Garden Walk marks 50th year in June

The Munroe-Meyer Guild’s Garden Walk turns 50 this year, and organizers are excited both by the event’s longevity and the stunning gardens they will be showcasing while marking the milestone.

In the beginning, many of the event’s gardens were in the UNMC area and were owned by doctors and staff of UNMC. But, over the years, gardens have been showcased in Ralston, from as far west as Elkhorn and as far north as Florence, said Guild President Luann Rabe.

“Ticket holders come from outstate Nebraska and mark the following year’s date on their calendars,” Rabe said. “Garden clubs make it an annual event to attend. Because of the success of the last 49 years, people are honored to be asked to have their gardens on the Garden Walk.”

Learn more and purchase tickets.

Rabe credited former guild members with perfecting how the walk is organized.

“The homeowners appreciate how easy it is the day of the walk,” she said. “And we appreciate all the former garden homeowners for their support of this great event.”

Some of this year’s gardens, in fact, were originally featured on the Garden Walk up to 20 years ago.

“The Munroe-Meyer Guild has been an amazing partner for decades,” said Karoly Mirnics, M.D., Ph.D., director of MMI. “Their funding has enabled MMI to create and sustain a variety of programs, provided needed equipment and lent support when needed. This is a wonderful milestone for them, but I am sure that the best is yet to come. It’s fitting that their signature event focuses on gardens, where care and hard work produce outcomes that are unique and beautiful — because that’s not unlike what we are doing here at MMI.”

The 2018 Garden Walk will be held on June 10 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Ticket prices are $15 online or at locations listed below, $20 day of event. Children younger than 5 are free, but no strollers are allowed in the gardens.

Tickets also are available at the following locations:

• Hy-Vee Stores;
• Blue Pomegranate Gallery;
• Canoyer Garden Center;
• Indian Creek Nursery;
• Moore’s Nursery;
• Mulhall’s Nursery, Inc.; and
• Westlake Ace Hardware at 140 & W Center Rd.