Five private residential gardens and two public gardens will be showcased on the 2017 Denton County Master Gardener Association spring garden tour from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 13. “Passport to Nature” is the theme of this year’s tour.
“Journey through the City Cottage Garden” at 3005 Terry Court in Denton, which has evolved in response to Mother Nature. Since this garden’s debut on the 2011 garden tour, it has grown and filled out. Vines have thrived, and hardscaping has minimized the turf areas to reduce watering requirements. The flower beds feature Earth-kind plants, plus many varieties of perennials, heirloom plants, bulbs, ground cover and colorful annuals to create a cottage garden atmosphere. It also has a water feature that can be easily reproduced in most any yard or on a patio.
“Treasures on Leisure Lane” at 3852 Leisure Ln. in Denton is four acres of Certified Wildlife Habitat. Visitors are greeted by shade gardens and splashes of color as they study a variety of native, pollinator and vegetable plants. Take a stroll among the tall trees, and then visit garden-related vendor booths, a refreshment stand and stations with supervised educational children’s activities.
“Pollinator’s Paradise II” at 2005 Burning Tree Ln. in Denton is an explosion of beloved plants and colorful flower, all tried and true Texas survivors. There is minimal lawn because the owner had gradually replaced turf with raised beds. Enjoy old-time favorites, including daylilies, sedum, daisy, lambs ear, coneflower, chrysanthemum, rosemary, yarrow, salvia, Mexican milkweed, lemon thyme, parsley, oregano, nandina and seasonal annuals. Native plants flower in succession from February into December, creating a paradise for the bees, butterflies, moths, ladybugs and lizards.
“Texas Tropical Resort” at 1520 Hunters Ridge Circle in Denton was created using interior design principles: size, shape, texture and movement. The lush landscaping includes lemon, lime, orange and avocado trees, kitchen herb gardens and various types of palm trees, all grown in large containers. The containers make gardening convenient for anyone with physical constraints.
“Lazy Gardener’s Oasis” at 1306 Ballycastle Ln. in Corinth is a compact garden with a meandering path. Soak up the beauty of native and adaptive flowering plants that provide color from early spring to late fall. The garden features minimal grass and little or no supplemental water for easy care. This gem is an oasis for human visitors and provides abundant shelter and food for its animal visitors. The tour’s two public gardens are the Courthouse on the Square, 110 West Hickory Street in Denton and the nearby Denton County Historical Park at 317 West Mulberry Street in Denton.
Tour tickets are $10 each and available from Master Gardeners, at the Denton County Extension office at 401 W. Hickory St. in Denton, at the Redbud Festival in Denton on April 22, at the DCMGA Plant Sale on April 29, at Denton County Calloway’s locations or online from the Denton County Master Gardener website at www.dcmga.com. Tickets also may be purchased at any of the homes on tour day. Admission to a single garden is $5 at the gate. There is no charge for children aged 12 and under. Admission to both public gardens is free. Master Gardeners will be at each location to answer questions. This garden tour is the Association’s major fund-raising event for the year. Money raised is used to fund educational horticultural programs for Denton County residents.