Creativity on display during annual Garden Walk

The 9th annual Ladies Chamber Garden Walk features foliage and flowers of all kinds.

The Garden Walk is a self guided tour this Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. The walk takes participants through especially beautiful and interesting gardens in the city of Sidney, said Norma Long, a member of the Cheyenne County Ladies Chamber.

"Anyone who enjoys yards or gardens or flowers would enjoy the walk," Long said.

There are six gardens on the tour this year. Those interested in going on the walk can pick up advance tickets for $6 at the Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce or the Sidney Public Library. Alternatively, participants can buy tickets at the library the morning of the event for $8. The tour starts at Library, where walkers pick up a guide booklet and check out the library's own plant life.

"It's just an opportunity to be able to tour some of the gardens that are beautiful in town," said Ladies Chamber member, Margie Surber.

Members of the Ladies Chamber find the gardens featured in the walk in a variety of ways. They drive around looking for unique gardens, encourage volunteers and get calls from neighbors about extra attractive yards in the neighborhood.

"It's amazing what some people can do with their yards," Long said.

The chamber plans for all homeowners to be present during the tour so that they can inform walkers about interesting features in the gardens, Long said. There will also be a member of the Ladies Chamber at each stop. Although the event is called a Garden Walk, the yards are spread throughout town, so only the hardy would want to actually walk the route, Long said. Last year around 60 people toured the array of Sidney gardens and the chamber hopes to achieve the same turnout this year. Typically, plant appreciators from Scottsbluff, Kimball and Julesburg have come to enjoy the local gardens.

"We've had some beautiful yards in the past," Surber said.

Proceeds from the walk go toward the Ladies Chamber scholarship fund. This scholarship goes to students currently in Cheyenne County schools who wish to attend Western Nebraska Community College in Sidney. The Garden Walk is the only fundraiser for the $500 yearly scholarship, Surber said.

Those interested in applying for next year's scholarship can visit the chamber's website or pick up an application at the chamber office.

The Ladies Chamber, which has around 30 members, holds many events and fundraisers throughout the year in addition to its monthly meetings which feature informational seminars.

The Garden Walk has many participants who come back year after year, but the group always hopes to attract new people as well, Long said.

Anyone attending the walk will get to see a large selection of different plants and might even come across something new or unusual.

"I just hope everyone comes out to see them," Surber said.

The rain date for the event is Sunday July 14 from 3 to 6 p.m.