Visitors will find a vegetable garden, fruit trees, colorful flowers and chickens on the self- sustaining Stevens Point garden of Malayna Polum. It is among six properties featured in the annual Garden Parade July 11, sponsored by Portage County Master Gardeners. (Contributed)

Portage County Garden Parade returns July 11

Metro Wire Staff

STEVENS POINT — Six area gardens will open their gates to visitors next month as part of the annual Portage County Garden Parade.

The self-guided tour, organized by Portage County Master Gardeners, will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 11, and offers a chance to explore a variety of private residential gardens throughout Stevens Point, Park Ridge and Plover.

Each garden reflects the personality and interests of its owners, ranging from carefully designed perennial landscapes and pollinator habitats to vegetable gardens, water features and unique outdoor structures.

One stop features the longtime garden of Kurt Soik and Barb Karcheski on Sixth Street, where decades of work have transformed what was once a lot covered in red pine trees into a landscape filled with walkways, garden structures, a greenhouse, waterfall and colorful plantings.

Another garden, created by Shen Hu on Jefferson Street, emphasizes sustainability and pollinator-friendly gardening. Visitors will find a mix of English, rose and Japanese garden influences designed to attract butterflies and bees while providing interest throughout the growing season.

In Park Ridge, Jim and Nancy LaMar’s property showcases mature perennial gardens, stonework and landscaping that has evolved since the couple purchased the home in 1991. A river birch planted more than two decades ago now serves as a focal point of the yard.

A Frontenac Avenue property owned by Malayna Polum centers around a productive vegetable garden surrounded by flower beds, fruit trees, chickens and turkeys. Organizers said the garden was designed to function as a self-sustaining ecosystem. The site will also feature a petting zoo, a new addition to this year’s event.

Visitors can also tour an urban garden on Plover Street maintained by Kristy SeBlonka and Matthew Brown. The property demonstrates how gardeners can successfully grow native plants and other pollinator-friendly species in the challenging conditions created by black walnut trees.

The final stop is the Plover home of Ted and Chris Strong, whose landscape has changed considerably over the nearly four decades they have lived there. After losing 33 trees during a 2019 storm, the couple adapted portions of the yard for new plantings, including ornamental grasses and other sun-loving plants.

In addition to the gardens, several locations will offer demonstrations, gardening information, artists, vendors, musical entertainment and educational displays focused on pollinators and other gardening topics. Master Gardeners will be available throughout the day to answer questions and share advice.

Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 on the day of the parade. Advance tickets are available at Jung’s Garden Center and the Stevens Point Area Co-op in Stevens Point, Village Gardens and Jay-Mar in Plover, and at the Master Gardener information table during the Stevens Point Farmers Market.

For more information, visit www.portagecomastergardenerswi.com or call 715-346-1316.