Alta Vista Garden Club hosted a spectacular Garden Tour in 2022. The club has hosted garden tours in the Prescott area since 2006. There was no garden tour in 2018 due to the club needing a break. We planned a 2020 Garden Tour and were all but ready to go when covid caused us to have to cancel the tour. Finally, we were ready to present our Garden Tour to the public in 2022.
The tour attracted more than 650 visitors from Prescott, Phoenix, Sedona, Kingman and Flagstaff. The tour was open from 8 AM to 3 PM. Five gardens were featured, all with different themes.
Garden 1 was a gem that was landscaped and planted by a retired football coach with landscaping as his second career. The garden featured a multitude of birdhouses, various sitting areas, beautiful ironwork throughout, as well as a waterfall and pond in the upper levels of the garden. The garden was on a major road, and the owner welcomed passersby to sit and enjoy his creation.
Garden 2 was a rolling green carpet of lawn edged by tiered, rock lined beds of perennials, annuals and a huge birdhouse in the crook of a tree. There were several welcoming areas to sit, along with meditation spots, all immaculately presented. The garden was a peaceful haven for the owner and visitors.
Garden 3 was wildly colorful with masses of beautiful blue, yellow, red and pink blooms punctuating the rocks in front and raised bed gardens in the rear of the home. With a large seating area and entertainment space, the garden was the location of our post garden tour brunch the next day. Up the trail beyond the seating area was a lovely fairy garden.
Garden 4 was a water-wise, native plant haven on the edge of a deep ravine. The owner taught water management and native planting techniques in California before moving to Arizona. The garden was planted with cacti, sage and many varieties of wildflowers in captivating combinations. Situated among beautiful rocks and hardscape, the garden was a delight for both people and bees.
Garden 5 was lushly planted in the cottage style with roses, peonies, hostas and hydrangeas, both in ground and in huge pots, making for beautiful vistas throughout the garden. Also featured were multiple peaceful areas to sit and rest in the shade. An asian-themed meditation garden featuring a unique waterfall of stacked millstones made by the owner’s husband added extra serenity to the garden.
By Robin Borok
Robin is president of Alta Vista Garden Club and was co-chairman of the garden tour.
We are awaiting blogs from other garden clubs describing some of your year’s special activities. Send your blog, 200-500 or longer words, and 1-5 photos with captions and the name of the photographer to azgardenblog@gmail.com. You can read posted blogs at azgardenclubs.com/blog.
Photo 1 Karen Borok
This cute garden shed was featured on Alta Vista’s Garden Tour.
Photo 2 Karen Borok
A shady nook perfect for sitting and enjoying nature was featured on the garden tour.
Photo 3 Karen Borok
This water-wise garden included native plants grown along a ravine.
Photo 4 Karen Borok
An antler added drama to this birdhouse seen on the garden tour.
Photo 5 Karen Borok
A variety of unique birdhouses decorated one of the gardens.
