The Ripon Garden Club hosts its annual September Stroll, a walk through local gardens on Sept. 7.

The day is devoted to appreciating the landscapes and ideas of seven selected homes and gardens.  This year, the focus is on the core of historic Ripon, with five out of the seven gardens located within the range of three blocks in leafy, shady downtown Ripon.  Several of the homes are vintage Craftsmen style, dating from the 1920s or before.  The gardens, in turn, show the nurture and development of decades of loving care.  This is a very special tour featuring arbors, camellia hedges, vegetable gardens, and many additions and reinventions along the way. 

Two of the homes are of more recent dates, and the gardens reflect the modern lifestyle of the owners.  Color coordination is a feature in one garden.  The backyards have been designed with the demands of children, pets and family in mind.  

The September Stroll is a unique opportunity to appreciate Ripon’s heritage.  It is also the Ripon Garden Club’s major annual fund-raising event.  Proceeds from it are returned to the community in the form of beautification and public garden projects, and for the support of school gardens at the local elementary schools.  Two annual scholarships are awarded to high school graduates who go on to study agriculture or horticulture.

Tickets for the September Stroll are $20 for adults and $8 for children under 12.  Tickets can be bought at the following places:

• The Barbouri,  (209) 599-2511

• P&L Garden Center, (209) 838-148

• Creative Water Gardens, (209) 838-8650

• Park Greenhouse, (209) 599-7574

• Morris Nursery, (209) 527-5553

• Schemper’s Ace Hardware (209) 599 2141

• New Buds Nursery, (209) 824 -7403

• Westurf Nursery, (209) 576-1111



The September Stroll will feature a “raffatunity” with an opportunity for silent auction bids on many interesting prizes.

The gardens will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7.

For more information, see www.ripongardenclub.org., or contact Judy Butterman, Publicity Committee, Ripon Garden Club, call (209) 484-4418; e-mail butterafrica@yahoo.com