Nature lovers and gardeners alike will want to head to Fenton on July 20 for the Open Gate Garden Walk presented by the Open Gate Garden Club -- a group of home gardeners with a deep passion for their gardens, learning how to make them better, and a love for sharing their knowledge and gardens. Their goal is to encourage others to garden and to have a better appreciation for nature.

Once a year, the group opens their gardens for one day to allow the public to come through and see the fruits of their hard work. Visitors will be able to see plants and flowers they have never seen before, and step into beautiful landscapes they may not get to see otherwise.

There are seven gardens on the tour, each with a different theme or motif, like “The Shire” and “Hidden Treasures.” To get an inside look into the tour and the gardens we spoke to one of the homeowners and members of the Garden Club, Jim Pabst.

How did you get involved in gardening?

It was back in the mid-80s. A friend of mine lived next door to Pauline Banyai, who was one of the founders of the American Hosta Society. We had an “in” right away when we started gardening. 

If someone is interested in taking their gardening seriously, what would you recommend?

Pay attention to your soil. If you don't know what kind of soil you have, take your sample to the MSU (Michigan State University) Extension service and have them analyze it and you'll know what amendments you'll have to make to the soil.  

Can you tell me a little about the Open Gate Garden Club?

I think it was founded around 1993. It's a nonprofit garden club. Just people that enjoy gardening. As you go, you meet fellow gardeners. 

How did the Fenton Garden Tour start?

It's a way to showcase the club and the gardens. The MSU Extension and Master Gardeners have a garden tour once a year. Just about every city has a garden tour.

Why is it just one day?

We have it on a Sunday so it's more convenient for people. It's no fun to have a garden if no one else sees it. It's close to 300 people and more come through.

What makes it something people won't want to miss?

The plants. The plants make the tour. Also, gaining knowledge from the people who have gardens about how they grow things. I have some Orienpet Lillies, and they vary in size from four feet up to 10 and a half feet, with 20 blooms on each lily stalk. I also have a few Japanese Maples and a tri-color beech, which is pretty unique. If people come, they'll enjoy themselves. 

What do you hope people take away from the tour?

That they enjoyed it. It's fun to see people's faces. Many people haven't seen hostas, daylilies, or perennials, and it's new to them and gets them excited, and they get involved in growing plants. I think we had five or six people join the club last year after the tour. 

The tour is one day only, July 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a cost of $15.

For more garden tour fun, Edible Flint is offering a Food Garden Tour on July 30. There is a $20 cost to join the tour, which celebrates the hard work of gardeners across the city.

This summer, take a garden tour in Flint & Genesee to give you inspiration for your own slice of paradise.