Washington County Master Gardeners to host Garden Gate Tour of seven Fayetteville gardens
May 27, 2026
By Rebekah Hall
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts
- Self-guided tour includes seven privately owned local gardens
- Master Gardeners to share info on soil testing, composting and more
- Purchase tickets online
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Download photo of garden from Garden Gate Tour
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Northwest Arkansas residents will have the opportunity to experience thriving local gardens and increase their plant knowledge during the Garden Gate Tour, hosted by the Washington County Master Gardeners on June 6.
The self-guided tour, held annually in June, will take place this year at seven privately owned gardens in Fayetteville from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Attendees will drive themselves to each location.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online or by cash or check at the Washington County Extension Office at 2536 N. McConnell Ave. in Fayetteville at the following times:
- June 4: 3-5 p.m.
- June 5: 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
- June 6: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
The tour will also include the Washington County Master Gardeners project site at the Washington County Cooperative Extension Service Office, where educational stations will provide attendees with information about soil testing, food preservation, water quality and more.
Home canners are encouraged to bring their canner lids for safety testing, and guests can observe a raised garden bed being built by hand. At the end of the day, a drawing will include chances to win a rain barrel, rain gauge and one of the two raised beds built that day.
“This is a great opportunity to explore local gardens created by local folks who usually are not professional landscapers — just everyday people like you and me,” said Susan Young, Washington County Master Gardener. “It’s also a great time to see in ‘real life’ what plants thrive in a particular setting.”
Proceeds from the Garden Gate Tour will support the Washington County Master Gardeners’ volunteer work in the community.
“This helps sustain the garden tour itself, and in the past, leftover funds have helped support free gardening education seminars, sanctioned project enhancements and special projects, such as plant labeling in our gardens,” said Colin Massey, Washington County Extension agriculture and horticulture agent for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. “All these things help expand our educational footprint and interaction with our community.”
The Arkansas Master Gardener program is part of the Cooperative Extension Service, the outreach arm of the Division of Agriculture. Trained horticulture volunteers share research-based information with their communities through demonstrations and educational programs, and they also maintain beautification projects throughout the state.
History of Garden Gate Tour
Young said that for many years, the Flower, Garden and Nature Society of Northwest Arkansas, or FGNS, sponsored a former version of the event called “Through the Garden Gate.” FGNS disbanded at the end of 2019, and Young said the organization approached the Master Gardeners with a request to take over the tour.
“In January of 2020, Washington County Master Gardener members enthusiastically voted in favor of adding the tour to their list of sanctioned projects,” Young said. “We shortened the name to ‘Garden Gate Tour’ and hosted our first one in June of 2020.”
Massey said the Washington County Master Gardeners is one of the largest Master Gardener groups in the state, with more than 200 active members.
“For the past several years, we have surpassed $600,000 in volunteer contributions each year,” Massey said, referring to the estimated value of volunteer time. “We have 18 sanctioned projects that range from beautification to community gardening and historic gardens, and we have been increasing our public education efforts within our communities.”
Young said that while the Garden Gate Tour always features some Master Gardeners’ gardens, the organization is “on the lookout for lovely gardens tended by folks who are not Washington County Master Gardeners.”
“Word of mouth among our members goes a long way here,” Young said. “We also try to hold the tour in different parts of the county each year, and we include at least one Master Gardener-sanctioned project on the tour. We also strive to feature a variety of gardening styles, such as shade gardens, vegetable gardens, formal gardens and pollinator gardens.”
Massey said he encourages anyone interested in gardening, horticulture or nature to purchase a ticket for the Garden Gate Tour.
“It’s a wonderful outing for friends and family, and it allows you to see what amazing things your neighbors are doing to beautify their landscape and support the natural environment,” Massey said. “I think it’s also a great way to get ideas for what one can incorporate into their own landscape and get educated on various garden topics.”
Visit the Washington County Master Gardeners website for more information about the Garden Gate Tour and the organization. Visit the Arkansas Master Gardeners page on the Cooperative Extension Service website to learn more about the statewide program.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at aaes.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 22 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media Contact:
Rebekah Hall
rkhall@uada.edu
501-671-2061