STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
One garden sits on a historic property that dates back to the 1800s when it included all of what is now the Weyyakin and Lane Ranch. Its original homestead cabin, milkhouse, bunkhouse, well and outhouse have all been lovingly restored.
Another, which boasts a most tidy, picturesque kitchen garden of edibles, herbs and special flowers, is accented by Rod Kagan’s Totens sculpture and Chuck Christopher’s iconic fabricated steel Moose on Rollerblades.
And a new garden sitting on a steep grade butting up against he backside of Dollar Mountain includes a Fairy Garden.
These are among seven gardens that will be featured on the Sawtooth Botanical Garden’s 29th annual Garden Tour, or the North Valley Tour des Fleurs Deuxieme Partie. It’s a feast of unique trees, shrubs and perennials, including Bristlecone Pines, Weeping Larch, salvias phlox, a buckeye tree, woodland French strawberries, Russel’s Jerusalem Sage and colorful sculptures and mobiles.
The tour runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 27, with showcased gardens in south Ketchum.
It features gardens lovingly created and cared for by Susan Flynt, Murray and Cheryl Hall, Ron and Susan Greenspan, Blair and Cynthia Hull, Lisa Adam, along with The Healing Garden outside St. Luke’s Wood River Hospital. A bonus garden at the Lemman residence in between the Greenspan and Hull residences was just added.
The gardens are on Jade Street, Weyyakin, Lane Ranch and along River Ranch Road.
Tickets are $35 for Sawtooth Botanical Garden members and $40 for non-members if purchased in advance. They increase to $35 and $40 on the Thursday before the tour.
Tickets may be picked up at the Sawtooth Botanical Garden any time before the Tour or on the day of the Tour. They also may be picked up at any of the showcased garden.
The Garden Tour, which is the Botanical Garden’s premier summer fundraiser, is accessible by bicycle but does involve crossing Highway 75.