Peony Festival Garden Tour sites named

Peony Festival Committee information

The Peony Festival Garden Tour for 2012 features six local gardens, including the Garden of the Senses in downtown Van Wert and the Smiley Park Children’s Garden and the gardens of the Van Wert County Historical Museum. Private gardens on this year’s tour include those of John and Carolyn Miller, 6981 Dutch John Road; Cathy Reichert, 1115 Leeson Ave.; and Dr. Kevin and Barbara Laing, 10588 Van Wert-Decatur Road.

John and Cathy Miller

The Millers have graciously consented to showcase their garden on this year’s Garden Tour. Those who take the tour will find this garden a perfect place to relax with a book in hand and enjoy life. The placement of plants and flowers has been grown over the years with loving care and one feels that while walking around the garden.

Because this has been an unusual growing season, Carolyn Miller has been innovative and helped Mother Nature make her garden colorful. Check out the artful arrangements.

Cathy Reichert

This garden has fantastic curb appeal, and once again proves that a yard can be attractive no matter the size.

Reichert enjoys her moments of leisure as she sits on her front porch swing and gazes out over her flowerbeds or strolls along the side of her house.

Dr. Kevin and Barbara Laing

The Laings are sharing their garden this weekend. They recently completed construction in the back and a lovely stone addition it is. Most importantly, though, is the spacious front yard, carefully manicured and strategically arranged for family and friends’ enjoyment. They get to enjoy this great, ever changing view while dining each day.

In the back yard, the Laings have a huge shade tree, and it is a perfect spot for relaxing the watching the world go by.

Van Wert County Historical Museum

This is a beautiful setting, with so many interesting and educational things to see on these spacious grounds. Be sure to stroll around and see everything and, by all means, stop by the gazebo and have some refreshments served by the Classy Red Peonies of Van Wert, a chapter of the Red Hat Society.

For those who have time, a historical event will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday when a new piece of history is added to the museum’s collection.

Garden of Senses

For those who work, shop or conduct business in downtown Van Wert, this is the perfect place to stop, relax and enjoy a few minutes with nature. This garden spot was planned with loving care and is maintained in that same manner.

A few of the Master Gardeners will be in the garden between 10 a.m. and noon each day to answer specific gardening questions.

Children’s Garden at Smiley Park

This is truly a garden for all ages to enjoy, with many wonderful and unique features.

The volunteer caretakers of the garden continually add to and maintain these grounds tirelessly, and their work does not go unnoticed.

This year, the garden was featured in Horticulture Destination Gardens magazine with a four-page article titled “Garden of Smiles.”

The Peony Festival Garden Tour will run from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and noon-3 p.m. this Sunday.