After a year of pandemic cancellations, garden tours are back! Here are 10 events beginning this weekend that showcase rain gardens, native plant landscapes, water features and more. All tours are self-guided throughout the tour days.
Johnson County Extension Master Gardener Public Garden Tour • May 21 – 22
Five private gardens are on display at the Johnson County K-State Research and Extension Master Gardener Public Garden Tour from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Friday, May 21 and Saturday, May 22.
Visitors will discover a Faulkner Garden with playful art among the plantings, the Bergmann Garden of shady woodland possibilities, the Padley Garden and its water features, the Reichel Garden showcasing botanical plantings and a Householder Garden featuring a bioswale of native plantings and countryside collection of raised beds of veggies and herbs.
The Householder Garden will also host the MG Garden Boutique of garden gifts, fairy houses, stepping stones and sand-cast leaves for sale.
Tour tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the Johnson County Extension office and at all Johnson County Hen House Market, Family Tree Nursery, Suburban Lawn and Garden or Kansas Grass Pad locations. Tickets will be available at the gardens during tour days. Maps and directions are provided with each ticket. Take a virtual tour or purchase tickets at Johnson County Extension or call 913-715-7000.
Union Hill Garden Tour • May 23
Discover urban gardens in the historic Union Hill Garden Tour and see flowers, trees, shrubs, grasses, fountains and funny gnomes from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 23.
Throughout the tour, there will be live performances from musicians from the Kansas City Symphony, Forrest McCurren and The Daily Special, vocalist Sarah Tannehill Anderson and pianist Kurt Knecht and jazz vocalist Millie Edwards.
Tickets are $10 when purchased online and $15 in person. For more information and tickets, visit the Union Hill Neighborhood Association.
Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners Garden Tour • June 5 – 6
The Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners Garden Tour begins in Lawrence, KS with a tour of 10 themed gardens at the Douglas County Extension Demonstration Gardens, 2110 Harper St.
Visitors will see drought tolerant plants such as milkweeds, shasta daisies, oriental poppies, peonies and liatris in the Xeriscape Garden. A rain garden showcases native plants, sedges and other plants that like wet feet. This site also includes an art sale with gourd bird houses, rain barrels, wind chimes and other garden art crafted by master gardeners.
Beyond the demonstration garden, the tour includes an additional six private gardens and is open from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 5, and 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 6.
The demonstration gardens and related activities are free to the public. A ticket for the remaining six private gardens is $10 and may be purchased at the demonstration gardens or at participating gardens. Tickets may also be purchased at Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners Garden Tour.
A native plant sale will be open for online orders through June 1. Ordering instructions can be found here with curbside pickup June 5 – 6 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2120 Harper St., Lawrence, KS.
Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City Garden Tour • June 11 – 12
Tour seven gardens in Blue Springs, MO at the Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City Garden Tour from 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 11 and Saturday, June 12.
A plant sale will be held at 105 SW 15th St., Blue Springs, MO, where garden tour tickets will be available on tour days. There is no entrance fee for the plant sale.
Preview photos of the gardens and purchase advance tickets online at MG Greater Kansas City. Tickets are $15. Tickets can also be purchased in advance at Suburban Lawn and Garden, Family Tree Nursery, Heartland Nursery, Soil Service Garden Center, Larry’s in Riverside, Farrand Farms and Ben’s Lawn and Garden.
Puddle Jumping Water Garden Tour • 6 Tours • June 26 – September 11
The Water Garden Society of Greater Kansas City is hosting six water garden tours throughout the region over the summer months.
Tickets are $5 per tour or $20 for a season pass of six tours. A free Public Garden Night Party will be held from 6 – 10 p.m. at the end of each tour date.
Tour locations will be available about three weeks prior to each tour. These self-guided tours will be held from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturdays on the following dates:
- Tour 1 –June 26 – Southern Kansas City, southern Jackson County and Cass County in Missouri. Purchase tickets.
- Tour 2 –July 10 – Central Kansas City and northern Jackson County, MO. Purchase tickets.
- Tour 3 –July 24 – Central Johnson County, KS. Purchase tickets beginning May 29.
- Tour 4 – August 7 – Southern Johnson County. Purchase tickets beginning June 12.
- Tour 5 – August 21 – Lawrence, KS. Purchase tickets beginning June 26.
- Tour 6 – September 11 – Northern Kansas City, MO; Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties in Kansas. Purchase tickets beginning July 17.
Season pass tickets can be purchased at Puddle Jumping Water Garden Tour.
Photo: Johnson County Extension