Our Tour of Washington County Gardens, in collaboration with Washington County Horticulture Society, is this Saturday, July 20, 2013. Tour attendees will enjoy eight incredible private gardens.

A Collector’s Garden

This gem has been featured on several specialty tours, and it’s easy to see why. The garden includes 700 daylilies from more than 100 different hybridizers. These are displayed in a garden paradise, with companion plantings of shrub roses, herbaceous peonies, ornamental trees and shrubs, ornamental grasses, and numerous other perennials. A water garden and meandering stream add sparkle. Special garden seating and other stone features add unique accents to the setting. As a special treat, tourgoers can enjoy a performance by Mixed Precipitation, a local performance troupe, of their AGENT FIDELIO: A Picnic Operetta, based on Beethoven’s opera. Singers and musicians from the cast present a preview of exciting arias, quartets and other musical surprises. Performances begin at 10:30 a.m. and noon.

A Moveable Feast—of Hostas!

The gardeners have moved twice around the country in the past six years, and with them have traveled many of the more than 500 hosta varieties in their yard.  You will see a number of hosta varieties that aren’t  common in many gardens. Stop by for a look at the following collections: Hosta of the Year (1996 – 2013), Hosta of Distinction – Mark Zilis (2000 – 2013), and Great Lakes Hosta. Additionally, other shade perennials and woodland flowers are found mixed in among the various hosta beds.

An Artful Lakeside Garden

This one-acre series of gardens is located on the shores of Lily Lake and is situated on a lot heavily shaded by high canopy trees. In addition to the featured 350 varieties of hostas tended by this Master Gardener, there are also numerous other perennials (mostly shade-loving), and the garden is topped-off by various statuary and other garden art with many hanging baskets of annuals throughout to add splashes of color.