Newton Public Library presents the 28th annual Newton & North Newton Garden Tour, Saturday, June 8, from 9 a.m. to noon, and Sunday, June 9, from 1 to 4 p.m.
Tickets – suggested donation $10 – are available in advance at Newton Public Library, 223 E. 7th, or at the gardens during tour hours.
The 2024 garden tour includes the home gardens of Bev McGee, Nate & Julie Regier, and Betty Lanzrath. It also highlights the Sand Creek Community Gardens, located on the campus of Bethel College.
This year, tour proceeds will support Newton Public Library’s ENLITE outreach program. ENLITE delivers library materials, including large-print books and audiobooks, to Newton and North Newton residents who live in senior communities or are homebound.
Master gardeners will be stationed at each of the garden tour stops, ready to help visitors discover ideas for their own gardens, or simply appreciate the creativity of homeowners who have opened their spaces to the public.
The Gardens
Bev McGee, 3207 Red Fox Lane, Newton
In back of the house, visitors will find tree rows surrounded by variegated and periwinkle vinca, with some ivy. Walkways create serene pathways, as well as easier access between the trees and shrubs. The yard includes garden areas that are bordered with hostas, coral bells, ajuga, dianthus, coneflowers, and much more. Not only are perennials and annuals but also houseplants add to the effect, creating a place that reflects Gardener Bev.
Nate & Julie Regier, 1208 Trinity Ct., Newton
The backyard is Nate and Julie Regier’s oasis, and an extension of their home. It features cozy couches, a coffee sitting area, and lots of green space and landscape beds. The Regiers have enjoyed watching perennial plants return and thrive from year to year, accompanied by colorful annuals that they choose and plant around the yard. The yard includes both shady areas and areas full of sun, allowing various plants to thrive. “We especially love our banana trees!” the couple wrote. “Our vegetable garden also brings us great job, as we love fresh vegetables and herbs that can go straight from the garden to our table in spring and summer.”
Betty Lanzrath, 1116 Columbus Ct., Newton
Limestone terraces and stone walkways are unique features of Betty Lanzrath’s backyard. Years ago, she removed a pool and replaced it with flower beds. The goal was to plant perennials and make the area a haven for pollinators and birds. A pistachio tree on the south side makes a natural shade garden, and a playhouse and swingset are appealing for kids and family.
Sand Creek Community Gardens, Bethel College Campus
(From Main Street, turn onto E. 29th Street and drive straight east, past the tennis courts. 29th Street becomes a dirt road and curves to the right. You’re there!)
The Sand Creek Community Gardens is a commons for the community, a gathering place for learning and mentoring, and a place where food can be produced and shared with others. An intergenerational mix of students, families, and other individuals work side by side. The gardens include 30 plots, each measuring 20×20 feet, which are available to both individuals and families. In addition, common areas are tended by the community of gardeners: perennial and annual flower beds; asparagus; herbs; rose beds; fruit trees and berries; a picnic area around an equipment shed; and mulch and compost.
Sponsors
Newton Public Library thanks the following sponsors who have generously supported the 2023 Newton & North Newton Garden Tour.
Rainbow Sponsors:
Blossom Sponsors: Adrian Law LLC, Concrete Vaults Inc., and Graber Ace Hardware.
Bloom Sponsors: American Family Insurance – Kenneth Hall, Bob & Donna Nattier, Flowers by Ruzen, Jeffrey Graber, Midwest Electric Transformer Services, Petersen Family Funeral Home, Stutzman’s Greenhouse, and Union State Bank.
Bud Sponsors: Furniture Warehouse of Newton and Copies & More.