Tickets are now available for tours of area gardens when the Starkville Area Arts Council (SAAC) presents its much anticipated Art in the Garden event.

Scheduled for Saturday, May 19, tours of six gardens will be conducted from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.  In case of rain, the event will be moved to May 20 from 1 – 5 p.m.
 
The tickets are $15 per person which includes breakfast at the Hilton Garden Inn, 975 Highway 12 East, beginning at 8 a.m.  The tickets may be purchased at the SAAC office, located in the Greater Starkville Development Partnership building and East Mississippi Lumber Company.  They may also be purchased at the Hilton Garden Inn on the morning of the event.
 
"We are encouraging participants to come join us at the Hilton at 8 a.m., have some breakfast, then perhaps carpool to some of the gardens," said Emily Jones, chairman.  "The garden owners have been working for months to make their spaces picture perfect.  This is an excellent opportunity to get new ideas and consult with Master Gardeners who will be in each garden to answer questions.

Maps and information on each garden may be picked up at the Hilton during the breakfast.
 
Adding to the ambience of the gardens, there will be craftsmen, live musicians, dancers and artists painting scenes from each garden.

The gardens on tour include the Stephanie Doane and Gary Bradshaw garden at 976 West Briar Lake Drive; the Don and Danya O'Bannon garden at 623 South Wedgewood Road; the Guy and Nancy Hargrove garden at 115 Grand Ridge Road; the P.C. and Barbara McLaurin garden at 505 Lincoln Green Street; the Jimmy and Ginger Carver garden at 309 Green Street; and the terrace garden at the Hilton Garden Inn.

MAP OF GARDENS