Thunderstorms during the morning hours, then skies turning partly cloudy during the afternoon. High around 85F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%..
Tonight
A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.
This is one of the best times of the gardening year here in Riley County. The Manhattan Area Garden Tour will be on Saturday, June 10. There are five private gardens and the Gardens at Kansas State University to be showcased. Take in any or all of them from 8 am to noon that morning.
Each garden will have its own character. Shade and container gardening for instance. Flowers, water features, and fish will be found in a couple of gardens. Patios, sitting areas and relaxation are a common thread for the gardens. Check out the riley.ksu.edu website for garden addresses, location map and the garden descriptions.
A big thank you to these gardeners for allowing the public to share in their gardening enthusiasm. The garden tour can’t happen without community members willing to share. We are always looking for future gardens and their owner(s) willingness to be on the tour. Let us know of a potential garden.
For the past 34 years, over 150 gardens have been visited. This will be the second time for the Letterman’s Garden. I enjoy returning to a garden to see how it has changed.
Conducting a garden tour was the first project that the first class of K-State Research and Extension Master Gardeners held in 1988. The purpose was to inspire fellow gardeners and raise money for the Kansas State University Gardens. A little over $54,000 has been raised for the gardens. Changes at the Gardens include the removal of the Conservatory for safety reasons and the beginning of the reflective pool.
Consider joining the Master Gardener program this fall when the next class is formed. The dates of the training and application are on the Riley County Master Gardener website. Be sure to talk with any of the many volunteers at the different gardening sites about becoming a Riley County, K-State Research and Extension Master Gardener.
