By Debra Stinton Othitis
Colorado Master Gardener

This year’s highly acclaimed Colorado Springs Garden Tour will be the 15th of its kind. The tour, which started in 2011 and skipped only the COVID-plagued year of 2020, will highlight seven gardens by the Colorado Springs Country Club and nearby neighborhoods that display a wide variety of styles — from English cottage to native pollinator-friendly to creative plantings for steep slopes.

This year’s tour will include the 100^th unique home garden to be featured in one of the annual tours since 2011. Mark your calendars now and plan to attend this popular event where there is something of interest for everyone.

Most gardeners have unique challenges, especially here in Colorado. The seven gardens on this tour demonstrate how the homeowners have overcome their challenges and transformed their gardens — sometimes over a decade or more — to reduce water usage and maintenance, amend soil, create wildlife habitats, add artistic and whimsical elements, hide unsightly concrete walls and create beautiful, tranquil spaces. You will be inspired.

As in the past, Colorado Master Gardeners will be available at each of the gardens to answer questions about plants and gardening practices, while local Plein Air Garden Artists will be painting various aspects of the gardens.

Attendees will want to wear comfortable shoes, a sun hat and sunscreen, and bring water and a camera. Friends of Extension El Paso County Inc. (FOX) will provide visitors with a garden tour guide to record the plants and ideas that they want to remember. Please be aware that private gardens may not be able to accommodate strollers, walkers or wheelchairs due to narrow pathways and steps. Also, no bicycles will be allowed in private gardens. Only working service dogs are permitted.

Every year, the Colorado Springs Garden Tour receives accolades from attendees and garden owners alike. Since its inception, this tour has showcased gardens in neighborhoods such as Divine Redeemer, Patty Jewett, Middle Shooks Run, the West Side, the Old North End, University Park, Village 7, Mountain Shadows, Rockrimmon, Old Farm, Briargate and The Broadmoor area. Individuals can nominate gardens for future tours by submitting photographs and addresses at https://extensionfriends.org/.

Tour tickets are $25 for adults; children ages 13 and younger are free. Tickets are valid for both days of the tour and are available at local garden centers (cash/check only) or at zeffy.com.

Proceeds from the tour benefit FOX, an independent 501 (c)(3) organization, whose mission is to raise money for agriculture, food/nutrition, horticulture, and youth development programs in El Paso County to include, but not limited to El Paso County Extension.  Learn more at https://extensionfriends.org/

Details

2026 Residential Gardens Tour, “A Treasure Trove of Gardens: Unlocking Garden Gems,” 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 27-28