Garden Tour Blooms and Grows in Our Own Backyard

Terraced slopes take tour visitors to the next level

Garden Tour Blooms and Grows in Our Own Backyard

David Wright, Roving Reporter

Growing up, backyards bloomed with childhood creativity. The swing set blasted off to Mars. The picnic table hosted royal tea parties. The sandbox was a construction site. Even the sheets drying on the clothesline became the curtains of a theater stage. But eventually, adult responsibilities took precedence, and the space behind the house devolved into little more than a place we mowed once a week.

Then retirement hit and we again found the time to sow our rear world creativity. From planting vibrant serenity gardens to building waterfalls, koi ponds, and even miniature railroads, awakened imaginations blossomed into yards so elaborate and whimsical it would be a crime to keep them hidden behind a fence. Realizing this, each spring, the Lincoln Hills Garden Group opens the gates to “present the opportunity for residents to see the extraordinary yards of Lincoln Hills.”

Some backyards are over the top

The Garden Tour is the club’s “gift to the community.” The brainchild of club member Fran White, the self-guided tour has been showcasing backyard masterpieces for over 15 years.

Tour Committee Chair Robin Juhasz explains, “When you have a garden, you want to share it.” A 20-year resident, Robin did not join the group right away. She was still working when she moved here and “didn’t have time to play until 2013.” Now, she is firmly rooted in the 250-member club.

The tour itself requires a major undertaking. The seed is planted a year in advance as Garden Group members cultivate residents willing to feature their homes. A team of club members meets monthly to plan the event. The team visits each candidate— selecting eight or nine yards “for their beauty, uniqueness, and adaptability to the environment in Lincoln Hills.” They look for a variety of both view and interior lots. “We like to show neighbors what is possible with their own yards,” Robin adds.

It takes a big commitment from homeowners to get prepared— weeding, cleaning, pruning, and coordinating with their gardeners. Club volunteers will help those participants who need assistance, though most of these residents keep their yards in meticulous condition year-round.

On April 18, club docents will sell tour packets in the OC parking lot and will be at each participating home to field questions from budding gardeners. Thanks to the Garden Group, when it comes to reaping ideas for flowery landscapes, there is no need to look any further than our own backyard.

This whimsical garden features a repurposed flower “pot”