The Sawtooth Botanical Garden’s 14th Annual Garden Tour

This year’s self-guided tour features seven magnificent private gardens in West Ketchum and Warm Springs neighborhoods. The Tour is one of the Sawtooth Botanical Garden’s biggest fundraisers of the year and welcomes 400 patrons. Join us for inspiration and great ideas on which plants are the best for Wood River Valley gardens. Each stop on the Tour also features an artist and musician and gardeners are on hand to answer questions.

The first stop on the Tour is at the home of Kelle Weston and Parker Bryan. Kelle is a professional seamstress and has passed on her passion for fabric into her garden weaving various shapes and colors throughout the space. They are well known in the neighborhood for their unique Nashiki variegated willows and recently planted drought tolerant perennials at the end of the driveway taking advantage of the hot dry microclimate.

The next garden is at the home of Lynn and Barry Welker. A secret garden in West Ketchum, be prepared to enter a room defined by lush vines of clematis, climbing roses, and the sweet aroma of lavender. Lynn experiments with plants she has seen when traveling in northern Europe incorporating plants like sorrel and caraway from trips to Alsace-Lorraine or evening primrose from a garden spotted in Germany.

The next garden stop is in Northwood at the home of Geoff and Alison Rusack. Located on the Big Wood River with majestic views of Bald Mountain, this garden is an oasis. The aspen grove at the front of the driveway sets the tone for this landscape which pays homage to our natural mountain flora with well manicured accents. Groundcovers and an array of shade loving plants including hosta, columbine, ladies mantle and bleeding hearts are highlighted throughout the landscape.

Around the corner in Northwood is Janet and Roger DeBard’s garden. The various gardens found on this property are all unique however blend together in color and plant repetition to create a sense of harmony. Jan is an artist and her love for art can be found throughout the garden in their incredible collection of garden sculpture.

The fifth garden featured is at the home of Kathleen and James Britt where the plant kingdom reigns supreme in this jaw dropping garden paradise created over the past sixteen years. The backyard terraced perennial garden hosts an ongoing burst of life including blue Himalayan poppies, Oriental peonies, daylilies and roses. The newest garden was designed by Jon Wilkes of Branching Out Nursery and installed in 2008. His consciousness of the spectacular view corridors and Kathleen’s love of unique flora and texture is displayed throughout this new oasis. A picnic lunch with your choice of hamburgers, Adelle’s sausages, hotdogs, chips, cookies and soda will be available for purchase in the Britt garden.

Garden number six is where Lila and Jack Corrock built their home in 1974 on what at the time was an alfalfa field. In 1974 they put in the vegetable garden and began planting flowers, and small trees. Lila planted her garden over the years with her main design guideline of spring blooms, fall color, and to provide excellent bird habitat.

Approximately 8 miles past the Warm Springs ski lifts, and well worth the beautiful drive, is the garden of Lisa Vierling and Michael Stoneback. Lisa and Michael’s home is a magical place charming all who have the pleasure to visit. Growing roses at high altitude is a challenge, but they bloom marvelously in this garden. Hot springs flow on the property and all of the plants are watered with sulfur water. Don’t miss this unique and extraordinary garden.

The last stop on the tour is the Sawtooth Botanical Garden. The 5-acre public garden showcases native and drought tolerant perennials, xeriscaping, wildflowers, community vegetable gardens and the award winning Garden of Infinite Compassion.

Date and Time: July 11, 2009 from 10 am – 2 pm

Tickets are $35 for members of the Garden and $45 for non-members. Tickets may be purchased at the Sawtooth Botanical Garden, located on the corner of Hwy 75 and Gimlet Rd. just south of Ketchum, during local farmers markets or at Chapter One Bookstore in Ketchum. Tickets are also on sale the day of the Tour at each garden location. The Tour may be started from any stop on the Tour. Maps are available in advance and may be downloaded at http://www.sbgarden.org/special.html or picked up at the SBG.

Participants are encouraged to carpool or ride bikes. Water and restroom facilities will be available along the tour. Please call the Garden at 726-9358 for more information or visit www.sbgarden.org.