Sheila Spotswood, the garden’s project coordinator, calls this her Secret Garden and it is a gem. Tucked into a corner of the schoolyard, it surprises and delights all that visit.  It features a pond with goldfish, raised vegetable beds, a gazebo surrounded by native perennials, a wildflower patch, shade plants, and a small desert plot.  Shelia, a team of Master Gardeners, and over 1,000 students make this garden grow.

Cindy Bolz’ garden is mostly shade and features 40 Japanese Maples, set among an abundance of shrubs, grasses, and ground covers, and complemented by Asian architectural elements. Containers filled with color and greenery spill onto brick walkways and a beautiful mosaic birdbath stuns the eye under the shade of one of the maples.

Pat Lockerd’s charming garden demonstrates what can be done with limited space. Flowing bed lines in the small front yard draw the visitor to the garden gate. Beyond the gate, hydrangea, roses, trellises, and overflowing containers provide a sense of enclosure in an outdoor living area that is a true urban oasis.

Intertwining rose bushes, perennials, and bulbs are the stars in Pam Smith’s garden; but don’t miss the flowering vines and a gingko tree.  Pathways wind among the free-flowing plants and garden art provides a sense of whimsey.

The Lyn Snyder garden is planted on a charming patio-sized yard that is rich in plant variety and color.  Although a work in progress, this garden is impressive not only for the magic created in such a small space, but also for the fact this it is built on a sloping lot shaped by retaining walls with sun and shade challenges.

Paula Spletter loves cacti, succulents, and recycled treasures.  Her garden is filled with all three and there is a lush array of flowering plants and ferns to boot. An old windmill, succulents planted in an antique sieve, and a Radio Flyer wagon shelf lead the way to the one-of-a-kind functioning greenhouse she built using 100-year-old reclaimed windows and doors.