The WSU Master Gardeners of Grays Harbor and Pacific counties will be welcoming patrons during their 26th annual garden tour and plant sale, on Saturday, July 20, in Pacific County. Seven locations in north Pacific County will be in bloom highlighting this year’s theme, “Pacific Garden Gems.” City, pastoral and bayside locations of gardens from Raymond to Bay Center will be available for touring from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Gardens featured this year include one with serious curb appeal including an arching wisteria, pond, vegetable and berry garden; two gardens designed and nurtured by Pacific County Master Gardeners; the South Bend Community Garden which includes community member garden plots and MG’s Demonstration Garden Beds; a garden designed from the ground up with ease of maintenance and tranquility in mind; an edible and ornamental garden on a stand-alone plot of land owned by an out of state couple; and the Rhodesia Flower Garden in Bay Center. Comfortable shoes are recommended and remember to watch your step through the gardens as you may encounter garden hazards including garden tools, uneven ground, paving stones and/or steps.

In addition to the self-guided tours, the Master Gardeners will host their ever-popular plant sale featuring plants from Master Gardeners’ private gardens. The Plant Sale is open to the general public with or without Garden Tour attendance and will be located at 504 Pacific Avenue in South Bend. The plant sale will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. allowing plenty of time to explore all gardens. Refreshments will be available at the plant sale.

Tickets in the form of a “Passport” booklet are required to visit all gardens. The booklet will include directions to the plant sale and gardens and will be stamped at each garden as you enter. Tickets are $15 and can be found throughout Grays Harbor and north Pacific Counties. In Aberdeen they can be purchased at Marshall’s Garden and Pet and at Westport Winery; Harbor Drug in Hoquiam; Dennis Company in Raymond and Elma; Valu Drug in Montesano; and in Ocean Shores you’ll find tickets available at Galway Bay Gift Shop and at Jip and Gwenners Pet Boutique. You can also purchase tickets at each garden. Signs will be posted along the roads directing you to various tour sites.

Proceeds from the garden tour and plant sale support Master Gardener public education workshops for adults and children, college scholarships for high school seniors, and plant clinics in both Grays Harbor and Pacific counties. Money raised also help to fund the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden beds at Garden by the Sea in Ocean Shores, the Grays Harbor Demonstration Garden at the Elma Fairgrounds, the Community Garden in South Bend, and the Pacific County Demo Garden in Ilwaco.

Learn more about the WSU Master Gardener Program and its scheduled events by visiting www.pnwmg.org.