Enjoy fall colors Sunday at Healing Garden in St. Charles

Healing Gardens, a two-acre expanse of woodland and perennial gardens at Stone Hill Farm in St. Charles, will be open Sunday, Oct. 8.

The gardens are open to the public on set dates for the purpose of enjoying the natural wooded setting and perennial gardens. Admission is $5 per person and $10 per family. Call for discounted group rates. In solidarity and to honor the journey, cancer survivors are free. Donations of time or money for upkeep are welcome.

Healing Gardens is cultivated and hosted by Deborah Marqui, owner of Stone Hill Farm with her husband, Buzz Marqui.

For a small donation to Healing Gardens visitors can pick their own bouquet of flowers to take home.

The opening will continue to offer an optional outdoor Yoga In The Garden class from 1 to 2 p.m. taught by Nancy May. Go to

www.yogafromtheheart.org or call (815) 319-3500 to register.

There will be no Tai Chi and Qi Gong this month.

Marqui, who is cancer-free from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma since 1996 and in remission from breast cancer since 2002, finds great restoration of spirit in her gardens and property and wants to share that with the public for their own rejuvenation. Visiting individuals or small groups are welcome to do as they please. No activity is required or requested. Stone Hill Farm is the home of Buzz and Deb Marqui where they have lived since 1972, raising four children.

Groups are welcome to schedule and reserve special days to visit the gardens. Deborah also leads day retreats, hosts Silent Saturday mornings, and is a commissioned presenter of Centering Prayer.

Healing Gardens is at 37W249 Dean St., St. Charles. For more information call (630) 377-1846 or visit www.healinggardensatstonehillfarm.com.