Ste. Genevieve Garden Walk and Plant Sale set for May 17 and 18

Nothing says "Hello, spring!" like a beautiful garden! Garden and plant enthusiasts have an opportunity to see approximately 20 spectacular gardens during the Ste. Genevieve Garden Walk and Plant Sale sponsored by the Ste. Genevieve Master Gardeners.

The Garden Walk will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 17, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 18. Both private and public gardens will be available for touring, including several in Ste. Genevieve's historic homes district.

Joan Troeh, treasurer of the Ste. Genevieve Master Gardeners, helps coordinate the garden walk and does public relations for the event.

"My garden and the gardens of three other Master Gardeners are on the walk this year," she says. "This is the third consecutive year for my garden [to be featured on the walk]."

While many of the gardens featured are within walking distance of each other, some are "drive-to destinations," she says. All are in Ste. Genevieve.

Tickets for the walk are $7 per person, or $6 per person for groups of five or more. There is no charge for children under age 12. Tickets are valid for both days of the walk and may be purchased the day of the event at the Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center, 66 S. Main St.

Money raised by the event is invested back in the Ste. Genevieve community.

"Proceeds from the annual walk and plant sale are used for beautification and educational projects in Ste. Genevieve city and county in the forms of grants offered by Master Gardeners," says Troeh.

Along with the garden walk, a plant sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The sale will feature annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, herbs and lily bulbs, as well as vegetables and fruits from the Master Gardeners' gardens.

Many other events will be going on in Ste. Genevieve in conjunction with the garden walk and plant sale, including a farmer's market on Saturday morning and an art exhibit both Saturday and Sunday.