Henry Daily Herald

Weather conditions are ripe for the Henry County Master Gardeners’ annual showcase of gardens as National Weather Service forecasters anticipate a mild, and mostly sunny, weekend for the Southern Crescent region.

Members of the Henry County Master Gardeners are primed for their 2012 Garden Tour, which features five of its master gardeners.

“The gardens are beautiful,” said Kay Kersey, president of the Henry County Master Gardeners. “We had an early spring this year, and everything just looks beautiful. I think people are going to be pleased with the gardens.”

Kersey said members of the local group have been working hard to cultivate the gardens in recent weeks, in an all-volunteer effort.

“Each garden has a team, and the teams have been working very hard to get everything together for Saturday’s show,” she said.

The Henry County chapter consists of 60 members, men and women, throughout Henry County.

“It’s a very diverse group,” Kersey said. “We’re all master gardeners. It’s truly an organization that all of the members are contributing members. Everybody works and does their share.”

Saturday’s tour will include five gardens, each containing dozens of varieties of plant species. The gardens — situated between McDonough and Locust Grove — vary in sizes, up to two acres in area. The gardens will be open to visitors, from 9 a.m., until 3 p.m.

“I would say get an early start,” said Kersey.

Tickets are $10 each, and are available at the following locations: at the Henry County Extension Office, 97 Lake Dow Road, in McDonough; at all Eagle’s Landing Pharmacy locations; at the Wilson’s Brothers Nursery, 1759 McGarity Road, in McDonough; at all Moye’s Pharmacy locations; at G-Designs, 3359 Jodeco Road, in Jonesboro; at Steers Woodfire Grill, 14 Old Jackson Road, in McDonough; and at Duncan Landscaping, at 9280 Turner Road, in Jonesboro.

“The money that’s collected goes to the Nolan House [the group’s headquarters at Heritage Park in McDonough], and other efforts of the Henry County Master Gardeners,” said Kersey.

Kersey said the Garden Tour tickets also will be available at the garden sites on Saturday.

Max and Midge Breckenridge have a “Terrace Garden on Lake Dow,” at 126 Darwish Drive, in McDonough. Donnie and Ansley Dill have recreated a “Secret Garden in the Grove,” at their residence, 2855 Old Jackson Road, in Locust Grove. The “Garden for the Grandchildren” is being presented at Larry and Martha Lynn Volman’s home at 1240 Lake Haven Drive, in McDonough.

Bob and Beth Williams planted a “Serenity Garden” at their domicile at 170 Ben Horton Drive, in McDonough. Meanwhile, Ken and Dawn Roberts have featured a water garden, called “Water, Water Everywhere,” at 1005 Turner Church Road, in McDonough.

“We all enjoy going out and looking at beautiful flowers,” said Kersey. “I think that anyone that has an appreciation for natural beauty will appreciate the gardens.”

For more, visit the link www.caes.uga.edu/extension/henry/anr/index.html.