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Tour Six Amazing Gardens!

Saturday, May 18, 2024
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Rain or Shine

BUY TICKETS NOW!

Marietta and Smyrna

Tickets are $21.00 in advance or $25.00 day of the Tour.
Tickets may be purchased at any of the gardens on the day of the Tour.
Children 17 and under FREE! Tickets are non-refundable.

Wear appropriate footwear.
Not wheelchair accessible. Some gardens have stairs or multiple levels.
No pets please!

Gardens may be visited in any order.

Learn and be inspired!

The Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County want you to learn and be inspired as you visit our six beautiful and unique gardens selected for the 2024 Tour. This year, we will showcase pollinators and how we can provide for and protect them.

Heirlooms for Today
The Root House Garden

Take a walk through history by visiting The William Root House Garden, once owned by Hannah and William Root! Learn about gardening practices circa 1845 when exploring the three gardens on the property – an ornamental garden in front of the house with flowers and shrubs, a kitchen garden near the cookhouse with culinary and medicinal herbs, and a vegetable garden. Ask about the heirloom plants that are true to that time period!

Bee an Urban Sanctuary
The Elser Garden

Downsizing doesn’t have to be the end of your gardening; landscaping in a small area can be easy and fun. The Eslers have curated their cozy outdoors into an urban sanctuary using some of their favorite native plants, giving the space a calming effect perfect for improving your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Being a certified wildlife sanctuary, they share their beautiful space with all of nature’s splendor, including pollinators, birds, and, of course, bees!

The Eclectic DIY
The Thagard-Avgikos Garden

In this fast-paced age in which we live, the Thagard-Avgikos Garden reminds us that good things come to those who wait. Over a quarter century, the homeowners have incorporated touches of folk art into several types of gardens: water and pond, sun, shade, and vegetable. The property is certified as both a wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation as well as a pollinator sanctuary. Learn about mosquito control that works and is safe for pollinators. This is a must-see stop on our tour!

A Pollinator Paradise
The Kicklighter-Hunter Garden

The Kicklighter-Hunter garden offers the best of both gardening worlds. The formal, sculpted front yard belies the natural woodlands in the back. Sun, shade, slope, stream, and HOA rules all converge in this special garden. Charles and Jana have removed and replaced invasive species with native plants including trilliums, arisaemas, native azaleas, rhododendrons, and others. The garden also showcases a special new style of shade garden in addition to collections of plants native to Japan, China, Taiwan, and Korea. Audubon Society and Georgia Native Plant Society certifications make this garden a happy place for the birds and the bees too!

Bringing Nature Home with Natives
The Whitlock Garden

Drawing upon her vast experience as a former rescue facilitator, Diana has created a habitat featuring natives at the Whitlock garden. Certified as a Pollinator Garden with Monarchs Across Georgia, a Wildlife Sanctuary with Georgia Birder, and a Native Plant Habitat with Georgia Native Plant Society, this garden features an outdoor butterfly habitat, a medicinal garden, raised beds for veggies and fruits, and adores native azaleas. Come learn about the fundamentals of growing plants and nurturing pollinators!

Growing Food for Our Community
The Wellness Garden

Sponsored by the Cobb County Farm Bureau, Master Gardeners, Cobb Water & Soil Conservation District, and WellStar Health Systems, this garden focuses on growing fresh produce for those in need in the Cobb County area. During its inaugural year, it has produced over 900 pounds of produce for donation to local food banks. The underlying mission is to grow produce and teach recipients ways of incorporating healthy food into their diets.