The 2025 Petals and Pathways Garden Tour on Saturday, June 7, from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. is a rain-or-shine, biennial event hosted by North Fulton Master Gardeners and the homeowners. For several months, these gardeners have been planning and planting in support of the tour, wanting to showcase the very best in a north Metro Atlanta garden experience. Knowledgeable volunteers will also be on hand during the tour to help guide you through these lovely residential gardens and answer any questions you may have regarding gardening. Music and “lite bites” will be provided at each garden.
Jane Share
Lee R. Cohen
Buy your tickets on Eventbrite (available at NFMG.net) or at your first garden stop. The tickets are $25 for all three gardens, and children under 18 are free. We guarantee these home gardens will delight all your senses! Start your tour at any of the three gardens. They are 10 miles or less apart. The following guide begins in Alpharetta. The other two gardens are in nearby Roswell.
Zen-zation Water Garden of purple-hued plants and whimsical garden art brings charm to this Zen-inspired landscape. Hydrangeas and other flowering shrubs create a vibrant display of color. Hardscape elements provide structure. Yet, it is the burst of colors that captivate and evoke a sense of peace and tranquility. A koi pond, a gently flowing creek over stones, and a quaint bridge invite visitors to explore winding pathways that lead through the garden. Mature trees offer privacy and a serene retreat from the bustling city, fostering an atmosphere of quiet reflection. Japanese maples, camellias, hydrangeas, azaleas, and ajuga enhance the garden’s rich palette of purples. A graceful bamboo arch over the koi pond and waterfall adds melody and elegance to this enchanting space. With surprises awaiting at every turn, this garden is a feast for the senses. Enjoy your stroll!
Hydrangea Heaven first greets you with the striking beauty of Japanese maples, but it’s the breathtaking explosion of color in the back garden that truly captivates. Having lived in her home for nearly 50 years, the gardener has spent decades cultivating what she now calls her “evolved” garden. She began with five years of clearing the land, gradually expanding outward from a central bed and introducing vibrant plants with bold hues she missed from her home state of Texas. A former French teacher and inspired by her many travels through France, her central flower bed is a stunning masterpiece, showcasing over 100 hydrangea varieties, beautifully dispersed across the gardens like early summer jewels of pink, purple, magenta, blue and white. You’ll feel as though you’ve been transported to the enchanting gardens of France!
Daylily Delight Garden has blossomed into a “private refuge for inspiration, creativity and a connection with nature” for the homeowners. The gardener’s passion for daylilies took root after serving as a leader for the North Fulton Master Gardeners’ Garden Faire in 2020. There, she was drawn to the Daylily Society’s stunning selection, of diverse colors, sizes and growth habits. Today, her garden flourishes with more than 375 unique cultivars of these striking blooms. Complementing the daylilies, vibrant borders of coneflowers, Shasta daisies, lilies, astilbes, and hostas bring layers of texture and color. This cottage garden is beautifully framed by meandering pathways, nature-inspired fence art, and flourishing flower beds. Her periwinkle blue garden shed, handcrafted by her husband, serves as a focal point, while a whimsical rabbit bench treasured by their grandchildren adds a touch of playful charm. Designed for year-round beauty, this welcoming garden is a feast for the senses in every season. Come explore and be inspired!
Though it is a fundraiser, the Petals and Pathways Garden Tour’s primary purpose is to inspire, delight and educate the community. The funds raised support the work of the North Fulton Master Gardeners, who contributed over 5,000 volunteer hours in 2024 dedicated to providing local expert speakers to the public, managing accessible public demonstration gardens, teaching horticultural-based classes for all ages and post-secondary scholarships. We can’t wait to meet you in the gardens!
Happy Gardening!
Save the date for NFMG’s 2025 signature event: Garden Tour on June 7. Learn more at nfmg.net.
Learn more
● Buy Tickets here (https://tinyurl.com/3n7zbcnp)
● Learn more about becoming a Master Gardener at https://extension.uga.edu/county-offices/fulton/agriculture-and-natural-resources/mastergardner
● Plants for Gardens of the Southeast ‘Armitage’s Garden Perennials’ by Allan M. Armitage, Timber Press
● ‘Hydrangeas for American Gardens’ by Michael A. Dirr, Echo Point Books and Media
● University of Georgia Extension Bulletin 625, Landscape Plants for Georgia, https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B625&title=landscape-plants-for-geo
About the authors
This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnists are Lee R. Cohen and Jane Share, co-chairs of the North Fulton Master Gardeners’ Petals and Pathways Garden Tour. After attending the North Fulton Master Gardeners’ 2023 Garden Faire and Garden Tour events, Cohen, a lifelong gardener and Alpharetta resident, wanted to complete the training to become a Master Gardener Extension Volunteer. Since April 2024, Cohen has been working to support the North Fulton Master Gardeners’ mission of providing unbiased horticultural information and education to residents of Fulton County.
Jane Share has been a Master Gardener Extension Volunteer with Fulton County since 2021, and a City of Atlanta resident. She is a retired radiologist, and her professional qualities of care, observation and empathy also inform her gardening efforts. Lee and Jane’s shared vision of making beautiful gardens accessible to all inspired their collaboration on the 2025 Petals and Pathways Garden Tour event. They can’t wait to meet you along the path!
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North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Learn more at nfmg.net.