Master Gardeners of Greene County & SWMOWGA 2012 Private Gardens Tour This Saturday, June 9th

Master Gardeners of Greene County & Southwest Missouri Water Garden Association 
are proud to present the 2012 Private Gardens Tour

Saturday, June 09, 2012, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. [rain or shine]
$10 per person in advance. Springfield, MO and Surrounding Areas.

Tickets available at the following locations:
1) Maschino’s, Springfield
2) Garden Adventures, Nixa
3) O’Quinn’s Water Gardens, Springfield
4) Steinert’s Nursery, Springfield
5) Wickman’s Gardens, Springfield

A Garden Tour for For Plant Enthusiasts! Bring your camera and bring your friends!
Featuring thirteen private gardens in Springfield and the surrounding area, including shade gardens, dry-plant gardens,water gardens, greenhouses, vegetable beds, garden art and more.

“This is the second time Master Gardeners will open 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 Master Gardener Demonstration Gardens at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park.

“The thirteen featured gardens range in style from family backyard gardens to hosta beds, Japanese maples, herbaceous borders, water features, low-water gardens and plants galore.” All the gardens have one thing in common, St. Clair 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.

Tour featuring these thirteen locations:
Tickets will be available at each garden stop. 

Shirley Luttrull
Springfield, MO 65804

Features: 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.

Debbie and Jim Cushing
Springfield, MO 65802

Features: 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.

Dr. Dave & Helen Simmons
Springfield, MO 65802

Features: 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.

Jerry & Sarah O’Quinn
Springfield, MO 65714

Features: 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.

Toni McFadden
Willard, MO 65781

Features: 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.

Dick & Mary Jane Craig
Republic, MO 65738

Features: 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.

Diana Duchscherer
Springfield, MO 65807

Features: 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.

Dennis Westcott
Springfield, MO 65809

Features: 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.

Janet Wreath
Springfield, MO 65807

Features: 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!

Avis Holloway
Springfield, MO 65804

Features: 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.

Tom Lakowske
Springfield, MO 65810

Features: 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.

Lynette Weaver
Highlandville, MO 65669

Features: A stunning setting in the country with many levels of garden beds and winding paths. There is 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!

Brent Palmer
Springfield, MO 65804

Features: You would never guess that hidden in the heart of Springfield is a wooded five-acre secret garden, just waiting to be explored. There are giant trees, shrubs, flower beds, vegetables, statues and potted plants. There are “civilized” garden beds and wild areas that really look like The Secret Garden children’s book. Walk around and forget that National Avenue is just a block away.

Please help share the word about the upcoming 2012 Private Gardens Tour. Questions, please call the Master Gardener Hotline located inside the Botanical Center 417.881.8909.

Master Gardeners of Greene County is composed of residents of Greene County and adjacent counties. It is part of the state-wide volunteer training program conducted by the University of Missouri Extension. The Master Gardener program is designed to help county extension centers and communities meet the demands for consumer horticultural information.

Master Gardeners of Greene County
2400 S Scenic Ave, Springfield, MO 65807
417-881-8909 | MG Hotline ext 320Website: www.mggreene.org
Educational Programs & Events List: www.swmogardens.com/fogcalendar
Questions about our chapter? email mg.greenecounty@gmail.com