Get out for the Garden Tour
Niki K. , Agriculture and Horticulture Program Assistant
The 2025 Douglas County Extension Master Gardener Garden Tour is almost here! The Garden Tour event will take place on both Saturday, June 7th from 10 AM until 5PM and Sunday, June 8th from 11AM until 5PM. This year’s offerings include six gorgeous gardens in Douglas County, with five of them within the Lawrence city limits and the last one located in rural Baldwin. You may purchase tickets online or in-person at the Douglas County Extension Office Monday through Friday, 8AM until 5PM, located at 2110 Harper Street in Lawrence. Tickets can also be purchased during the Garden Tour at any of the six gardens on the tour and also at the Douglas County Extension Office.
While at the Extension Office, take some time to then walk through the Demonstration Gardens maintained by the Extension Master Gardeners, boasting 16 themed beds; including a rain garden, expansive shade garden and a xeriscape garden.
The first garden on the tour, Configuring Conifers, offers a wonderful display of conifer trees and shrubs, combined with grasses, perennials, and a bermed pond in the backyard creating a relaxing four-season appeal.
The Cutting Flowers and Fruits Garden focuses on utilizing small spaces to grow a variety of berries, apples, and peaches in this urban orchard. Many homemade raised beds are filled with annuals perfect for cutting, plus the addition of tall native perennials balance out this East Lawrence attraction.
In Old West Lawrence, the Lawns to Landscape Garden highlights a transformed front yard, now full of showy perennials and shrubs bordering a lovely brick walk and shade loving plants thriving under the large trees. In the backyard, take in the pond and Asian-themed areas which add to the four-season enjoyment.
Only a few blocks away, take in the Sculptural Vignettes Garden offering a glimpse into the resident artist’s creative mind, highlighting the unique garden combinations that flow through the front area and backyard. The use of lush ferns, large shrubs, colorful perennials are thoughtfully combined with sculptures to create an overall pleasing aesthetic.
In the Whimsical Chaos Garden, enjoy the stunning and eclectic collaboration of art and nature. The front yard is filled with a variety of perennials, flowering shrubs, grasses, and vines paired with tasteful art pieces. In the backyard, entertainment areas are bordered by thriving vegetables and herbs in raised beds and numerous flowering perennials scattered throughout.
The final garden, Prairie Paradise, lies south of town on a two-acre lot that borders a lake. This garden showcases square, circular and rectangular design styles and offers countless perennials as well as roses, shrubs and trees to enjoy as you meander throughout the paths.
A $15 ticket will cover both days, so get out and visit on Saturday, Sunday or both. Accompanying children, 9 years and younger are free. The event is rain or shine. Hopefully, a perfect weekend to stroll through the gardens, enjoying all the blooms and beauty and perhaps even being inspired to create some news designs and beauty in your own spaces.
This publication is from the 2025 K-State Research and Extension Douglas County Summer Newsletter.