Garden Club to spend the day in paradise

The Sarasota Garden Club is expanding the Gardens in Paradise Tour in its second year to include six private gardens.

Event Chairwomen Carol Johnson and Emily Yaffe said club members looked for what they call “a gardener’s garden.” Each of the six gardens selected offer something for every personal taste, ranging from modern to more relaxed styles.

“This year they are all homeowner-designed gardens,” John- son said. “They are a little dif- ferent from last year, but there’s something for everyone this year. One of the gardens makes you feel like you’re down in Key West with lush greenery. It’s very Florida. There’s one garden that is extremely modern with bold colors.”

The route will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, at the Sarasota Garden Club, and include homes in the Cherokee Park, Southside Village and Indian Beach Sapphire Shores neighborhoods. The 14 botanical gardens that are part of the club will also be on the tour. Along the way there will be instructional lectures for enthusiasts seeking to improve their own gardens.

This tour serves as the major fundraising activity for the group. The club uses funds raised from the tour to continue to offer programs such as Garden Therapy for autistic children, Therapy Tea for nursing home residents and scholarships for local students.