The All Area Garden Tour is Coming June 9th! You Can Share These Wonderful Gardens

The All Area Garden Tour is Coming June 9th!
You Can Share These Wonderful Gardens…

This year’s Master Gardeners of Greene County Garden Tour will be held in cooperation with the Southwest Missouri Water Garden Association [SWMWGA]. The June 9th 2012 Master Gardener Garden Tour will highlight twelve inspiring garden spots in Springfield and the outlying area. As last year, hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., tickets are $10 per person, and the public is invited to share this special day! Rain or Shine!

Tickets will also be sold by several sponsoring businesses: O’Quinn’s Water Gardens, Wickman’s Gardens, Garden Adventures in Nixa, Steinert’s Nursery, and Maschino’s.

Shirley Luttrull
Springfield, MO 65804

Number 1 Features & Directions: Shirley has been a member of the water garden club since 2002. She put in her first ponds, which were preformed, just before joining. Her small yard gave proof that “”great things come in small packages.”" Her space is divided into “”rooms”" and it is a pleasure to see all her plants, statuary, fountains, gazebos, arbors, and flowerbeds. She has a beautiful waterfall and stream that adds to the space. Directions: From Glenstone & Sunshine, head east on Sunshine. At Oak Grove, turn left [north] to Bennett. Go east on Bennett and turn left [north] on Airwood. The house is the first on your left.

Debbie and Jim Cushing
Springfield, MO 65802

Number 2 Features & Directions: Debbie and Jim have been members of water garden clubs since 1995. Their ponds and yard have changed dramatically through the years. Debbie recently changed two ponds into one and did most of her work herself. Her pond has 10,000 gallons of water and is 15 foot wide and 42 foot long. Directions: Take West Bypass north from Sunshine or south from Chestnut Expressway to Mt. Vernon and turn west. Take the first left onto Suburban and the first right onto Watkins. The home is the 4th house on the right.

Dr. Dave & Helen Simmons
Springfield, MO 65802

Number 3 Features & Directions: Dr. Dave and Helen have been club members since 1998. Each year their ponds and garden are more interesting and unique. Dr. Dave loves experimenting and coming up with new ideas. He has 16 different water features of all kinds and many are hand-crafted by Dr. Dave himself. His original pond was made from a in-ground jacuzzi and has been remodeled to allow his koi more room to swim. Directions: Turn east off West Bypass onto Mt Vernon or west off Scenic onto Mt. Vernon. Hilton turns north off Mt. Vernon and south off West Chestnut Expressway. Parking is on the west side of Hilton only. Westport School construction is going on in the area so drive carefully.

Jerry & Sarah O’Quinn
Springfield, MO 65714

Number 4 Features & Directions: The O’Quinns backyard has a 12,500 gallon Koi pond with 40-50 huge koi. The filter is a bubble bead state-of-the-art system. There is a bronze dragon that spits water into the pond. The backyard consists of many varieties of evergreens, Japanese maples, and other assorted plantings. The meditation garden has two Oriental-style guards at the entrance. There are 2 bronze foo dogs that enhance the gardens. The garden is approximately 6 to 7 years old. Directions: Take Hwy 160 south to Nixa. Go west on Hwy 14 to Truman Blvd. Turn right [north] on Truman. The home is on the left on the corner of Truman and Osage.

Toni McFadden
Willard, MO 65781

Number 5 Features & Directions: Toni’s mother was an avid flower gardener and when Toni moved into the house after she passed away, all the flowers were gone. Toni keeps the grounds mowed and weeded in honor of my father and the flower gardens are in honor of her mother. Toni’s flower gardens and her waterfall, fish, and pond brings her peace and tranquility. Directions; Go north on Hwy 13 to Highway 0. Go left [west] on Hwy 0 for 5 miles. Watch for signs

Dick & Mary Jane Craig
Republic, MO 65738

Number 6 Features & Directions: The Craig’s pond is approximately 6 years old and it started when they bought a $3 water lily at a family reunion and needed a place for it. The pond is approximately 2000 gal, hand-dug and surrounded with 6 tons of rock (hand carried). They have a waterfall and a small stream and have tried to make it look very natural. Each year, the water garden goes thru a transition, always evolving. The Craig’s home and water garden were featured in the 2012 417 Spring Home Edition. Directions: Go West on Hwy 60 to Hwy P. Turn south on Jewel [ the 3rd street] and it is the 3rd house on the right.

Diana Duchscherer
Springfield, MO 65807

Number 7 Features & Directions: Diana has always been a gardener. She grew up next to her grandparents who had a commercial greenhouse here in Springfield and she is now in charge of maintenance and planting here on South Jefferson. The greenhouse enables her to keep her large tropical plants all winter and move them out to the patio areas in the spring. Di’s house was awarded Garden of the Month by the Cherry Street Garden Club of Springfield. Directions: From Campbell, go east on Grand to Jefferson, then right [south] on Jefferson. Di’s house is on the west side of Jefferson just south of Maple Park Cemetery.

Dennis Westcott
Springfield, MO 65809

Number 8 Features & Directions: Dennis has a wonderful working garden—because Dennis is one of the regular vendors at the Greater Springfield Farmers Market. Along with a wide variety of quality vegetables, there are beds of perennials, flowers for cutting, and a new area devoted to mushroom production. If there is any rain, perhaps you’ll see some wine caps or shitakes before they head to the market! Note: This garden is not open to the public until noon on Saturday. Directions: From Hwy. 65, go east on Chestnut Expressway. It becomes E. Farm Road 132. Turn right [south] on S. Farm Road 197. Go approximately .7 miles to house on west.

Janet Wreath
Springfield, MO 65807

Number 9 Features & Directions: Janet is a Master Gardener and a water garden afficianado. Her backyard is highlighted by a large, beautifully constructed pond and waterfall, but it is also filled with lovely trees and perennials. Stroll along the mulched paths through her hostas, ferns, native flowers, and peonies. Garden objects like bird houses and statues are sprinkled everywhere and there is even a fairy garden! Directions: From Glenstone Avenue, go west on Sunshine and then south on Holland. Turn right [west] on Wayland. Janet’s is the first house on the left [south] opposite the church.

Avis Holloway
Springfield, MO 65804

Number 10 Features & Directions: This lovely jewel of a garden can be admired from the very first glance, but it will take a plant lover some time to explore, for it is filled with wonderful specimens. The rose-covered arch on the side leads to paths that meander through beds of flowers and shrubs, under shade trees, out to sun-lovers and groundcovers, and back around to shade. This is the garden of someone who knows, loves, and collects plants! Bring a notebook to jot down future purchases you just can’t live without. Directions: From Battlefield, go north on Lone Pine. Turn right [east] on Covington, the first right turn. Cross over the railroad tracks and bear to the right around the lake. At the stop sign, turn left onto Edgewater. Four houses down, turn left onto Covington.

Tom Lakowske
Springfield, MO 65810

Number 11 Features & Directions: 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.

Lynette Weaver
Highlandville, MO 65669

Number 12 Features & Directions: Go south on Hwy 160 seven miles south of Nixa. Turn west [right] on Two Rivers Rd [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 Rd, 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.

Save the date for this special garden tour and please visit the gardeners who have so generously offered to share their gardens with us. Questions call 417.881.8909.

Grow your own water garden
The appeal of water gardens is primal, says Linda Siler, manager at O’Quinn’s Water Gardens.  An increasing number of people are installing water garden features, she notes. They range from small koi and goldfish ponds to elaborate streams and fountains, examples of which will be featured June 9 during the Southwest Missouri Water Garden Association and Master Gardeners of Greene County All Area Garden Tour.

For more information on growing your own water garden, read this interesting article by Jan Pererson for the News-Leader, published May 27, 2012. Click here> http://www.news-leader.com/article/20120527/BUSINESS04/305270010/1003/RSS03