06/20/2026
Published in The Gazette, Saturday, June 20, 2036
Year Round Gardening – The Annual Local Garden Tour Is Near
By Debra Stinton Othitis, Colorado Master Gardener, Emerita
Photo credit: Don Stull
2026 Residential Gardens Tour – A Treasure Trove of Gardens: Unlocking Garden Gems
June 27 and 28 from 9:00am-3:00pm
Colorado Springs Garden Tour Annual Fundraiser
Presented by Friends of Extension El Paso County, Inc. (FOX) and sponsored by Phelan Gardens
This year’s highly acclaimed Colorado Springs Garden Tour will be the fifteenth tour, having skipped the COVID year. The tour will highlight seven gardens by the Colorado Springs Country Club and nearby neighborhoods that display a wide variety of styles from English cottage to native pollinator friendly to creative plantings for steep slopes. Truly something for everyone. This year’s tour will include the 100th unique home garden to be featured in one of the annual tours since 2011. Mark your calendars now and plan to attend this popular event where there is something of interest for everyone.
Most gardeners have unique challenges in in their gardens—especially here in Colorado. The seven gardens on this tour demonstrate how the homeowners have overcome their challenges and transformed their gardens, sometimes over a decade or more, to reduce water usage and maintenance, amend soil, create wildlife habitats, add artistic and whimsical elements, hide unsightly concrete walls and create beautiful, tranquil spaces. You will be inspired by them!
As in the past, Colorado Master Gardeners will be available at each of the gardens to answer questions about plants and good gardening practices, while local Plein Air Garden Artists will be painting various aspects of the gardens.
Attendees will want to wear comfortable shoes, a sun hat and sunscreen, and bring water and a camera. FOX will provide you with a printed garden tour guide to record the plants and ideas that you want to remember. Please be aware that private gardens may not be able to accommodate strollers, walkers or wheelchairs due to narrow pathways and steps. Also, no bicycles will be allowed in private gardens. Only working service dogs are permitted.
Every year, the Colorado Springs Garden Tour receives accolades from attendees and garden owners alike. Since its inception in 2011, this popular, annual tour has showcased gardens throughout the city in neighborhoods such as Divine Redeemer, Patty Jewett, Middle Shooks Run, the West Side, the Old North End, University Park, Village 7, Mountain Shadows, Rockrimmon, Old Farm, Briargate and the Broadmoor area. Individuals can nominate gardens for future tours by submitting photographs and addresses at https://extensionfriends.org/.
Tour tickets are $25 for adults; children under 13 are free. Tickets are valid for both days of the tour and are available at local garden centers (cash/check only) or on Zeffy at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-colorado-springs-garden-tour
Proceeds from the tour benefit FOX, an independent 501 (c)(3) organization, whose mission is to raise money for agriculture, food/nutrition, horticulture, and youth development programs in El Paso County to include, but not limited to El Paso County Extension. Learn more at https://extensionfriends.org/
Submit gardening questions to [email protected] or call 719-520-7684. The in-person help desk is open 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. Mondays ,Wednesdays and Thursdays at 17 N. Spruce St.
