FOR THE GAZETTE

PORTAGE COUNTY — A popular summer event in Portage County, the Master Gardeners’ annual Garden Parade, will be held Saturday, July 8.

The parade, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., offers an inside look at six private residential properties:

Eric and Debbie Lacey, 316 Dearborn Ave., moved to an unfinished spec house and a blank, rough graded yard in Stevens Point in 2017. They were not interested in mowing lawn and have instead planted trees, numerous perennials, fruits and vegetables. Ferns, trees and seeds from family and friends helped fill in the space. They have raspberries, Marquette grapes and a fenced vegetable garden.

Dan and Gail O’Neil, 11 Hillcrest Dr., used significant sweat equity to remove overgrown shrubs and replace them with compact hedges, slow-growing shrubs and trees that fit the space. Visitors will find hydrangeas, honeysuckle, colorful annuals, Shasta daisies, flowering trees and a grassy oasis. An extensive patio creates an outdoor room with a raised fire pit and cedar fence for privacy.

Peg and Tom Kolbeck, 6014 Old Hwy. 18, live on eight acres of mature hardwoods and have many shade-loving hostas, turtlehead, foxglove and astilbe. Half of their 10 flower beds are raised beds. They also grow a variety of lilies, Joe Pye weed, allium, phlox, gaillardia, hollyhock, peony and poppy. Birds are treated to 18 feeders, and other wildlife – including an occasional bear – roam the property.

Kevin and Barb Brewster, 3209 Leahy Ave., plant more than 140 dahlias each year. In addition, annuals and perennials including rudbeckia cosmos, zinnias and wildflowers provide continuous color from spring to fall. Their garden has blueberries, asparagus, rhubarb, raspberries, apples, flowers and hops. They designed and installed a patio/fire pit area, garden entrance, paved walkways and trellises.

Jim Canales, 1804 April Lane, has sun-loving perennials in his front yard and a shady oasis in the backyard. There, 150 varieties of hostas grow alongside astilbe, ferns and a mix of trees and shrubs. Year-round color, plant variety, texture and height that is bird and pollinator friendly, were the gardening goals of Canales and his late wife Nancy when they purchased their Whiting home in 1987.

Deanna Gertsch-Pozorski and Rick Pozorski, 1917 Lynda Lane, have four seasons of garden interest. In summer, enjoy a variety of hostas, astilbes, daylilies, hydrangeas, phlox and a few native plants. Showy containers of annual flowers provide continuous color. Plants with colored foliage and unusual shapes adorn the yard, as do bird houses, garden art, bird baths, fountains and a cobblestone patio.

Various demonstrations, vendors, gardening information, a showcase of creative containers and garden art and musical entertainment will be available at select garden locations.

Portage County Master Gardeners sponsor the garden parade, and members will be available to answer questions at each garden.

Garden Parade tickets are $10 in advance or $12 on parade days at any of the parade sites. They are available at several locations:

In Stevens Point, advance tickets are for sale at Jung’s Garden Center, 5620 Hwy. 10 East; Stevens Point Area Co-op, 633 Second St.; Master Gardener information table at the Farmers’ Market on the Public Square (Saturdays).

Tickets are also at Village Gardens, 2811 Porter Road, and Jay-Mar, 2130 Jay-Mar Road, both in Plover; and Angel Gardens, Wisconsin Rapids. They are available at any of the gardens on July 8.

For more information, contact Portage County UW-Extension, 715-346-1316.