Twin Cities gardeners, get ready for tours galore

Novice and expert growers can gather ideas on design, plant picks, koi care, pond installation and landscaping at a garden variety of tours over the next two weekends.

The Minnesota Water Garden Society's annual tour offers an inside look at creatively designed and meticulously maintained ponds and water gardens. And this year, 11 of the 13 sites are new to the event, spanning the metro area from Bloomington to Lake Elmo.

Water gardeners have created backyard paradises with multilevel cascading waterfalls, meandering streams and ponds filled with darting koi. Get details on the latest water features, including lower maintenance pondless waterfalls, as well as bog filtration systems. Have a tiny yard? Try container water gardens or bubbling rocks. Aquatic plants will be for sale at a Maplewood site, and tour sponsor Hedberg Supply will be at four sites to offer pond tips.

But you don't need to be a water gardener to appreciate the picturesque lush landscapes. "Poking around in other people's backyards is fun," said Gary De Grande, society president. The self-guided tour is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 30 and 31. Tickets are $15 at mwgs.org or 612-803-7663, and $20 on-site on tour days.

Are you considering turning your yard into a no-mow all-native garden? Find out how native plants improve air and water quality, create habitats for birds, bees and butterflies and require minimal watering at two Wild Ones-sponsored tours.

The Twin Cities chapter event features four city gardens in south Minneapolis that range from prairie plantings leading to a labyrinth to eco-friendly rain gardens, which replaced concrete on a gardener's lot.

The free tour is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 6. Pick up a map beginning Aug. 5 at Mon Petit Cheri Cafe, 2401 E. Franklin Av. Go to wildonestwincities.org or call 612-293-3833.

The top 10 finalist gardens for the Richfield in Bloom award will be open for tours from 1 to 5 p.m. July 30. Attendees can vote for the People's Choice garden. Pick up a $5 map at the Richfield Municipal Center, Richfield Community Center, Wood Lake Nature Center or Richfield liquor stores. Go to cityofrichfield.org and click on "Richfield Beautiful Tour."

If you're a homeowner, builder or architect with a recently built house or a renovation that blends with its Minneapolis neighborhood, here's a chance to get some recognition for your efforts. Nominate your project for a Buildings and Landscapes Enhancing the Neighborhood Through Design (BLEND) award.

The 10-year-old program continues its mission to encourage and reward projects that are innovative yet respect the privacy, light access, views and scale of neighboring properties and overall neighborhood character.

Awards include the EcoBlend Badge for incorporating eco-friendly design and building practices, but on a smaller scale than the EcoBlend Award, and the Best in Show overall award.

Any new construction, remodeling/addition and landscaping project completed since July 1, 2011, in Minneapolis is eligible. A jury of industry experts will select award winners. The cost to enter is $100; submission deadline is Aug. 5.

Need practice and tips for removing layers of old wallpaper and prepping to paint? The Preservation Alliance of Minnesota is holding "Rehab Lab: Wallpaper and Plaster Repair" from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 30 at the historic Andrew Peterson Farm, 8060 Hwy. 5, Waconia.

This beginner's workshop introduces participants to the materials, tools and techniques to repair cracks and holes in vintage walls in the 1867 farmhouse. Learn proper techniques for removing old wallpaper, cleaning glue off walls and paint preparation.

The workshop includes demonstrations on a variety of plaster repairs. Participants will be working with original plaster and may be exposed to lead paint; no children under 18. Cost is $65 and includes a tour of the farm. Register at mnpreservation.org. Click on "Services," then "Education."