By Sara Wiercinski
“Wings over Water Gardens,” the 31st annual tour of the Water Garden Society of Greater Kansas City, is underway.
This year’s tour is divided into four zones across the metropolitan area, spanning four summer weekends and including 45 private ponds.
The second tour weekend on July 20 featured 15 stops from south Kansas City to Raytown, down to Grandview, Belton and Peculiar.
Rachel Pace’s Raymore water garden was among the stops in the Missouri South zone. Rachel, who installed her pond just this past spring as a DIY project, owns and operates Lemon Lane Farm, provider of organic produce, cut flower bouquets,and local honey.
She sees her water garden as an extension of the farm. Her mother kept koi fish when she was growing up, and she always wanted a pond.
“I love animals. I was involved in animal rescue for 16 years,” said Rachel. Her farm is home to chickens, ducks, geese, pigs, donkeys, sheep, goats, alpacas, dogs and rescue cats.
The new pond meant she could add koi fish, many of them rehomed as part of the Water Garden Society’s Fish Rescue Program. The society works around the metropolitan area to rehome koi and goldfish when ponds are overpopulated or being shut down.
Rachel’s pond includes water hyacinth, water lilies, cattails, water lettuce, and water iris. Honeybees from her hives use the pond as a water source.
Rachel hopes tour goers will be encouraged to try their own water garden. “I’m a hands-on person, so I had to just do it and learn that way,” she said. She recommends anyone who wants to start a water garden to just go and build it, and the Water Garden Society is a great resource.
Two remaining tour weekends are August 3 (Kansas South, which includes a stop in Leawood) and August 10 (Missouri North). Tour tickets cost $10, which are good for all tour stops and all four Saturday tour dates. Children under the age of 14 may attend for free.
Tour sites are open from 9 am to 5 pm. The tour is self paced.
Tickets are available to purchase online and at Hen House, Westlake Hardware, Suburban Lawn & Garden, Rosehill Gardens, Soil Service and other garden centers.
This year’s tour theme, “Wings over Water Gardens,” celebrates the variety of winged insects and birds that water gardens support, including important pollinating species.
The Water Garden Society of Greater Kansas City has been in operation for around 33 years. There are currently around 500 members. Society members have built and maintained more than 60 water gardens and features at schools, nature centers, treatment centers, and nonprofits throughout the metropolitan area.
Proceeds from the annual tour are used for ongoing maintenance and education.
To learn more about the tour or how to build your own water garden, visit kcwatergardens.com.
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