Helping Gardeners Put Knowledge to Work

Explore Beyond the Garden Gate in Asheville, June 1
Join Buncombe County Master Gardeners for the sixth biennial garden tour and explore six hidden gardens in Asheville.

Saturday, June 1, 2019
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Experience the journey
Every unique garden is a learning experience for both the owners and visitors alike. Problems solved, personal interests shared, the joy of turning a vision into reality. Owners and visitors from past garden tours reflect on what they observed and learned:

“Gardening is both an adventure and a sentimental journey. I love using ‘pass-along’ plants from my friends to add to my garden—and to my memories.”  ­A Garden Owner

“I’ve created a garden that is static and doesn’t change much. But the design uses color, texture, and shape to produce movement and beauty in every season. Even though simple, the garden creates a feeling of both serenity and mystery as it draws visitors along widening and narrowing pathways from one area to another.”   ­A Garden Owner

“My garden is a solace garden.  It is my sanctuary—a place to be alone and a place to share with friends and family. Surrounded by plants, with my hands in the earth, I can celebrate life.”  ­A Garden Owner

“Garden tours are simply one of the best ways to learn and witness best practices in gardening!”  ­A Garden Visitor

Visit this garden

The Ever-Evolving Garden has been tended by the same gardener for nearly 30 years. The garden exhibits a sense of history mixed with openness to change. History derives from the venerable sugar maple tree shading native ferns and hostas. Evolution is evidenced in the new creations of the pollinator garden and the lavender bed. Throughout the property there are many “Perennial Plants of the Year” and benches that invite a moment of rest and reflection

To learn more about the tour, click on the links below:

• About the tour and ticket purchase.
• Brief description of each garden.

Explore Beyond the Garden Gate in Asheville, June 1
Join Buncombe County Master Gardeners for the sixth biennial garden tour and explore six hidden gardens in Asheville.

Saturday, June 1, 2019
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Prepare the site
Every unique garden is a learning experience for both the owners and visitors alike. Problems solved, personal interests shared, the joy of turning a vision into reality. Owners and visitors from past garden tours reflect on what they observed and learned:

“The first important step to ensuring success in creating a new garden is site planning and preparation. One of the gorgeous gardens I visited started as a high maintenance lawn with a significant slope. Now it was low maintenance native plantings and terraced for easier access.”  ­A Garden Visitor

“Demonstrating how to reclaim a property from invasives is what my garden is all about.”  ­A Garden Owner

“To achieve my vision, I first needed a way to control storm water run-off—to slow it down, spread it out, and soak it in. Then I wanted to eliminate the invasives that were taking over my good plants. How liberating it felt to bring such challenges under control!”  ­A Garden Owner

“The garden tour gave me inspiration. I saw how others succeeded in transforming garden spaces from fields of weeds and invasives into lovely planted areas for flowers and veggies.  If they can do it, so can I!”  ­A Garden Visitor

Visit these gardens
The Shady Slope Garden tackled and resolved its first challenge—controlling water flow coming from over 4 acres of uphill property. The transformation into a recirculating waterfall created the perfect backdrop for the garden. After clearing the property of invasives, the slope became home to a myriad of shade loving perennials underneath an existing canopy of trees—a place of calm. Meander along the woodland pathways, crafted from rocks unearthed during planting, and enjoy the beauty of over 300 hellebores, a collection of 60+ named hostas, and a variety of groundcovers. Don’t miss the raised seed beds where many of the plants originated, and the composting system that helps it all grow. 

The Learning Garden, created in 2016 by Extension Master Gardener^SM volunteers, demonstrates and teaches the public about research-based gardening practices relevant to Buncombe County—practices they can use at home. The gardens showcase how to attract beneficial insects and pollinators, create all-season plantings in different environments, grow vegetables and herbs, and use raised and vertical planting beds. There is also a compost demonstration site. Programs for teaching the public are scheduled during the summer months. The gardens are tended by Master Gardener volunteers who are excited to share their knowledge. 

To learn more about the tour, click on the links below:

• About the tour and ticket purchase.
• Brief description of each garden.