, 2026
A glimpse inside the new planned Hyatt Centric hotel

Sponsored Health Content

Sponsored Content

The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in Neighbors

MJ Price
  • June 26, 2026
Voices of America: How do you reflect your patriotism?
Commodore Saul Landesberg assumed his new leadership role with the Bird Key Yacht Club at the passing of the gavel on June 20 at Art Ovation Hotel.
  • June 25, 2026
Bird Key Yacht Club leadership looks forward to clubhouse completion
Bill Schey is a Marine Corps veteran and a board member for the Folds of Honor Southwest Florida and Chicago chapters (with his wife, Connie Schey).
  • June 25, 2026
Voices of America: What is a patriot today?
Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key Past President Michael Garey said he heard of the Miracle League of Manasota when his daughter, Amelia, volunteered as a buddy to the athletes. Garey suggested the 501(c)(3) as the club's new charitable partner, which board members recently accepted.
  • June 22, 2026
Accessible baseball league benefits from Kiwanis pancake breakfast funds
Palmetto community leaders showed up strong at Longboat Island Chapel's latest charity drive to support Mt. Carmel Resource Center on June 16. From left, Deputy Ken Jewett, Sgt. Joy Jewett, Chief of Police Scott Tyler, City of Palmetto Mayor Daniel West, Shirley Pearson, executive director of Strength in Action, Inc., Rev. Brock Patterson, Pearson's sister Laura Wallace, and Town of Longboat Key Town Manager Howard Tipton.
  • June 20, 2026
From food to furniture, chapel's programs continue to make an impact
Attendees were impressed by the fireworks across Sarasota Bay.
  • June 19, 2026
Fourth of July 2026 events in Sarasota, Longboat Key and Lakewood Ranch

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.


Anytime. Anywhere. Observer.

From in-depth local reporting to real-time breaking news, stay connected to the stories shaping our community with the Your Observer app.

Download Now for Free