MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
Gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts will have the opportunity to explore some of Reno County's most distinctive landscapes this weekend as the Reno County Extension Master Gardeners host their annual Summer Garden Tour on Saturday.
The self-guided tour will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and feature five gardens throughout Hutchinson, including the Extension Master Gardeners' Demonstration Garden at Hutchinson Community College.
Master Gardener David Mencl said the tour offers visitors a chance to see a variety of gardening styles and gather ideas for their own landscapes.
The Demonstration Garden at Hutchinson Community College serves as the educational centerpiece of the tour. Maintained by Master Gardener volunteers through a partnership with the college, the site features several specialty gardens, including perennial, annual, native plant, ornamental grass, cut flower and redbud gardens.
"We have about seven or eight different gardens," Mencl said. "We have lots of different flowers and plants that we feature on the Hutchinson Community College campus."
In addition to the demonstration garden, visitors will be able to tour four privately owned gardens selected for their unique designs and features. Stops include the Hike Bike Trail Garden, Millie's Wild Wonder, the Rabbit Patch Garden and the Sunflower Gnomes and Talavera Pottery Garden.
Mencl described the Rabbit Patch Garden as a commercial vegetable garden hidden behind a residential property, while Millie's Wild Wonder features winding pathways, perennial flowers and rustic garden art.
The garden tour is organized each year by a committee of Master Gardeners that searches for landscapes offering something different and inspiring for visitors.
"We hope that people will get something from each garden that they can pick up and use in their own gardening," Mencl said.
The event also highlights the educational mission of the Master Gardener program. Mencl explained that Master Gardeners are volunteers with a passion for plants, gardening and community education.
Beyond the annual tour, Master Gardeners provide educational programs throughout the year, maintain the demonstration gardens and offer monthly presentations at the Reno County Farmers Market.
This year's tour headquarters will be located at Hutchinson Community College, where visitors can browse approximately 14 garden-related vendors and enjoy offerings from Metropolitan Coffee and Giuseppeās food trucks.
Advance tickets are available for $10 through Friday at Absolutely Flowers, Bornholdt Plantland, Dillon Nature Center, Stutzman's Greenhouse locations and the Reno County Extension Office.
Tickets purchased the day of the tour will cost $13.
Tickets may also be purchased online through the Reno County Extension website at Reno County Extension.
The tour begins at 9 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m.
For more information about the Master Gardener program or the garden tour, residents can contact the Reno County Extension Office or visit the extension website.