By Laurie Lunsford—
MUNCIE, IN—Karen Ford is enthusiastically waiting for Saturday, July 13th 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There will be 6 beautiful gardens throughout the city that will be open for view at the annual Master Gardener Garden Walk. Karen, along with Master Gardener members, coordinates this community event which is open to everyone.
Diversity abounds. There are small gardens and large open gardens. You can find them in different parts of town, from downtown Muncie to Heekin Park area to a woodsy place on Andrews Road. There are all kinds of plants and flowers and they are arranged together in a variety of ways. And there will be all kinds of visitors.
“We hope that those who visit these gardens will begin thinking what they can do to make their own yard’s beautiful.” says Virgil, Karen’s husband. Master Gardener members will be manning the gardens and visitors can ask questions and also get ideas from them. There is no end to what you can put together creatively in a yard.
Every one of the garden owners has a story.
Karen Ford and Sylvia Finney in the S. Andrews Road Garden. Photo provided
Victoria Linssen’s garden on East Washington Street is just one of 6. She describes the work that went into her yard that she has only worked on for 2 years. According to her it has been nonstop. Her first task was to rid the side yard of poison ivy and weeds. She put on protective gear and dived in, filling 31 trash bags. Her front yard had been totally neglected. “I started over,” she said. “Now it is beautiful.” She is still adding new and interesting plants as she finds them. She loves hollyhocks.
When you go on the Garden Walk, you will also see a plein air artist at each garden recording beauty of his or her choice. Last year was the first time to include art and it was a success.
“Every artist interprets what he or she sees and a beautiful message emerges,” says Laurie Lunsford, another Master Gardener Member who chose 12 talented Muncie artists for the Garden Walk.
Sylvia Finney, who has been a big part of this yearly event has gathered together items and gift certificates donated by merchants that will be part of a drawing for those who attend.
The cost is $7 per person if you pay ahead. It is $10 if you buy the day of. Children are free.
For a pictorial preview and information, along with which artists and their assigned locations, visit the website—Delcomastergardener.org
Credit cards are accepted on the site for tickets.
All addresses and map are included on the ticket.
You can also go to Facebook: @DelcoMGAssociation
