Mercer garden tour Saturday

MERCER, Wis. — Mercer Woods and Blooms Garden Club will host a public tour of private gardens on Saturday, July 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

It is the eighth year of the tour, said Jan Peterson, chairperson of the garden club.

This year's tour will include the Mercer Community Garden, adjacent to the Haines Civic Building, which is new this year.

The Mercer School, Mercer Senior Center and the food pantry are raising vegetables and herbs there for educational purposes, as well as for consumption, along with 12 other raised bed plots that area residents use.

“The gardens are all unique,” said Peterson.

Gardens along the tour include Bonnie and Bill Altman’s home at 2534 Brunner Road, featuring colorful perennials, annuals and conifers, as well as a fountain and a log yard swing.

Geri and Jerry Sutor, 2029 Carls Park Road, have a garden with many annuals grown from seeds and cuttings, as well as garden sculptures.

A garden with perennial beds, potted arrangements, garden sculpture, arbors, grape vines, fruit trees and organic vegetables is featured at the home of Joanne and Don Shanholtz, 3384 County FF.

The newly opened Pines Beer Garden on U.S. 51, owned by Erv and Marge Ervin, features many perennial gardens accented with a log bar, log bandstand, and a raised bed designed to resemble a campfire. Free ice cream will also be available for tour attendees there.

Tickets may be purchased at the Mercer Chamber of Commerce, area businesses or from garden club members. For more information, call the Mercer Chamber at 715-476-2389.