By NIKKI PATRICKThe Morning Sun
PITTSBURG — There were some surprises Saturday at the Pittsburg Garden Tour, sponsored from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. by the Zone 6 Garden Club.
“I didn’t realize so many people came out to these things,” said Kathleen Nichols, 413 W. Adams, as she greeted visitors to her garden. “They’ve been lining up here since 8 a.m.”
That’s not quite accurate, according to Maxine Conrad, 415 W. Adams, neighbor and fellow gardener.
“They actually started here around 20 minutes before 8,” she said.
Around 500 garden tour tickets were sold in advance, but planners thought that some went to people who wanted to support the club’s projects but would probably not take the tour.
That may not be accurate either.
“There have been at least 400 people here so far this morning,” said Norma Gilmore, who displayed pages of signatures in a guest book at the West Adams tour site. “Some people didn’t sign, so there have probably been more.”
Included in the guest book were signatures by visitors from Branson, Mo., Kansas City, Oswego and Lawrence. “The woman from Lawrence told me she comes to every one of these tours,” Gilmore said.
Donna Bauer came from Fort Scott to the tour. “I think every one of the seven gardens on the tour has been unique,” she said. “Probably each gardener’s personality comes out in their garden.”
Bauer is a gardener herself.
“I should be at home working in my garden now,” she said. “But not today.
Stephen Crosetto, Pittsburg, was impressed by all the hard work the gardeners did to get ready for the tour. “I work eight hours a day in my garden, but I think it would drive me crazy to get it ready for a tour.”
“It’s been interesting getting ready for the tour,” said Tom Spurgeon, 215 S. Dittman. “Last night we were dog tired, but my wife, Judy, decided she needed to make cookies for the visitors.”
Her homemade sugar cookies went so fast Saturday morning, he said, that she sent him to the store to get some packaged cookies.
The Spurgeons and their neighbors, Bill and Vicki Moody, 213 S. Dittman, feature in-ground swimming pools and outdoor living areas in their gardens.
“Both areas are quite different, but both are totally conducive to entertaining,” said Diana Kerle, tour visitor.Having family and friends enjoy the pool and yard is the main emphasis for the Spurgeons.
“I’m a people watcher, and we usually have around five teachers and 15 kids out here every day during the summer,” Mrs. Spurgeon said. “It’s just been a pleasure seeing everybody walk through our garden,” her husband added.
Other gardens included those of Andra and Brad Stefanoni, 137 Westfield Road, Patty Horgan, 1511 Woodland Drive, and JD and Shirley Messenger, 2811 California.
The tour also included a gardeners’ market at the Pritchett Pavilion in Immigrant Park. “It was especially nice to have it here, because we’re right across the street from the Farmers’ Market,” said Judi Campbell, who sold plants at the market.
Proceeds from the tour help support and fund community garden — related projects, education programs and city beautification efforts.
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