Each year the Tulsa County Master Gardeners conduct a garden tour showcasing several Master Gardener homes. This year we have five beautiful landscapes to inspire you. Each location will have Master Gardeners on hand to answer your questions.

Tickets for the event are $10 in advance and $15 during the garden tour. The last day to purchase advance tickets is June 7th until 4:00 p.m. 

Dates of the tour:

June 8th - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

June 9th - 11:00 am to 5:00 pm

The Tour Homes - Addresses will be on your ticket when you print it.

Tour Home Descriptions

1. Having grown up in this area of Tulsa these homeowners were determined to find the perfect home for their young family. A "coming soon" sign was no deterrent to these persistent homebuyers. Proximity to parents and an abundance of curb appeal were exactly what they wanted.

Several large oak trees, provide plenty of dappled shade for the front landscape. Japanese maples thrive in the shade together with Taylor Junipers, a tulip tree, dwarf gingko and a Butterfly Jade tree. Foundational beds feature yews, boxwood, hydrangea and hosta. Summer color is added with begonia, heuchera and golden moneywort. Whimsical porch pots painted by the homeowner host seasonal greenery.

The lushness of the front landscape is an interesting complement to the resort-like feel of the sunny backyard, which is clearly an extension of their home. Comfortable sofas, dining table, and grilling area and pool provide the perfect resort. The family’s frequent trips to Mexico are the inspiration behind the tropical feel created with decorative pots and colorful plants. The sunny bathroom off the patio is an ideal home to the tropical plants during the cold winters. These tropical are favorites and are a few years old judging by their size. They include bird of paradise, plumeria and a variety of cactus all to show off their beauty around the pool. Hardy hibiscus and cherry blossom fill a garden corner. At the gate to the drive is a xeriscape garden and two large Columnar English Oak trees which add architectural interest to the area.

 2. Returning to Tulsa after 40 years in California, this homeowner missed the beauty and was anxious to recreate a beautiful and inviting outdoor space. Taking on a neglected former rental home, the garden had major drainage issues, a large cement patio and total shade where no grass would grow, thus faced a huge challenge.

Most of the cement patio was removed and a new bed visible from the sunroom was created. A good landscape was designed with flower beds and meandering flagstone paths. The beds are filled with Japanese maples, dogwoods, ferns, pachysandra, ajuga, hosta and much more. Conifers add texture and architectural interest to the gardens. Benches provide rest areas, and several water features add tranquility. A lovely copper rain chain steers rain water away from the foundation. Compost bins are for leaves only – this does not require turning for decomposition.

The dominant tree is a glorious ash tree. Many large tree limbs were lost in the wind storm of 6/23, converting the shade into a lot more sun. This change is still being figured out!

The new screened porch looks out on to a 20ft double headed stream/waterfall, with flowers and plants dotting the rock stream. Red and blue dragonflies enjoy the stream in the summer, and the robins, cardinals, jays and chickadees think it is the best bird bath in town.

 3. Gardeners learn quickly that site conditions will dictate plant selection. This garden has it all, full shade, partial shade and full sun. Overhead power lines along the west side of the property prevent the owner and adjacent neighbors from planting tall shade trees. As a consequence, the west flower border is exposed to Tulsa’s intense summer sun for up to 8 hours a day. Such conditions call for drought and heat tolerant plants. This area is planted in a mixed border style, with herbaceous perennials small and ornamental trees that are adapted for such conditions. The perennials include speedwell, monarda, salvia, Russian sage and yarrow. laurel, sumac, junipers and smoke bush have proven well in this area.

Similar growing conditions needed to be considered for a new planting area at the top of the driveway. Planted in prairie style, native grasses and drought tolerant perennials are chosen. This Tall Grass Prairie docent has included Bluestem, Switchgrass and Dropseed grasses, select milkweeds, lavender and liatris.

The east side of the yard offers a respite with all day shade. Shade is provided by mature Blackjack and Post Oaks, a Japanese Coral Bark, Maple, and several understory dogwoods. Shrubs include azaleas, acuba, rhododendrons and mahonia. Plantings such as ferns, hosta and heuchera and more woodland favorites fill the gaps.

For this gardener, what some might call a challenge has been a "plus". Being able to enjoy all your favorite plants from prairie natives to tender shade plants is the best of both worlds.

4. Many changes have been made in the 20 plus, years for these homeowners. The original overgrown plantings in the garden are long gone allowing for a more usable space and the home owner’s personal touches to the landscape.

Visitors are welcomed to this shady front yard by a Kentucky coffee tree and a Bald Cypress. A Flame Thrower Redbud, nandinas and grasses flank the drive. A Japanese Maple provides shade for a front bed and visual interest from the front room picture window. 

Entering the backyard along the east side of house you'll see the first of many eclectic fence decorations. The saltwater pool was added in 2016 and has become the heart of the home, all summer long. The homeowner's personality is evident in the collection of a broad range of art pieces. The most prized is “Mo”, the Easter Island head rescued from a neighbor who moved away.

Foundational plantings include crepe myrtle, hosta, azalea and variegated azalea. The north east corner of the garden has an arbor, proud lion statue and Rose of Sharon. A special area in memory of the gardener's mother. A raised herb garden is perfectly placed close to the pool and patio to snip fresh herbs to add to a poolside meal.

The east side of this landscape is shaded, by crepe myrtles, spirea and a prolific patch of wild onions. This cool area is the favorite of the homeowner’s pet dogs.

5. Moving in 38 years ago, these homeowners had five trees and two beds in the entire landscape. Starting from the ground up, 14 tons of soil was hauled in to level the back yard and treated lumber walls created a terrace down to the neighbor’s property. Rocks from Ft. Gibson, and many, many bags of compost helped to establish new beds.

Adapting and reimagining has been a constant for this gardening family. From the planting, to hardscaping, to implementing a zoned watering system, it's a true family endeavor.

After losing two large trees and much of the shade in the front yard, the fescue lawn is being replaced with Bermuda grass. Newly planted Teddy Bear Magnolia, Rising Sun Redbud and Sun Valley Maple join azaleas, hosta, hydrangea, penstemon and iris. The Blue Atlas Cedar is secured to the house after blowing over in the June ’23 wind storm.

The original Birch trees in the backyard were lost, thanks to utility line interference and an ice storm. A sapling from the original oak tree is now providing much needed shade for the backyard. Many colorful plantings include Red Yucca, Silver Mound, day lilies, peonies, cannas and flowering quince. A table garden for herbs and a new raised bed for veggies are perfect additions to this family gathering space.

4116 E. 15th Street

Tulsa, OK  74112-6198

(918)746-3701