BUY TICKETS NOW FOR FIRST-EVER MASTER GARDENER GARDEN TOUR JUNE 18, 2011

One of the gardens on the tour - at the home of Tom and Cathy LakowskeMaster Gardeners of Greene County, known for their gardening expertise and knowledge, will welcome the public into their outdoor spaces during a Garden Tour from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 18.

Advance tickets, $10 each to view the ten private area gardens, can be bought at Master Gardener offices in the Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center at 2400 S Scenic Ave, Maschino's at 1715 S Campbell, The Thicket at 1856 E Cinderella Rd, Wickman’s Gardens at 1345 S Fort Ave, or from any Master Gardener. The day of the tour, tickets can be bought at the Botanical Center or at three of the gardens on the route: 428 Timberview Rd. in Highlandville, 262 Blue Jay Way in Nixa and 2044 S. Kings Ave. in Springfield.

“This is the first time Master Gardeners have opened our yards as a fundraiser and we are looking forward to a wonderful event,” said Barbara St. Clair, president of the non-profit organization which sponsors a hotline and tends the Xeriscape Garden on National Avenue and the Demonstration Gardens at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to see how the people who know how to garden, garden,” said George Deatz, president of the Friends of the Garden, a nonprofit that counts more than 100 Master Gardeners among its membership.

“The ten featured gardens range in style from family backyard gardens to extensive country gardens with woodland walks,” said St. Clair. “There are hothouses, decorated sheds, hosta beds, Japanese maples, herbaceous borders, water features, low-water gardens and plants galore.”

All the gardens have one thing in common, she said: “They are all inspiring!”

St. Clair noted that Garden Tour participants are free to plan their own route and itinerary and to stay as long as they like at any of the gardens. The ticket purchase will include a brief description and directions to each garden. The event will be held rain or shine.

View 2011 Master Gardener Garden Tour of Inspiration in a full screen map

For more information call the Master Gardeners Hotline at 417.881.8909. Full descriptions of and directions to each of the ten gardens on the tour (and a photo gallery!) follow...

1. Lynette Weaver
428 Timberview Road
Highlandville 65669

A stunning setting in the country with many levels of garden beds and winding paths. . a greenhouse full of orchids, large water features full of water plants, sun beds, cacti and succulents, arbors and trellises covered with vines, specimen conifers and a raised vegetable garden. Lynette has dotted the gardens with whimsy: steamer trunks planted with flowers, flea market art, iron work and pots galore. This is worth every mile of the trip: there are gems hidden everywhere!

Directions: Go south on Hwy 160 seven miles south of Nixa. Turn west [right] on Two Rivers Road [you’ll see a large blue billboard at the crest of the hill. If you get to Hwy EE you missed the turn, so go back.] On Two Rivers Road, take the first right, which is Country Meadows Road. Continue to second road on the left, Timberview Road. The garden is the 4th house on the left.

2. Jeanie Skibiski
330 Texas Drive
Ozark 65721

This garden has it all. Jeanie was a co-designer of the dry riverbed garden inside the Xeriscape Garden, and she has a much larger collection of drought-tolerant plants at her home, beautifully displayed in several rock beds. The garden also includes vegetables, a vine-covered gazebo, water features, planters and a variety of shrubs and trees, all in a gorgeous country setting.

Directions: Take Hwy 65 south to Ozark and exit at MO-Hwy F. Turn east [left] toward Sparta and travel 1.4 miles. Turn south [right] onto Old US-65 [Selmore Road]. Go 1.7 miles to Texas Drive. Turn right onto Texas Drive 0.1 mile.

3. J. J. Averett / Deb Gilmore and Bruce Porter
262 Blue Jay Way
Nixa 65714

Two gardens at one stop! These gardeners live next door to each other and their wooded yards are joined by a lovely dry creek area planted with hostas, astillbes, hellebores, ferns and other shade treasures. Deb and Bruce’s backyard features a huge waterfall and pool area filled with shade plants tucked in the rocks. J.J.’s yard has more sun that allows for a vegetable garden, perennials, and bramble fruits. Both are meticulously landscaped.

Directions: Take Hwy 65 south to CC Hwy and turn west [right] or take Hwy 160 south to CC Hwy. and turn east [left]. From CC, go north into Briarbrook Estates. This is across from Fremont Hills Estate and the golf course. There is a water treatment plant on CC where you turn. Follow the road in and veer left up the hill. At the top of the hill the road will veer right to the two gardens on the right side of the road.

4. Janeth Reichert
4748 E. Farm Road 186
Rogersville 65742

A perfect country garden filled to the brim by a true plant lover. The house is the old country general store and sets the tone of a cottage garden. There is an area for herbs, a vegetable garden, berries, a wooded area, perennials and shrubs in enormous variety, and a large sunroom/greenhouse filled with tender plants. Rock-edged paths allow you to meander around, but be sure to bring a notebook so you can make “must have” lists!

Directions:

Take US Hwy 60 east toward Cabool. Past Highland Springs golf course approximately half a mile, turn west [right] on Farm Road 193 [the John Deere dealership will be across the highway on your left]. Go one mile to a 4-way stop. Turn south [left] on Hwy 186 for one-fourth mile. The house is on your right: the Old Mentor Store.

5. Ellen Placzek
6242 S. Woodside
Springfield 65721

This lovely shaded garden is surrounded by huge trees, giving the sense of being in a peaceful retreat. There are shade beds filled with hostas, enormous astilbes, bleeding heart, heucheras, ferns and rhododendrons. Conifers and shrubs provide “bones” and there is a sunny sunken courtyard surrounded by roses and lilies.

Directions: Go south on Hwy 65 to the Evans Road exit. Go east [left] on Evans Road as it continues into Millwood Estates [Evans will become E. Millwood]. Turn south [right] onto S. Woodside Circle. The house is the first on the left.

6. Tom and Cathy Lakowske (photo slide show below)
2610 Alta
Springfield 65810

This magazine-ready garden is the idyllic retreat of a serious hosta and Japanese maple collector. The yard is artfully laid out so that there are multiple garden rooms and seating areas and a sense of space far beyond its size. Every inch is planted with hostas, maples, heucheras, Solomon’s Seal, impatiens, and lovely shade plants, and clematis grow up everywhere. Fountains, statues, planters and Tom’s collection of bird feeders mean you’ll need lots of time to see it all.

Directions: travel west on Republic Road past Kansas Expressway. Turn south [left] on Cox Road and go three-quarters mile. Turn west [right] on Alta [if you get to Weaver Road you’ve gone too far]. The house is on the left.

7. Carol and Alex Warner
4473 Farm Road 145
Springfield 65810

These owners built their dream house and are now surrounding it with a lovely garden that flows from the large deck down rock beds to the surrounding woods. There are roses, an herb bed, a vegetable garden, deer-resistant perennials and even delphinium Carol grew from seed. The English potting shed is a highlight!

Directions: Go west on Republic Road from Campbell or east if coming from Kansas Expressway. Turn south on Kansas Avenue, between Leong’s Restaurant and the Southland Christian Church. The road becomes Farm Road 145 at the county line. Go one-fourth mile south of Republic Road to the house on the right, #4473. There is a large white mailbox planted with pansies.

8. Laura Wells
2235 S. Florence
Springfield 65807

This is a garden designed for lots of entertaining, with many seating and eating areas tucked throughout. Laura has made beautiful stained glass pavers and hypertufa planters, and there are birdfeeders and interesting containers everywhere to spark ideas for your own yard. Plants include shade lovers such as ferns and hostas but also peonies, rhododendrons, roses and clematis. The sound of fountains creates a very peaceful backyard retreat.

Directions: Florence is just west of the corner of Seminole and National Avenue, south of St. John’s Hospital. From National, turn west to Florence and then turn south [left] on Florence. The house is on the right.

9. Mackie Byars
2044 S. Kings
Springfield 65807

This house and triple-sized lot are a wildlife sanctuary in the middle of Springfield. There is a large water feature / pond filled with water plants, winding paths through flower beds, a variety of annuals, perennials and shrubs, and even a planted tree. The huge yard is backed by a “wild” area and the many fountains and birdfeeders mean that there are birds everywhere.

Directions: Kings is two blocks west of Sunshine and National Avenue. Go south on Kings for several blocks. 2044 is on the east side of the street with a large driveway.

10. Bill and Carolyn Buron
955 S. Oak Grove
Springfield 65802

This vegetable garden is filled with gardening ideas. Forty years of experience growing fruit and vegetables, combined with the eager reading of gardening magazines of all types, has resulted in an attractive, productive and surprisingly low-maintenance vegetable garden. There are raised beds, hoop houses, cold frames, upright strawberry “tubes”, grapes, blueberries, an owner-built greenhouse and more. The owners’ seed-starting bed involves an air mattress and waterbed heater and that idea alone is worth the visit. Come by and pick the brain of an experienced gardener.

Directions: Oak Grove is east of Sunshine and Glenstone. Go north on Oak Grove from Sunshine [the turn lane is right over the railroad crossing]. The Buron’s house is on the west side of the street about four blocks up from Sunshine.

View 2011 Master Gardener Garden Tour of Inspiration in a full screen map