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For an enjoyable day of wandering through soul-stirring gardens and the opportunity to hear a very entertaining speaker, you will not want to miss the 3rd Annual Trails & Trellises Garden Tour. Presented by the Piney Hills Louisiana Master Gardeners on May 17, 2008, in Minden, Louisiana, from 9 a.m. until 4 p,m,, this year’s tour offers three charming Minden gardens to stroll through and a plant sale. And new this year, visitors will be able to attend two motivating lectures by gardening personality Felder Rushing, who will be speaking at Minden’s First United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Trails & Trellises Chairman Marjorie Thomas suggests you get an early start the morning of the tour as there is so much to see. Visit the gardens as you wish between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. You need not visit in any particular order. Guides will be available at each garden to answer your questions and assist you as necessary.
When you visit the garden of Jim and Lynn Ritchie at 417 Garrison Trail, be sure to walk through Lynn’s wonderful knot garden. And as you stroll the grounds, admire her use of vines to frame doorways and paths to create sheltered entrances. You’ll find the plant sale in the Ritchie’s back yard. Here will be plants propagated and grown by Master Gardeners and offered for sale to you. Proceeds from the plant sale and the tour itself will be used to benefit projects of the Piney Hills Louisiana Master Gardeners.
The garden of Master Gardener Melba Love at 1304 Drake Drive is a woodland delight. Take your time as you wander through the lovely garden and see the magic that Melba has worked. Follow the rushing stream and discover the pond filled with at least 20 goldfish! Then sit and rest a spell and enjoy a bit of Master Gardener hospitality as you enjoy a refreshing drink and tasty cookies.
A two-for-one will be found at Judy and Bill Bryant’s garden located at 711 and 715 Lewisville Road. Located between two houses owned by the Bryants, you will find a serene setting filled with perennials and potted plants overflowing with color and fragrance. Pathways lead you through the garden to a peaceful sitting area on the brick patio or by the water garden filled with lotus and water lilies. This garden shows a true love of gardening that you will not want to miss!
You’ll want to find your way to the First United Methodist Church at 903 Broadway for Felder Rushing’s 11 a.m. lecture “Pass A Long Plants – Durable 21st Century Beauties from Grandmother’s Garden.” Felder is a 10th generation Southern gardener and the author of more than a dozen books including Passalong Plants. He will have books for sale and may be available for autographs. During the break between lectures take advantage of the delicious box lunches that will be offered for sale at $5. At 1:30 p.m. Felder’s topic will be “Grow Anything IN Anything – Unusual Container Gardens for Everyday Gardeners."
Door prizes have been generously donated by area businesses. Sign up for drawings at the church. Drawings will be before and after each of Felder’s lectures. You need not be present to win. Please patronize these contributing businesses which are listed on your ticket.
Purchase your tickets in advance for $10 at the Extension office at 1202 Homer Road in Minden or call 371-1371 or email Glenda at gcollums@agcenter.lsu.edu. A ticket entitles you to entry to the gardens and lectures. On the day of the tour tickets may be purchased for $12 at any of the gardens or at the church.
So put on your sun hat and your comfortable shoes and enjoy a day in Minden on May 17, 2008. The Piney Hills Louisiana Master Gardeners await you with anticipation. As with most gardeners, they love to share gorgeous gardens and their knowledge of plants and gardening. We hope to see you there!!
Available below is a flyer with more information and a map to get you to the gardens and First Methodist Church.