2015 Garden Tour of Private and Project Gardens

This is my third year as a Missouri Master Gardener and my husband's second year.  All members are required to have at least six hours of continuing education relating to gardening.  One of our favorite things to do is a garden tour put on each year by neighboring counties.  We especially like the ones set up by Greene, Stone, and Taney counties.  This year the Master Gardeners of the Ozarks presented a tour that included private and project gardens at eight locations close to Branson, Missouri.  The opportunity to self-teach by inquiring and observing serves the education requirement well.  It is also fun and interesting to see what other Master Gardeners can do and serves as an inspiration.

This Memorial Weekend Saturday was a rainy one.  Of course, walking around gardens in the rain is not unpleasant at all when you have the proper rain wear and umbrella.  There were as many smiling faces at each stop as on a sunny day touring.  I was happy to have my brother join us as this happened at the time of year he usually visits from Iowa.  He is not a gardener but enjoys going to places in Missouri he hasn't experienced before.  A good change from all the typical commercial attractions.

The tour began in Forsyth, Missouri at the Taney County Extension Office.  Forsyth is the Taney County seat.  My husband and I were very impressed with all that has been done in four years on this location especially with native plants.  The gardens include a Rain Garden, Butterfly Garden, Herb Garden, Keyhole Garden, Shade Garden, Native Grasses, Shrubs, and Trees plus many other garden venues.  The established demonstration gardens give residents a place to learn about plants that do well in the area as well as to see gardening techniques and methods.  The gardens are used in many classes offered.

This is where we sign in and pick up our pass booklets which tell all the eight locations open for the tour.  Of course, there are refreshments at each stop.  It is a self-tour where we can drive in any order and time as long as it is between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm.  The catered lunch was served between 12:30-2:00 at the final location on the tour…Bonniebrook.  So with the plan made and GPS set-up,  we were on our way...

122 Felkins Ave., Forsyth, MO 65653 - Extension Office front

Extension Office - backyard view 

Extension Office - Butterfly Garden

Extension Office - Rain Garden

Extension Office - backyard view with arbor

Extension Office - wood pallet vertical planting of succulents 

Just a few blocks from the Extension Office is a small corner park of interest.  The Forsyth Garden Club was organized in 1958 and have been tending this beds for about 30 years next to the library and across from the old courthouse.  Seasonal displays of flowers and other ornaments are used by the public as a quiet getaway to sit and enjoy the flowers.

162 Main Street, Forsyth, Missouri - Forsythia Place

Forsythia Place Park - Forsyth, Missouri

The third stop is also in Forsyth but in a residential neighborhood.  Tom & Kathy Riley's landscape is largely sloped and many aspects are used to minimize maintenance with beds of river gravel bordered by bark mulch.  A small fescue-sod yard confines mowing to a manageable area.  The east-side gardens are defined by a large gravel filled retaining wall that provides usable area in what had been a steep, erosion-prone hillside.  These gardens are devoted to butterfly nector and food plants.

A shade garden occupies the small west side yard since 2014. Two tulip poplars and two maples shade the entire area.  It is defined by a river-gravel and stepping-stone path that weaves through and around the trees.  Mulch covered beds of azaleas, hydrangea, and hosts dominate the garden.  A south facing area features plants to provide color and attract butterflies.

160 Honeysuckle Ct, Forsyth, Missouri 65653 - Tom & Kathy Riley

Tom & Kathy Riley - Master Gardener Landscape

Tom & Kathy Riley - Master Gardener Landscape

The next stop is in Rockaway Beach which was a major resort destination before Branson grew so fast in the 1980's.  This garden was created using natural rock.  Strawberries and mint are the ground covers in the securely fenced garden in the front yard.  Down the natural dry-set rock steps through a terraced garden, there a shaded sitting area with a dripping spring.  Pass through the gate and there's a 3300 gallon gold fish pond.  

294 Arrowhead Circle, Rockaway Beach, Missouri 65740 - Sid & Jerra Cardwell

Sid & Jerra Cardwell's Landscape

Sid & Jerra Cardwell's Landscape

Sid & Jerra Cardwell's dog watching everybody in HIS yard.

Shiitake mushroom logs in Sid & Jerra Cardwell's backyard.

The McKenna Family Farm is operated by the mother, father, and son purchased in 1990.  By 1995 they opened a pumpkin patch planting a few acres of pumpkins, putting up fall decorations and starting a family business now in its 10th season.  In 2009, they planted their first large scale vegetable garden and sell out of the barn and local farmer's market.  In 2012, they added a high tunnel to the farm so they could have tomatoes earlier in the growing season.  Each year they try different things and grow in many ways.  For more information, check out their Facebook page which they update daily.  Facebook.com/mckennafamilyfarm

The Pumpkin Patch opens September 19th thru October 31st in 2015.  For more information about what is offered there:  mckennafamilyfarm.com

The first business that the McKennas opened on the farm was the wedding chapel.  They bought the chapel from the Catholic Church grotto in 2000 at an auction and moved it on site.  

3265 State Hwy F, Branson, Missouri 65616 - McKenna Family Farm

McKenna Family Farm - high tunnel and vegetable gardens

McKenna Family Farm - inside the high tunnel tomatoes are grown right in the ground and were ready for sale on
May 12, 2015.

McKenna Family Farm - high tunnel variety vegetables grown inside

McKenna Family Farm - machine that places the plastic covers in plant rows

McKenna Family Farm - after the machine places the plastic buried properly in the row, a slit is made and a plant is placed inside.

McKenna Family Farm - tractor and machine

McKenna Family Farm - Dogwood Chapel

McKenna Family Farm - front view from highway where produce is sold

Still Waters International Ministries is an unusual site with palm trees and banana trees!  Driving by this site just west of Hwy 65 on Hwy 160, you may wonder, "How are they growing tropical plants and do they dig them up each year?" The answers are passionately given by Kevin on site who loves to talk plants.  He is growing hardy sub-tropical plants, cactus, and yuccas with much success.  Part of his success is carefully wrapping each plant in burlap then stringing Christmas lights around them to keep warm when it gets cold.  This ministry center is a welcoming place full of good Spirit and positive energy!  

S.W.I.M. was founded in 2000 and is an active ministry to spread the good news of Jesus Christ.  Their basic philosophy is "…Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."  (Matthew 11:28-30).  Land across from this site will soon have a large cross constructed with an elevator to reach the top.  See Branson Cross.  "Something monumental is coming."

124 Deer Mountain Rd, Walnut Shade, Missouri 65771 - Still Waters International Ministries

Still Waters International Ministries

Still Waters International Ministries

Still Waters International Ministries

 Still Waters International Ministries

 Still Waters International Ministries

The next stop was Erick & Tracy Walker at 8253 Hwy 160, Walnut Shade, Missouri 65771 but we skipped it.  It is described as a "work in progress" and "eclectic" and "mod lodge."  We had one more stop on the tour so we decided to move on.  

Bonniebrook was the home of Rose O'Neill, an American writer, illustrator, artist, best known for her Kewpie dolls.  Rose and her family also loved nature and gardens.  The Bonniebrook Historical Society reached out the the Master Gardeners of the Ozarks for guidance to "bring back the gardens to Bonniebrook."  The project started 2.5 years ago.  The story is worth reading about as Rose O'Neill was quite a character of her times.  From Omaha, Nebraska, Rose and her family settled here in the late 1890's. Her art paid off very well with well-known ads such as Cambell Soup and Jello but it was the Kewpie doll that was the big money-maker.  Bonniebrook Historical Society online is a good place to start.  A visit to the estate is well worth the time when you visit the Branson area.  

This was our last stop on the tour. as the sun finally came out!  The wonderful catered lunch by T&K was provided from 12:30 to 2:00 pm inside the fine art museum.  This was also the location for a Papercrete Class, Historical Society Presentation, and Musical Performance.  It would take many hours to truly take in all that was offered here especially in the arts, Rose's career, and all that they influenced on the Women's Movement of the early 1900's.  Outside there were many gardening-related vendors. Not only did we see the gardens and landscape, but we got to know Rose and the life she led from touring the house and seeing her life in her art.  A walk down to her family's grave site was a spirit-filled experience with babbling brooks and quaint gardens and landscapes.  I especially liked the Fairy Gardens.  It was a fun and educational experience!  It was great experiencing all of it with my Master Gardener husband and my brother who especially liked the old house which looked similar to the one he has restored.

Eureka Springs Day Trip for Our 41st Wedding Anniversary

Keith & Beti at the Blue Springs Heritage Center Water Wheel

The Saturday before our May 11th anniversary was the best time to celebrate this year and a day trip to a familiar place was decided.  The last time we were here was in 1999, our 25th anniversary.  Eureka Springs, Arkansas is just about 2.5 hours' drive so we left early and came home late.  It was forecasted to be a day of thunderstorms but as old scouts, we knew there is never any bad weather…only bad clothing.  We were prepared and planned our trip to be as successful as possible.  And it was!

The first stop was a big breakfast at a Waffle House in Springfield; fast, good value, and always delicious.  We drove west out of Springfield and made a quick stop in Monett for gardening items needed before turning south into Arkansas.  We left some rain behind us in Missouri and it was looking good to choose to walk the gardens at Blue Springs Heritage Center which is on the way to Eureka Springs about 10 miles north of the city.  Blue Springs Heritage Center is a National Register Site Native Gardens.

"Blue Spring is a natural wonder, pouring 38 million gallons of cold, clear water each day into its trout-stocked lagoon.  Start your adventure with with an insightful historic film in the Visitor Center, then stroll the handicapped-accessible walkways and inviting garden paths that wind through the 33 acres.  Visit the historic mill site that dates from the 1840s, see the bluff shelter which is on the National Register of Historic Places, and walk along the path of the Trail of Tears.  Resident appaloosas, and abundant native flora and fauna delight visitors and our charming gift shop offers an array of items to keep the experience alive.  Blue Spring is a quiet getaway and a perfect place for group outings, weddings, or any special occasion."

Keith at the entrance plaza area where tickets are sold, gifts are available, and a conference center.  It is also where the water wheel is located.

Keith is feeding the trout from a covered deck area.

Many of the rainbow, brown, and golden trout jump right out of the water for their treats!

I had never seen a golden trout before.

Golden Trout

Copperhead Snake - we saw several in the water.  So fascinating especially from a distance!

From the fish feeding covered deck, we can walk on open decks to the main spring

This is the main spring which is the largest in Northwest Arkansas. There's a film at the conference center that shows divers exploring the mouth of the cave in the summer of 2004.

I enjoyed the peaceful view of the spring and the beautiful native flower beds that are preserved along with colorful annuals added.

Blue Spring is so clear!

Blue Spring flows constantly.

This is the view from the spring pool looking at the covered deck where we fed the trout.

The area above the spring pool is an historic landmark meadow that was used for Indian gatherings for many thousands of years as artifacts have been found in the area.

Sadly, this area was part of the Trail of Tears for the Cherokee.  

In the mid-1840s Blue Spring Mill was built 300' downstream from the spring and powered by water.  It burned during the Civil War and was replaced in 1903 by a new mill.  It was removed in 1943.

What the mill looked like that was built in 1903.

The bluff shelter is the site where artifacts were found dating back 10,000 years and is on the National Register of Historic Places.  

From the bluff shelter, Keith views the mill area below and reflects on the history of the area and the rich American Indian and early settler culture.

The mill area view as seen from the bluff shelter above.

The woodland garden area is the site of native plants such as this Kousa dogwood tree.

This was just outside the Blue Spring Heritage Center as viewed from the road.

We certainly lucked out as the whole time we were at Blue Springs Heritage Center walking around, it didn't rain!  We didn't want to press our luck much further so the plan was to drive towards Eureka Springs and stop for lunch at a place we had never been before.  It was after the regular lunch crowd about 1:00 p.m. and there was still some cars in front of the Rowdy Beaver Restaurant & Tavern, so we checked it out.  We split the pulled pork nachos and each had a wonderful dinner salad.  Excellent choices!  The waitress was also very pleasant and the atmosphere was comfortable.  We will come back for sure.

By the time lunch was over the sky was looking like it could rain any minute.  We drove through the city's narrow streets one time and saw a lively crowd and many places we would like to stop but the parking situation was impossible!  The whole month of May is the Festival of the Arts so it is best to check that link and see all the choices and times available that is of interest to you if you choose to visit.  From previous experience, we know that it is best to leave the care of traffic and parking to the Eureka Springs Transit and Welcome Center located at 137 W Van Buren (Hwy 62 W) to park and get a trolley pass.  There are also narrated tram tours.  You can get on and off a trolley all day and that was the best bet for us as the rain was starting to come down and walking was fine for short distances as we were prepared with rain ware.  For complete information see the online site from the Chamber of Commerce.

The entire Downtown Eureka Springs is on the National Register of Historic Places where the largest collection of Victorian architecture and "gingerbread" homes in the central United States is found.

For one of the heavy rain downpours, we rode the trolley up the hill to The 1886 Cresent Hotel and Spa.  I had been here before but Keith had stayed on the porch in a rocking chair because he felt spooked!  This trip, Keith came with me and really was impressed with the whole thing.  We even checked out staying overnight for a future trip like in October, but reservations that month are booked six months ahead and you have to stay at least two nights which begins at about $600 total.  You see..it is the "haunted hotel where some guests checked out…but never left."  It is considered an "active" paranormal location and was featured in "America's Most Haunted Hotels." Maybe we will check out more events another time.  This time we just hung around absorbing the atmosphere.

When the rain let up this time we got on another trolley and got off at the top of the hill where many shops and art galleries were located and planned to walk our way down hill in the time we had left before going home.  There were stops for fudge and coffee and many interesting shops.  We spent most of the time at Kaleidokites where we played around and bought a turtle windsock and a hot air balloon whirligig.  Keith also bought an amazing hand-crafted kaleidoscope that is a true work of art!  This store was our final stop at the end of our Eureka Springs Day Trip Adventure.  It was pleasantly coincidental that the store owner and her husband were also celebrating their 41st wedding anniversary in May like us!  Like-minded people have a way of connecting wherever they are!