The Berea Garden Tour returns this Saturday

May 17—Sierra Marling

This Saturday, the Berea Arts Council (BAC) will be hosting a Garden Tour from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in an effort to show off local blooms throughout the city.

According to Linda Murdoch, who serves as BAC's board president, there will be seven gardens exhibited this year, including four that serve as mainstays for the fundraiser.

She said patrons can visit the gardens in any order and can take time to observe a few gardens, or simply walk through each garden.

The gardeners come from many backgrounds and have varying visions for their gardens. Murdoch emphasized that each one is its own experience.

"I tried to do a mix of types of gardens, which include some that are brand new gardens, where people have just gone into an area where there was nothing before, and they have cleared and started planting the garden where things are not really mature — and sometimes, rather rough — compared to gardens that have been in place for 30 years where there's well-established trees, perennials, and a variety of different garden designs. Some are little winding trails that go around through a lot of flowers and bushes to very well-manicured and perfectly spaced gardens," she explained.

Kent Gilbert and Diana Hultgren, newcomers to the tour, invite people to relax under the dreaming tree while visiting their garden, "Brother Sun, Sister Moon."

Their garden description reads: "Welcoming each season with its own gifts and surprises, this garden is a place to rest, to learn, to grow and to let go. Features include the sun and moon gardens; plants for basketry, dyeing, and crafts; berry patch; bee yard, and witch garden. There are several top bar beehives on the grounds, and a friendly therapy dog-in-training in the puppy paddock!"

Glenda Shoopman's garden titled "Gifts from my grandmother" boasts over 90 roses of different varieties. In the description, she explains the majority of the plants in her garden were gifted to her by her grandmothers and passed down through the generations.

Also on display is the Berea Urban Farm (BUF) garden. According to the description, it is a 1.4-acre educational market garden that grows food and assists others in the community in growing food.

Patrons can see unique infrastructure, like high tunnels and a heated greenhouse while learning about how the farm works in its unique street-side setting. In addition, there is a small orchard and bees on the farm.

According to Murdoch, Mary Startzman's garden is typically the most popular attraction, and has been dubbed the "magical secret garden."

The garden has been featured in publications, such as Southern Living, due to its immersive and unique aesthetic, which is described by both Starzman and Murdoch as "like being in another world."

Startzman said her backyard began as an empty lot before being transformed into her unique garden. Through the years, she said she kept working on it.

"It took a while to get into, because I was raising a family and working full-time. When we first moved here, I just did perimeter things like everybody does, you know, like landscaping in front of the house and I don't really know how it got started," she said with a laugh.

Looking around the space that was once a simple backyard area, one can see various blooms, vines, and fixtures, including swings and a treetop patio. Startzman explained that each year, the garden tour gets a different version of her garden due to the different blooming times for various plants, as well as little innovations she makes throughout the year.

This year, she talked about "having to repair and adjust to Mother Nature's work," explaining that some plants did not live through the rough weather the region has experienced. However, there were still many things to see, including the in-ground pond feature that was repaired in February.

"It's just very relaxing and fun to watch, but it's an entirely different experience from what people picture as a garden," she said.

Tickets can be purchased for $15 in advance, or $20 on the day of the tour, and are available to purchase online, in the gallery, or at the Potting Shed. Funds will be used by the BAC for their upcoming children's summer art camp.