With the temperatures heating up into the 90-degree mark, the idea of seeing six beautifully decorated gardens was enough to draw a crowd for the Grayson County Master Gardener’s Garden Tour, Luncheon, & Tea on Saturday, June 19.

The tour began at 1 p.m. at the Jack Thomas House with refreshments and a list of six homes throughout the county that were available to tour.

The first home belonged to Joyce Bell and was located in Clarkson. Her home is surrounded by perennial gardens that included shade plants, flowers and shrubs with a beautiful sitting area beneath a huge oak tree.

The second home on the tour was located on Mulberry Street in Leitchfield and belonged to Margaret Higdon. These gardens displayed a variety of plants and shrub that dated back 100 years. There were many flowers that can be used for cutting and drying as well as a vegetable garden in the back yard.

The third garden on the tour included a multitude of flowering annuals and perennials. The homeowners Charlie and Kay Stanton Bland were on hand for questions. This home was located in Leitchfield on W. Walnut Street.

The fourth home was located on Oakmont Blvd in Leitchfield and featured gardens that included a driveway lined with Knockout Roses and Butterfly Bushes, a brick-enclosed courtyard area in front and terraced landscaping in back. The homeowners were Darwin and Jean Larson.

The fifth garden on the tour belonged to Randy and Alfreda Weedman on Blue Chip Road. The garden included a variety of day lilies, flowering shrubs, shade beds with rock walkways through the gardens and into the woods.

The final garden was owned by Mike and Pat Boone and was located in the Falls of Rough area. This garden was in a woodland setting with many native plants through the woods and onto Rough River. The Boones used texture to create interest in their shade gardens.

A few of the homes were owned by Master Gardeners and the rest were recommended and chosen for their uniqueness, reported Master Gardener Susan Martin.

“The six homes that were highlighted on the tour were chosen for their unique landscaping and gardening ideas, “ said Martin. “We were very pleased with the turnout and how well everything went. Especially considering how hot it was outside that day.”

The Grayson County Extension Office will be offering Master Gardner classes beginning on September 7. The classes will

Master Gardeners are members of the community who take an active interest in their lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers and gardens. They are enthusiastic, willing to learn and to help others, and able to communicate with diverse groups of people.

What really sets Master Gardeners apart from other home gardeners is their special training in horticulture. Master Gardeners contribute time as volunteers, working through the Extension office to provide horticulture-related information to the community.

The Grayson County Extension Office will be offering Master Gardner classes beginning on September 7.

The program offers 13 weeks of instruction that covers topics including lawn care; ornamental trees and shrubs; insects, disease, and weed management; soils and plant nutrition; vegetable gardening; home fruit protection; garden flowers; and water conservation.

“All that is required is a basic interest in horticulture and volunteerism to teach others what you have learned through programs like our tour and educational events for the community,” said Martin. “The classes are taught by professors at University of Kentucky and the classes will be offered on Monday nights for 13 weeks.”

The Grayson County Master Gardeners currently have 24 members that have taken the classes offered by the University of Kentucky Extension Office and performed 40 hours of hands on training.