The public is invited to a free tour of local vegetable and flower gardens on Friday, June 13. This is the fifth annual Gathering of Gardeners tour, sponsored by the Master Gardener program of K-State Research and Extension’s Cottonwood District - Barton County. Participants are asked to leave their pets at home as they visit the four garden locations on the tour during the hours of 5-8 p.m. that day.

Scavenger hunt

A new feature this year is a Garden Secrets Scavenger Hunt. Each home on the tour will have printouts of specific items that are somewhere in the four gardens. To participate: Pick up a printout at the first house you visit and enter your name/phone number on the form. 

Each featured item has a line to list the name or address of the garden where it is located. Fill in the form as you go. 

At your final stop, place your completed form in the designated scavenger hunt box. Every entry that matches all of the photos to the correct gardens will be entered into a drawing to win one of several prizes, courtesy of the Master Gardener Cotton District Barton County.

Garden Locations

Visit one or more of these locations in any order during the tour, from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, June 13:

• Tranquility Garden, 3810 19th St.

Jim and Dana McVay

• A Blend of Gardening Worlds, 2710 Jackson St.

Daryl and Kathy Moore

• Porch Swing Paradise, 2545 Broadway Ave.

Anne Hendee Linenberger

• Turner Blooms, 394 N. Washington Ave.

Alicia Turner

Directions: From Great Bend, go north on Washington Street past Walnut Bowl, and continue 2.7 miles. You will pass Rosewood Services and go through the 4-way stop at NE 30 Road on the way. The property is located on the east side of N. Washington Ave. The Turners’ neighbors welcome tour visitors to park in the circular driveway of their property north of the Turners. Follow the path to the gate between the properties and find your way to the secret garden.