Master Gardeners to host final Idea Garden tour of season Aug. 16

Skip the apps and websites, and come see inspirational garden ideas in person at the popular Kane County Master Gardener Idea Garden in St. Charles. The Master Gardeners will host the final summer open house event from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16.

"The 2016 Idea Garden features unique combinations of flowers, native plants, herbs and vegetables in several creative designs that are easy to replicate at home," said Sarah Fellerer, program coordinator for University of Illinois Extension.

"Among the ideas this year are a vintage victory garden, pollinator plots, plants from around the world in a garden shaped like a map, tomatoes grown from second generation seeds from space, a patriotic garden, a color inspiration space, and a shrub plot."

The Idea Garden houses several varieties of tomatoes, peppers, pumpkins and herbs, as well as new additions of kiwis and elderberry bushes.

The garden was moved to higher ground this year, but still resides at the Horticulture Research Farm on the corner of Peck Road and Route 38 in St. Charles.

Visitors can enter via the Route 38 driveway. All open houses include tag sales.

Do you have questions about your garden, lawn, or trees?

During the growing season, call the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener Help Desk of Kane County at (630) 584-6166, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays.

For more information on University of Illinois Extension programs, visit web.extension.illinois.edu/dkk/.