GRANDMOTHERS' GARDENS: GARDEN, KITCHEN TOUR SATURDAY BENEFITS SCHOOL

Leta Bahn donned her gardening hat, grabbed a rake and headed to the garden, something she does almost every day.

"I love it," she said as she checked on the development of some recently planted azaleas.

Bahn's rambling garden is one of six on the first Garden and Kitchen tour to benefit Cape Christian School. The tour will be held Saturday from noon to 4 p.m., rain or shine. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the school or at any of the houses on the tour.

The tour features gardens and kitchens of grandmothers and all six are different.

Bahn's garden takes advantage of the rustic setting of her home and encompasses nearly five acres. Those taking the tour should wear their walking shoes.

Bahn has been developing the garden over the past 46 years. Over the years, she has thinned the woods surrounding the house to make room for favorites like azaleas and daffodils.

"I hate to weed," she said. She looks for low-maintenance gardening techniques like mulching. Tree stumps become planters. A dead tree is now a bird house.

The property is called Taylor Oaks. Several varieties of oak trees were growing there when the Bahns moved in. Over the years, she has added more. Today, 23 varieties of oak trees grow.

She also has huge boxwoods and yews, all grown from clippings. A bluebird trail along the upper edge of the property has 30 numbered bluebird houses.

"Over the years, I've shared with my friends and they've shared with me," Bahn said.

In contrast to Bahn's sprawling garden, Wendy Rust has transformed a city lot into a garden refuge, making the most of every square foot of space.

Over the years, Rust has grown her garden by adopting parts of her neighbor's yards. Today, those yards belong to Southeast Missouri State University, but Rust keeps a watchful eye on the plantings.

While she loves flowers, Rust said gardens are more about creating a feeling than seeing some blooms.

"I guess it's the mother in me," she said. "I want these plants to grow to their potential and to be happy."

When Rust decides to add a plant to the garden, she looks for the perfect spot for each. Rust also plants with the view from her windows in mind.

"Gardening is great therapy," she said. "It's also great for children." Her grandchildren enjoy searching the fish pond for frogs and watching for butterflies.

The Ritter garden features an herb garden in the back along with lots of large trees. The Davis garden has a wide variety of different, unique plants and shrubs. The Dickerson garden includes many potted annuals and flowering baskets, along with a scenic view of a lake. The Ford garden has contained beds with many varieties of plants, including very large hostas.

Master gardeners will be on hand at each home to answer questions about specific plants or visitors' gardening troubles.

In connection with the tour, the school is selling cookie cookbooks. Samples of cookies from the book will be served at the Bahn, Rust and Ford homes.

FEATURED HOMES

--Mr. and Mrs. Gary (Wendy) Rust

700 N. Pacific St.

--Johnson Faculty Center Garden

Southeast Missouri State University

530 N. Pacific St. and the corner of Pacific and Alta Vista

--Dr. and Mrs. Ray (Ann) Ritter

2408 Terry Hill

--Mr. and Mrs. Walter J. (Iris) Ford

2865 Hopper Road

--Mr. and Mrs. Don (Jo Anne) Dickerson

3449 Lakewood Drive

--Mr. and Mrs. Barry (Nadine) Davis

3323 County Road 645

--Mrs. E. Lawrence (Leta) Bahn

Taylor Oaks, 6094 State Highway 177