The 2023 Summer Garden Walk will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, rain or shine. Tickets are still available, for just $10 each, at the Alpena Senior Citizens Center (501 River St.), Real Estate One (215 W. Chisholm), or from any Alpena Garden Club member. A limited number of tickets will be available at each garden on the day of the walk.

Garden sites include a Lake Huron beachfront garden, a unique backyard garden with ponds and a bridge, Thunder Bay Riverfront natural area, MediLodge of Alpena Reflection Garden, and two unique city gardens. There will be a raffle of garden items at a city garden site.

In addition, if you show your ticket at several participating restaurants, including the Fresh Palate, Black Sheep Pub, and JJ’s Steak and Pizza House, you can get a 10% discount off your food order.

All proceeds will go toward the Alpena city gardens planted and maintained by the Alpena Garden Club, including the Rain Garden near the 9th Avenue Bridge, the Butterfly Garden at Duck Park, the City of Alpena Public Safety Building, the Alpena Senior Citizens Center, the flower boxes on the 2nd Avenue Bridge, and Alpena County Library.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Ken Patzer poses next to a giant hanging pot of red flowers in their yard.

Children under 12 can attend the garden walk for free, accompanied by an adult. Your ticket will be a brochure with details and addresses of each participating garden. You may visit the gardens in any order, at your leisure, during the hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Participating garden owners and addresses include:

1. MediLodge of Alpena, 301 Long Rapids Road.

2. David and Elizabeth Antkowiak, 5581 Long Rapids Road.

3. Dr. Jim and Sue Weeks, 3561 El Cajon Beach Road.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Rose and Ken Patzer’s backyard garden has many unique features, including this bicycle adorned with flower baskets and cute owl decor made by their daughter.

4. Ken and Rose Patzer, 1232 Fern Lane.

5. Bob and Marilyn Ross, 510 June St.

6. Nancy Smithem, 121 N. Sheriden St.

Smithem is also a garden tour committee member. She is excited to be a part of organizing the event, and looks forward to welcoming visitors to her garden as well. She said all the gardens on the tour are beautiful, and that everyone will enjoy coming out to see all the hard work these community members have put in to prepare for Saturday’s long-awaited event.

“There are six gardens, and they’re all totally different,” Smithem said. “You wouldn’t want to miss any of them. For example, MediLodge, their gardens are built for their residents, and they’re going to have a huge spread of food and snacks and treats the day of the garden tour, so don’t miss that one.”

News Photo by Darby Hinkley If you look closely, you might catch a glimpse of the Patzers’ buddy, a frog who hangs out among the lily pads in one of their two ponds in their backyard garden.

She said it will be a fun and relaxing way to enjoy the beauty of nature while socializing with other garden lovers.

“It’s a chance to see some unique and wonderful gardens,” Smithem said, “And to support the Alpena Garden Club, that supports our community.”

Another garden on the tour is the elaborate backyard garden owned and maintained by Ken and Rose Patzer on Fern Lane out across from the airport.

The Patzers spend a lot of time in their backyard, so they made it into a beautiful oasis, featuring two ponds with goldfish, waterlilies, and even a frog or two stopping by to say “Hi!”

Rose Patzer can’t count the number or varieties of flowers and plants in their garden. She just keeps adding more, and suggesting to Ken where to put them. He happily does it. They both enjoy working in the yard together, and relaxing when they’re done for the day.

“We just keep adding to it,” Rose Patzer said.

“We enjoy it,” Ken added.