Tickets are $10 per adult, and free for children younger than age 12.

“This is our major fundraiser for the year,” said B.J. Sander, president of Alpena Garden Club.

Sander is also the program manager at Alpena Senior Citizens Center, whose gardens are maintained and cared for by volunteers. The Alpena Senior Citizens Center gardens will be featured on the Garden Tour on Saturday, in addition to MediLodge gardens, and five beautiful gardens of local homeowners.

Sander encourages people to come get tickets for $10 each at the senior center and Real Estate One on Chisholm Street in downtown Alpena. The Garden Tour brochure with descriptions of each garden and a map of their locations will act as your “ticket” for entry to view the gardens on Saturday, Sander said.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Alpena Garden Club President B.J. Sander stands in the vegetable and herb garden at the Alpena Senior Citizens Center. The senior center is one of the gardens featured in Saturday's Summer Garden Tour, with tickets available at the center and at Real Estate One in Alpena.

Sander said the Alpena Garden Club Garden Tour is an opportunity to not only view the gorgeous work of the featured gardeners, but to socialize and compare notes with other gardeners, as well.

She said it is also a nice way to promote the Alpena Garden Club, possibly recruit new members, and discover new ideas about gardening.

“Just reading the information about these gardens makes me want to go out and look at them and just see the ideas that other people are doing,” Sander said.

She said it’s wonderful to see the pride people take in their gardens, and to hear the stories behind their creative masterpieces made out of flowers, plants, and interesting features such as fountains or yard artwork.

Here are some descriptions of the featured gardens from the brochure:

~ MediLodge features a garden for residents and their families to enjoy in a tranquil setting to relax and reflect. The garden is maintained by volunteers and has various seating areas along the walkway, as well as a covered patio and a fountain. It features a variety of colorful annuals and perennials.

~ The Alpena Senior Citizens Center Garden has blossomed over the past seven years into a vibrant space where community, beauty, and growth come together. Funded by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, this green haven now features 28 raised beds overflowing with herbs, vegetables, and colorful peppers, alongside a greenhouse that boosts growing potential. The flower garden includes new additions this season: sunny rows of sunflowers and playful blends of annuals and perennials, enhancing the garden’s charm. Tended lovingly by two dedicated volunteers, this riverside retreat stands as a living tribute to resilience, community spirit, and the joy of transformation.

~ Garden #1 is described as “an artistic palette of gardens, hanging baskets, solar lighting and wind chimes,” continually evolving over 25 years of care by the same family. This garden also features a micro vineyard of eight grape vines, a greenhouse that is half tiki lounge, a milkweed garden for the monarchs and many feeders for birds and squirrels.

~ Garden #2 started over 30 years ago with one perennial bed and it has grown to 11 perennial beds. While located back in the woods with gardens not visible from the road, the homeowner enjoys seeing people’s reactions when they enter the garden. The back yard contains a pond with a “babbling” brook and a flagstone area. There is also a vegetable garden as well as blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries growing. Seasonal annuals are also added in for pops of color.

~ Garden #3 features shrubs circling the property, a point of pride for the homeowner. The shrubs require weekly trimming to maintain their beauty. This garden features perennials and annuals, as well as a magnolia bush, black raspberry bushes, large rock features, and moving metal sculptures added over the years to the delight of neighborhood children (and adults).

~ Garden #4 is a pretty, private, and personal place to relax and enjoy your surroundings: flowers, plants, a fountain, rocks collected from favorite lakes, bird feeders and bird baths, as well as perennials, newly planted trees, and a bird sanctuary to complete this peaceful retreat.

~ Garden #5 is called the Imagination Garden, designed in a small space utilizing perennials, annuals, lights, and decorations. The owner experiments with new design ideas every year, creating a large, inviting display within a small space. This home also features an indoor garden.

Raffle tickets will be available at one of the gardens, offering a chance to win fun garden-related prizes.

According to the Summer Garden Tour brochure, “The Alpena Garden Club mission is to further the beautification of the city, promote and to increase knowledge in caring for flowers, trees and shrubs. All the proceeds from this event go toward that mission.”

The Alpena Garden Club meets on the first Monday of each month at the 19th Hole in Alpena. The club currently works on the Butterfly Garden at Duck Park, gardens at the Alpena County George N. Fletcher Library, the Alpena Public Safety Building, the Alpena Senior Citizens Center, the Michigan State Police Building, the 9th Avenue Rain Garden, and the 2nd Avenue Bridge flower boxes.

For more information about the Alpena Garden Club, call Sander at 989-464-9885.

Reach News Community Editor Darby Hinkley at 989-358-5691 or dhinkley@TheAlpenaNews.com.