The Gardenfest Tour is 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 25 and will feature five gardens selected by Brown County Master Gardeners.

Tickets are $12 and can be purchased at Hy-Vee Foods and the Brown County Extension Office. It has been the practice to keep the name and location of the gardens a secret until the day of the tour. A complete list of the gardens and their location is printed on each ticket. The ticket also includes a map showing the location of each garden.

Brown County Extension Master Gardener Cynthia Suprenant said the idea behind the garden tours is to show off what is possible in this area.

“We like to have a variety of gardens,” Suprenant said. “We like to select a garden that features something specific that sets them apart.”

A bench swing hangs at the top of a slope, giving visitors a wonderful view of the garden below. Photo by Clay Schuldt

Maybe one garden has an abundance of one type of flower while another has wide variety of species. There is one garden that is open with plenty of sun and the other uses shade and coverings. Some gardens are heavily landscaped with stone barriers and other sare naturally sloped. The only commonality between the gardens on the tour is someone loves them.

“These are people dedicated to gardening,” Suprenant said. “They love their garden and it shows when you walk through them.”

The first garden on the tour is an established perennial garden that features a combination of traditional flowers and wild flowers. This garden features hostas, sedums, geraniums, peonies, sage, asters, lilies, clematis, daisies, lavender, ghost ferns and many other specimens. The garden also features glass art topiaries and repurposed items that serve as decorations or flower pot holders. There is even a patriotic seating area among the flower beds.

The second garden is an example of an overgrown backyard transformed into a relaxing getaway. The garden features an elevated tree house, a reading area, stone walking paths and multiple colorful flower beds; including a dedicated sedum garden celebrating America’s 250 the anniversary. The garden owners commented that they started their garden with no experience, but learned through trial and error.

The third garden on the tour was selected because of the use of space. The garden in located on a relatively narrow lot with a slope, but maintains a variety of flowers and fun features. At the top of the slope, a bench swing hangs allowing visitors to swing out over the hill with a view of the garden below. The swing hangs from a large rock elm tree that is over 70 years old and was relocated from a farm site generations ago.

A garden archway frames a rock elm tree that has provided shade to the property for nearly 70 years. Photo by Clay Schuldt

The flower garden includes roses, bleeding hearts, hostas next to a vegetable garden. Many of the plants and flowers in the garden have been growing for decades. The front of the house features a climbing rose that was originally purchased in 1957 for 49 cents.

The fourth garden on the tour has a “vacation” vibe. The garden’s owner was inspired to create a tropical-themed garden. It features an eclectic mixture of tropical and pollinator plants combined with some colorful annuals. The goal for this garden was to create a place for relaxation.

The fifth and final garden is located outside of New Ulm city limits and features a variety of flowers, vegetables and trees. The garden owner said there are over 100 species of trees in the garden area. There are animals roaming through the garden, including chickens, peacocks and a goat. A garden pond is also home to goldfish and water lilies.

Suprenant said each of the give gardens will have a master gardener on site to answer questions. A master gardner can be identified by their maroon shirts.

Each of the five gardens may be visited in any order, but tickets are required to enter.. Proceeds go towards horticultural education programs for youth and adults in the Brown County area.

This old bicycle has been repurposed as a holder for potted plants. Several other recycled items can be found through the garden. Photo by Clay Schuldt

along the garage of the first top on the Gardenfest tour. Photo by Clay Schuldt