Portage County Garden Parade returns July 10

By Nick Schultz
Special for the Metro Wire

A summer favorite in Portage County, the annual Garden Parade, will be held Saturday, July 10. 

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

• Michelle, Tom, and Jeremy Przybylski, 2916 Cleveland Ave., have a colorful array of perennials and containers of annuals filling their front yard. The path to the backyard leads to cherry, pear, and apple trees, vegetables, and herbs, providing fresh food. A cut flower bed includes roses, zinnias, and other flowers. Numerous birdhouses, hummingbird and oriole feeders, and a small pond attract wildlife. 
• Richard Hoffman and JoAnn Chase, 2932 Alice Court, have 20 small gardens around the corner. Eight of them are devoted to Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of Creatures, also known as the Canticle of the Sun. They also have other themed gardens in honor of imagination, people, and places they’ve traveled. A pond and chairs invite visitors to sit and enjoy “the grandeur of our good God.” 
• Nick Schultz and Bill Berry, 3210 Dan’s Drive, demonstrate the benefits of having numerous native trees, shrubs, and perennials — they provide rich habitat for many species of birds and pollinators throughout the season. The couple also grows peonies and irises from their ancestors, and many perennials, annuals, and tender bulbs. A no-till vegetable garden is another highlight of this organic garden. 
• Jim and Cindy Suchowski, 421 Coventry Drive, Plover, have created a backyard retreat, building a brick patio, three-season sunroom, two sheds, and a firepit. Flower beds that attract birds and butterflies feature a variety of perennials and annuals, ornamental trees, and shrubs along a fenced border. Stroll the stone paths to see splashes of color, garden art, water fountains, and a raised vegetable garden. 
• Peggy and Jim Bach, 7164 Moraine Valley Lane, enjoy the creative elements of gardening, so watch for hidden treasures. Jim has built beautiful trellises, garden walls, a brick patio, and brick paths. Peggy propagates a variety of hydrangeas, which fill the yard. Vines and other flowers are eye-catchers in a landscape that has changed dramatically since a storm in 2019. 
• Pat and Sandy Walters, 7311 Tenth St., built their house in 2015 and have been building their landscaping ever since. Retaining walls, stone hardscaping, concrete patio, flower beds, and large vegetable gardens are among the features. A split-rail fence lines their five-acre lot.  They have planted numerous spruce trees, birch, maple, crabapple, and other ornamental trees and added a water feature in 2020. 

Various demonstrations, vendors, information, and musical entertainment will be available at each of the garden locations, on such topics as raptor awareness, pollinators, Audubon Society birding, garden art, fine art, Cycling without Age trishaw rides, and musical entertainment.

University of Wisconsin Extension Portage County Master Gardener Volunteers 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, 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, Plover; and Judah Studios, Nelsonville.

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