Anchorage Daily News

More than a few local gardeners have had cause to grumble about this summer's weather, lamenting things that didn't come up, blossom or survive as we expected them to.

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But you won't hear such whining from the proud owners of the dozen sites that make up Anchorage's Annual City Garden Tour. From noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, they'll open their yards for public visits.

Glorious blooms and flawless ground covers aren't really the objective of these gardens, though you'll see plenty of both. Rather, sites on the list have been selected for the originality of the gardeners' ideas, creative uses of plants and materials, approaches that might give others an inspiration or two for their own gardens.

These green thumbs seem to measure their success and contentment by the act of gardening as much as the result. Many of the gardeners say they like to experiment, trying things that aren't supposed to thrive in Alaska -- and are therefore satisfied with outcomes that might break the heart of a less-adventurous planter.

Native species are prominent in many of the yards, layouts designed to blend with the natural surroundings. So are nonplant accessories: found-art decorations, a castle-turret shed/playhouse, a miniature railroad. A thread of amusement and wit -- reveling in the pleasure of creating a beautiful, growing canvas in a rugged climate in a tough year -- links the diverse designs into a common theme.

You can get an enticing peek at the gardens and hear the gardeners talk about their plants and ideas at adn.com/life, where we've also included a map to this year's sites. But nothing matches the in-person experience.

The Anchorage Garden Club, which sponsors this annual festival of flora, reminds those taking the tour to leave dogs at home. No children in strollers or carriages are allowed, nor high heels. And no picking of flowers -- no matter how much you'd like to.

Find Mike Dunham online at adn.com/contact/mdunham or call 257-4332.

2008 Annual City Garden Tour

Gardens are open noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

• David and Franny Junge, 500 Kayak Drive

• Steve and LouAnn Hennig, 321 Kayak Drive

• Kristen Isakson, 1860 Bluegrass Circle

• Doreen Ransom, 2841 W. 29th Ave., Unit 2a

• Vicki Russell, 3000 W. 29th Ave.

• Jon Cobb and Susan Ives, 2018 Sunrise Drive

• Linda McCarthy Beckworth, 8514 Cormorant Cove Circle

• Bill and Patricia Barstow, 8416 Cormorant Cove Circle

• Olga Alvord, 8415 Cormorant Cove Circle

• Mindy Baum and Toly Zyatitsky, 8515 Cormorant Cove Circle

• Bruce Detloff, 8525 Cormorant Cove Circle

• Chance Elmer, 1335 I St. (park on 13th or 14th avenues)

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