SUBMITTED ARTICLE

More than 400 people turned out on a perfect spring day on June 10 to explore eight private gardens open for the Garden Club of Danville’s fourth garden tour since 2013.

The sun was shining, birds were singing and gardens were fresh and green after a recent rain. It was a day to celebrate imagination, expertise and plain old hard work. Everyone was in a cheerful, gardening frame of mind, soaking up inspiration and new ideas.

Dedicated gardeners, homeowners seeking fresh visions, or people just enjoying beauty and tranquility spent the day wandering through gardens of all styles and sizes. There were grand fountains and statues to admire and several small ponds, even a stream or two at other sites.

In smaller gardens visitors found birdbaths, pretty pebbles, and dainty flowers, or towering trees and twisting paths though shaded glades. Fans of native plants and pollinator gardens saw plenty of examples in all the gardens. So much variety of garden size, style, and decoration provided ideas galore. Everyone found a favorite place.

A pair of artists from Plain Air Artists of Central Kentucky were at work in each garden creating artwork on site and chatting with visitors.

The owners who created these gardens were on hand to answer questions, identify plants and explain their methods or future plans. Gardens are never static. Neither are gardeners, which was obvious by looking at the results of years of planning and work.

Proceeds from ticket sales provide funds for the Garden Club to support community gardens, tree planting, environmental protection, education, and promotion of native plants and wildlife. Members of the club volunteer year ‘round for these projects all over Danville and Boyle County.