McHenry County hosting garden walk

Those who love to visit botanic gardens or peek over other people's fences can browse through beautiful gardens at the annual McHenry County Master Gardener Gardenwalk from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 12.

This year's Gardenwalk features walking tours through McHenry County's most stunning yards at seven Crystal Lake/Woodstock-area gardens, including the Master Gardeners. The event is presented by McHenry County College and the McHenry County Master Gardeners in conjunction with the University of Illinois Extension.

The tour begins at McHenry County College, 8900 Route 14, Crystal Lake, where visitors will experience the Master Gardeners' Demonstration Garden, which will feature colorful annuals, roses, and sunny and shady perennial gardens.

At the Demonstration Garden, a plant sale will be held throughout the day including a new "Boutique Magnifique" with unusual and cutting edge cultivars, available while supplies last.

Visitors will be given driving instructions to each garden on the tour. Similar to other garden walks, this is a self-guided, day-long tour. However, this is the only area garden walk where each stop features demonstrations by Master Gardeners. Guests are invited to come and go to any garden, anytime, during the tour.

Each of the remaining six home gardens on the tour offers something unique. A hobby farm showcases hundreds of varieties of daylilies, hostas and wildlife gardens; another yard boasts a brimming front garden with a burbling, bridged stream; and another is a multi-acre whimsical garden featuring winding nature paths and a garden railroad. There's also an 1800s farmhouse with an herb garden and a secret garden; an area featuring several acres of plantings, and a garden with unique color combinations.

"We are in Woodstock and Crystal Lake this year showcasing six gardens in addition to the beautifully renovated Master Gardener Demonstration Garden at MCC," said volunteer co-chairperson and Master Gardener Kathryn Gooding. "Our host gardens vary in spirit from whimsical to practical to historic, and we have gardens on all scales - a small city lot, a suburban acre, a working hobby farm, and several multi-acre spreads with different offerings."

"Master gardeners will conduct demonstrations at each site throughout the day to further their mission of educating the residential gardener in addition to providing an enjoyable experience," Gooding added.

Last year nearly 250 people attended Gardenwalk, according to Master Gardener and co-chairperson Marilee Payne.

To prepare people to work with plants, either as a profession or as a hobby, MCC offers high-quality educational opportunities in horticulture through a certificate or Associate in Applied Science degree program. Speciality classes include Floral Design, Greenhouse I and II, Landscape Design, Plant Problem Diagnosis, and Golf Course and Sports Turf Management, among others.

To purchase tickets or for more information, call Molly Walsh at MCC at (815) 455-8697. Tickets are available in advance for $10 through June 30 or $15 thereafter and at the door.

Upon purchase, visitors receive a list of the gardens, type of demonstration conducted at each site, a map and a booklet of tickets required for entry to each garden. Each ticket stub will double as a raffle ticket.

The McHenry County Master Gardeners are a group of more than 100 volunteers sponsored by University of Illinois Extension. Master Gardeners complete rigorous training in horticulture and botany and volunteer 30 to 60 (or more) hours per year. The mission of a Master Gardener is to share unbiased, reliable, research-based information with home landscapers and gardeners, as well as to encourage people to enjoy gardening and vegetable growing. The Master Gardener program started in McHenry County in the late 1970s. Contact the McHenry County Master Gardeners at 1102 McConnell Road, Box 1430, Woodstock, IL 60098; Phone: (815) 338-3737 or visit www.extension.uiuc.edu/mchenry/index.html.