COLUMBUS — A stroll through local gardens will help support St. Bonaventure Catholic Church.
The annual “Come Walk … In the Garden” will be held 4:30-8 p.m. Tuesday.
Those who purchase a ticket can view the gardens and landscaping at homes of five local residences.
Tickets cost $6 and are available at Tooley’s Drug, Wilke Landscape, Barbara Jeans, Earl May, Hy-Vee and the church rectory, 1565 18th Ave.
Past garden tours have helped pay for renovations to the rectory. This year, the funds raised will go toward purchasing and installing cupboards in the entryway of the church.
Addresses and maps to all the homes are available when the tickets are purchased. People may visit the sites at their own leisure and in any order they choose. All of the homes are located in the northwest part of town.
Because of water hazards, children are not allowed on the tour.
Mike Pilakowski, an organizer of the event, said the houses will feature a variety of landscaping including flowers, gazebos and water features.
The garden tour has been a popular event and is in its sixth year.
“It was our very first fundraiser we ever had, and it was successful,” Pilakowski said. “People enjoy walking through the gardens, seeing the flowers and getting ideas for their own yards.”
Typically, about 300 people attend the event, said Jody Bargen, another organizer.
“We’ve been pretty fortunate every year to find people who are willing to be a part of it,” she said.
Over the past five years, tickets sold have raised enough money to completely renovate the rectory. Bargen said hopes are to get enough funding from this tour to fully pay for the cupboards, and then settle on another project next year.
Along with viewing the landscaping, people also can win a variety of raffle prizes. The prizes include a gift certificate from Wilke’s, a terrarium and a basket of gardening products from Marc Chemicals.
Also available will be purses for sale, glass art and gardening aprons.
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