The Bittersweet Garden Club will host its 15th annual tour of Mid-Missouri gardens June 29.
Featured Jefferson City area gardens are in the 2300 block of Green Meadow Drive, 5400 block of Wardsville Road, 1500 block of Rose Valley Drive and the 200 block of Dover Street.
One home features native grasses, trees and shrubbery with stone accents and a view of the Moreau River Valley.
Another location showcases two acres of sustainable gardening with vegetables, fruits and herbs, plus more than 130 varieties of perennial, trees and shrubs.
A shade-loving garden, in contrast, uses shapes, textures and layers of colors with lots of heirlooms and places to relax.
More than 175 rose bushes can be found at a fourth home, accented with garden art and a waterfall.
And a final garden benefits from the owner's pottery, faux paintings on the retaining wall and a unique display of recycled items.
Tickets are available from local garden centers, at Samuel's Tuxedo's and from club members. Tickets also may be ordered online.
Those who request tickets online may pick up their "will call" tickets at the Dover Street garden.
Tickets will be for sale the day of the tour at all of the gardens. Ticket-holders may start at any one of the the five gardens.
Call Marcia at 573-462-6690 for more information about the tour.
Link: www.BittersweetGardenClub.com
Below are descriptions of each of the sites visitors may enjoy on the tour.
Hard rock oasis
Enjoy a serene outdoor space without the maintenance. Local granite boulders, stacked limestone walls, and Gravois rock provide a backdrop for native grasses, trees and shrubbery. The elevated patio offers stunning views of the Moreau River Valley, accompanied by the soothing sounds of a water feature. Come see how beautiful low maintenance can be!
Natural retreat
You won't find a manicured lawn here, but you will find more than two acres of plants and homeowners that try to garden sustainably. Vegetables, fruits, and herbs mix with more than 130 varieties of perennials, trees and shrubs - more than half of which are native plants. You'll find songbirds and butterflies, integrated pest management, raised beds, rain barrels, solar panels, composting systems, lasagna gardens (and other money-saving ideas), living walls and a rain garden. Walk the winding grass paths or sit on the shaded patio and enjoy the view.
A garden of foliage, form and texture
This unique shade-loving garden is a contrast of forms, leaf shapes and textures. Enjoy the layers of color from various tints of green to cool silver, dark purples, blues, yellows, and reds. Natural stones and a large variety of hydrangeas, hostas, lilies and perennials fill the yard. Many plants are self-propagated, including unique varieties of heirlooms. Relax on one of the hammocks, benches, swings, or arbors or just unwind by the fire pit.
Country sanctuary
You'll be greeted by beautiful roses that are only a sampling of the 175 rose bushes to be found throughout the garden. A path takes you past a collection of frogs and glass garden art and a pond with a two-sided waterfall and into a surprise of layers of natural rock that the homeowner has exposed. The garden rooms are a peaceful reminder to "stop and smell the roses."
Grammie's garden
Through the garden gate, you'll find a hidden retreat where shade plants thrive, a waterfall cascades down the hillside, vegetables are integrated with flowers, and where garden fairies keep a mailbox to leave gifts when grandchildren visit. The owner's pottery sprinkled throughout the garden, her faux paintings on the retaining wall, and a variety of recycled items all add a unique quality to the garden not to be found elsewhere.