The Bittersweet Garden Club will be hosting its 20th annual garden tour from noon-4 p.m. June 30, rain or shine.
Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the gardens and come in the form of a fan that lists driving directions and information about each garden.
The Garden Tour gives attendees the chance to view five of the best-dressed gardens in the community. While some homeowners have established their gardens over the years, a few gardens are still in the earlier stages of development. One of the main goals the Bittersweet Garden Club incorporates into the tour every year is diversity.
"That way it gives individuals on the tour more of a variety of things that they can get ideas from to take back to their own gardens," Bittersweet Garden Club tour promotions chair Jeannine Brickey said.
At each garden, its owner and members of the Bittersweet Garden Club will be available to give more information and to answer questions.
The five homes featured in the tour are:
- "City Sanctuary," which incorporates raised vegetable garden beds and a perennial-rich landscape to attract birds and butterflies
- "Color all Summer Long," which boasts a fenced-in garden with a pergola-covered patio, strawberry sundae hydrangeas and climbing mandevilla.
- "Urban Oasis," which serves as an example of how to have a low maintenance landscape that works for relaxation and entertainment.
- "A Shady Spot to Enjoy Yard Art," which pairs shaded gardens with unique garden art and sculptures along a walking path.
- "Devastation to Devine," which showcases 13 new and renewed gardens, including a fairy garden, that were built after the owners experienced a house fire.
Accompanying the tour will be a performance by the Sweet Charlottes at the "City Sanctuary" garden, refreshments and snacks by the pool at the "Urban Oasis" garden and a raffle for garden related items.
The highly anticipated event gathers gardeners from all across Central Missouri including groups from Clinton and Hermann who have already bought tickets to the event. The tour has attracted up to 400 guests in past years.
"It can be very informative for people if they're really looking for ideas that they can bring back to their own yards. Some people go just simply because they like to look at pretty flowers. Others will definitely be going with a purpose in mind, and I think we meet all of those needs," Brickey said.
She added the event also serves as the Bittersweet Garden Club's only fundraiser and will help support multiple scholarships for local students who are interested in pursuing environmental studies including horticulture, agriculture, natural resources or related fields.
Tickets are available at local garden centers, Hy-Vee Supermarket, Samuel's Tuxedos & Gifts and Cycle Depot.
More information can be found at bittersweetgardenclub.com or on the Bitter Sweet Garden Club Facebook page.
"It's the garden event of the year," Brickey said.