PITTSBURG, Kan. —
It hardly seems possible, but the Zone 6 Garden Club held its first communitywide tour of private and public gardens 14 years ago.
The tours have continued every other year ever since, providing an opportunity for gardeners seeking ideas, inspiration or simply lovely views.
In 2008, we were pleased to host one at our place, Woods Edge, and we still cherish our garden paving stone given to us by the organizers.
This year, the tour will be held Saturday, June 14. I am amazed at the diversity that the five chosen properties offer.
Mark Row and Zetta Varns, 812 S. Catalpa St. in Pittsburg, live in a historic part of town in an older home that had very little landscaping when they moved in. They have transformed their outdoor space, adding a pond to attract wildlife from a nearby wooded area, a playhouse for the grandchildren, an outdoor kitchen and cedar pergola, a fountain, shrubs and window boxes.
Dr. Ali and Carol Hammad, 1406 E. Quincy St., have created a private “resort” in their backyard, using a tiered approach on their sloping topography. It includes a blue-green saltwater pool reminiscent of their favorite Caribbean island, a pavilion, blue-green Atlas cedars, rose bushes, Russian sage, crape myrtle and a stone-lined rainwater creek accented with irises and hostas.
Mike and Beth Wishall, 1302 Randall Drive, have enjoyed their home at the end of a quiet road for more than 20 years. It sits at the edge of a large mining strip pit. It’s an inviting place to pull up a chair and watch for great blue herons or Canada geese, or to take a stroll to see interesting yard art assemblages.
Pete and Jo Farabi, 303 S. Crawford St. in nearby Frontenac, have added improvements to their property since moving in 45 years ago. They began by planting shade trees, then shifted focus to the small backyard. A deck and arbor added a welcoming atmosphere for a pool surrounded by planters of perennials, and a walkway and patio were built from brick made by the Pittsburg Nesch and Moore Brick Co. at the turn of the 20th century. The bricks were rescued and repurposed from the streets and sidewalks of Frontenac.
Gary and Sharon Starr, 446 E. Highway 47 near Girard, have in four years changed their yard into a beautiful panorama. They’ve added to their gardens, which intertwine and meander through the property, items they’ve collected during their travels. One of their newest additions is a potting shed. Plantings include shrubs such as hydrangea, roses, azaleas and crape myrtle, as well as an array of perennials of varying heights, colors and textures.
Tickets for the tour are $7 in advance from Zone 6 members, at Paradise Mall, VanBecelaere Greenhouse, Carla’s Country Gardens, In the Garden, or Silver Creek Antique Mall, or they may be purchased for $8 between 7:30 a.m. and noon the day of the tour at Pritchett Pavilion at Second Street and Broadway. Children 12 and under are admitted free.
The tour is self-guided, so visitors may visit the gardens in any order and spend as much or as little time as desired in each. A garden tour booklet with addresses, a map and garden photos with descriptions is included with each ticket purchase.
Proceeds from tour tickets provide funding to support the club’s garden-related community projects, educational programs and city beautification efforts.
Also at Pritchett Pavilion the day of the tour will be Zone 6’s usual gardeners market. A special garden tour luncheon will be put on by Angels Among Us from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Timmons Tea Room inside the historic Hotel Stilwell, Seventh Street and Broadway. Tea sandwiches, garden salad, dessert and beverage will be served for $6.
What a wonderful way to spend a Saturday.
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