JSL Garden Tour tickets still available

Self-guided tours include gardens at five homes and Chieftains Museum.

There is still a chance to enjoy some beautiful gardens today as the Junior Service League of Rome’s garden tour gets started.

Rome in Bloom 2016, the league’s garden tour, starts today at 10 a.m. Tickets are available now at all of the day-tour sites, including Chieftains Museum.

“We have had a wonderful response,” said Catherine Jackson, tour organizer. “I think we’ve doubled what we sold for the last tour, which was around 200. However, no one will be turned away. Just stop by one of the day-tour sites and purchase a ticket.”

Day-tour tickets are $25 for a self- guided tour of five homes and Chieftains Museum’s garden. The day tours last from 10 a.m. to 4 p. m. A combo ticket — which offers the buyer the day tour plus a special twilight garden tour of an additional home and a cocktail party — is $60. The twilight tour and garden party is from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Tickets may not be bought at the twilight tour, but tickets for the twilight tour may be bought at any of the daytime sites, Jackson said.

The tour will be focused in two neighborhoods — College Heights and Between the Rivers — and will feature the homes of Dr. and Mrs. Bannester Harbin, 11 Ridgewood Road; Susan Cole, 115 Westmore Road; Mr. and Mrs. Tom Saltino, 2 Berckman Lane; Mr. and Mrs. J.T. Watters, 304 E. Fourth Ave.; and Cheryl Yancey, 320 E. Third Ave.

Tour-takers will also be able to tour the gardens at Chieftains Museum, which will feature plants grown by Major Ridge.

The twilight tour will feature the home of Mr. and Mrs. Dean Saville, 833 Horseleg Creek Road.

“It’s wonderful that all of these people are opening their gardens to us,” Jackson said. “They were all so willing and so gracious.”

The funds raised from the tour go to the League for Learning program, which provides school supplies for children in Rome and Floyd County.

Jackson added that the league members are keeping fingers crossed for good weather.

“We expect nice weather for the daytime tours,” she said. “There is rain forecasted for the evening, but if that happens we will move the twilight tour and party inside.”

She added that anyone looking for updates on the tour can check out the league’s Facebook page.

The tour offers something for everyone — from novice gardener to master, Jackson added.

Master Gardeners will be at each site, offering advice on gardening.

“Plus, we have some beautiful gardens for everyone to enjoy,” she said. “We are very excited and hope everyone comes to see them.”