Neeli Reamer is The Roanoke Times' gardening columnist. Her column appears twice monthly in Extra.

Neeli Reamer

Recent columns

• Have a gardener on your list? You have an easy task
• Beauty in a bottle
• Bottle trees bring a little color into your garden

About Neeli

Neeli Reamer is a Master Gardener who has a bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication and a master's degree in counseling, where she focused heavily on horticultural therapy techniques.

She believes gardening isn't about being perfect, it's about having fun.

Between the deer, slugs and relentless weeds, gardening can get frustrating. When this happens, it's time to go on a garden tour.

Garden tours are a great way to find inspiration, motivation and enjoy the fruits of somebody else's labor.

Plus, looking through another gardener's gate is always fun.

Put on some comfortable shoes; grab an umbrella (just in case!) and head to Blacksburg for the 14th annual Friendly Garden Tour on July 11.

Friends of the Library, assisted by the New River Valley Master Gardener Association, are hosting the event. Advance tickets are available for $12 at public libraries in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Shawsville, Floyd and Radford. Or they will be sold for $15 on the day of the event at the gardens. Proceeds from the tour will fund the libraries' children's programs.

Lynn Brammer, member of the garden tour committee, says careful thought was put into the selection of the gardens.

"Everything from native plants, pesticides and their usage, sustainability in the garden, the importance of mulch, living with native wildlife, vegetables, fruit trees and composting are topics that come into play with this year's tour."

Brammer says the committee also chose gardens that involve short driving distances. They are even hoping for some bicyclists.

The itinerary includes six gardens in Blacksburg and one in Newport. Begin your tour at any of them. Travel routes and gardens will be marked with signs.

Master gardeners and homeowners will be on hand to answer questions.

Here is a sneak preview:

The Quillen Garden: 508 Preston St., Blacksburg

The sunny-colored, historic home owned by Sherry Quillen has an impeccably manicured garden with cheerful petunias planted in front. The back yard showcases whimsical garden art, such as a blue bottle tree.

Flagstone walkways, picket fencing and shady garden favorites such as hostas, impatiens and hydrangeas add charm to the setting.

A two-tiered patio is perfect for entertaining. It features an arbor, a full outdoor kitchen, a raised herb garden and a fire pit.

The Brown Garden: 305 Eheart St., Blacksburg

Jo Brown doesn't like to leave her garden very often. If you see it, you'll understand why. It is filled with colorful flowers and countless artistic touches right down to the slag glass from West Virginia.

"I grew up in the South," Brown says, "so a bare spot really bothers me."

Jo and her husband, Bud Brown, have been gardening on Eheart Street for more than 20 years.

Their garden features a water garden, a towering Catalpa tree, native plants, a vegetable island, perennial peninsulas, brightly painted benches, novelty birdhouses and even a few freestanding windows and doors.

The Weiner/Eichorn Garden:  607 McConkey St., Blacksburg

Imagine buying a house that comes with a beautiful, ready-made garden. Frank Weiner and Lynn Eichorn did just that 15 years ago.

They are the proud owners of the 60-year-old collection of former occupant Mr. Shear, who researched rhododendrons and azaleas at Virginia Tech. Weiner and Eichorn say they are in "maintenance mode" for all of the lovely mature trees and shrubs in their garden oasis.

The Pappas Garden:  1903 Meadowview Circle, Blacksburg

Phillip and Carole Pappas invite you to enter their own private "water wonderland."

They began with just a simple rock garden and a tiny pool, and have transformed their back yard into an enchanting water garden.

While there, you'll cross paths over waterfalls, lily pads, water grasses and fish, not to mention turtles and frogs.

The front yard has unique planters, stone walls and shade groundcovers.

The Hendricks Garden: 2904 Wakefield Drive, Blacksburg

Robert and Delores Hendricks' brick colonial sits on a hill planted with multicolored perennials. A threadleaf Japanese maple greets you at the foot of the driveway. This is just one of the interesting specimens you'll notice.

Follow the stone path through the flowerbeds, and pause by the pond to watch the goldfish.

The yard has a delightful mix of containers, vines, mature trees and native shrubs. Plant texture and color are important factors in the garden design.

The Potter Garden: 900 Dickerson Lane, Blacksburg

Larry and Elizabeth Byers Potter's contemporary house is built around a garden atrium that will surely be a highlight on the tour.

Their four-season outdoor gardens feature shade trees, evergreen shrubs and a grape and wisteria arbor.

A sun border along the street contains daylilies, purple coneflowers, gladiolus, butterfly weed and wildflowers. The Potters also grow vegetables, fruits and berries.

There are many ideas for you to take home from this impressive garden.

Shuman/Scoggins Garden: 1588 Blue Grass Trail, Newport

A trip to Sinking Creek Farm (www.sinkingcreekfarm.net) in Newport is highly recommended.

The gorgeous 19-acre mountainside farm has something for everyone. It is known for its "pick-your-own" blueberry fields, but you'll also see forests, open meadows, vegetable patches, a greenhouse, honeybees, free-range chickens, a welcoming water garden, a handcrafted arbor and a brand-new kitchen garden.

Owners Joel Shuman and Holly Scoggins are enthusiastic horticulturalists. Scoggins is the director of the Hahn Horticulture Garden at Virginia Tech and her appreciation of unusual plants is visible in the spectacular mixed borders surrounding the house.