about 2025 Garden Tour homes

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This lovely 19th century farm house garden in the middle of the city has been developed for the express purpose of creating “Peace and Quiet” despite its main street locale. The current owners have painstakingly installed all the plantings (except the stately pine tree out front) in the 30 years they have lived here. The grounds have been designed to reflect the Victorian atmosphere of the home. Visitors can expect to enjoy daylilies, hydrangeas, allium, bee balm, hostas, coneflower and a wide array of color and variety of plantings and yard art. Of particular interest is the metal Fairy/Angel made from the remains of the 911 Trade Center. Raised beds bordered by rocks provide additional visual and spatial interest. 

Inspired by visits to Europe, this homeowner has created a “European Eclectic” garden in the heart of Fenton. The concrete pond is home to almost a dozen very large goldfish surrounded by waterlilies. The waterfall in the corner (laboriously updated within the past couple of years) features a reproduction of the Scottish “Face in the Vines” mask. Extending beyond the landscaped hill from the main yard is the “South Lawn” including a secluded “secret garden”. Plantings throughout the property include redbud and rose-of-Sharon trees, coleus, lobelia, coneflower, Shasta daisies and more.

In the five years that the homeowners have lived in this 35 year-old home, they have brought a variety of plantings and hardscaping to their property in this “With a Little Help from my Friends”garden which demonstrates what can be achieved by using plantings that have been donated and sought out through the years. Particularly noteworthy is the attractive blue garden shed which is reached by a rock walkway. Multiple mini-gardens occupy the yard, each with their own character. One features a small waterfall/pond with waterlilies; another, an enclosed vegetable garden; yet another cleome flowers and bushes. Great Lakes rocks are evident throughout the gardens. Cute seating and yard art dots the area with light features that make this yard even more inviting after dark. 

Just blocks from downtown Fenton is this “Hidden Treasure (behind the garden gates)” which includes patio stones surrounded with blue blooming plumbago. This 1900 “Folk” Victorian home has been lovingly enhanced in the very few years the current owners have resided there. Influenced by English style gardens, the neatly manicured appearance enhances the entire corner lot. The owner has even traveled to England to get more inspiration for the garden. A red blooming Lucifer flower right in front and a June Magnolia that gets its second blooms in July greet visitors. The garden behind the gates includes raised beds, vegetables and more. Two arbors are just some of the features in the front of the house, also including geraniums, Hydrangea tree, daisies, Yellow Canna, and more.

This beautiful 40 year old Colonial home on Lake Iroquois is the setting for the “Playing with Greens”cottagey garden. The owner, who started gardening at the age of 13, likes the calm feel of the unique plantings around her home. Roses climb over the top of her entrance door. The front of the house includes an island bed, and red coleus, huge (1’ flowers) Hydrangeas, hyacinth bean climber, perennial geranium, and more. A lovely arch with honeysuckle and clematis lead the way to the lakeside.  Thalictrum, butterfly bush, bee balm all grace the steep path down to the lake. Facing the lake are more gardens including a butterfly garden with grasses, Queen Ann lace, milkweed, joe pye weed, etc.

 Bring your walking shoes to this turn of the century farmhouse built by Mr Tinsman spanning 75 acres. Over the past 25 years the current owners have transformed the grounds of this “Boulder Garden” with dozens of huge boulders from all over Michigan. Plantings are watered with water from the pond right on the grounds. Multiple specialty gardens include a vegetable garden, a plot just for asparagus, potentilla indica (mock strawberries), bachelor buttons, Japanese Maples and tons more. Outbuildings surround the property and many, many mature trees 

The only word to describe this 50 year old French Victorian home’s garden on Pine Lake is “WOW”. Well worth the 5 minute drive from the rest of the Fenton homes you’ll be treated to the beauty of 23 different perennial beds, a gated garden with pool, rock walls, and unique yard art. If the address sounds familiar, it’s because this home was featured on the garden tour about 10 years ago. Since then, the owner has taken particular care to enlarge and enhance the entire property. Colored glass whirligigs, a fountain down by the lake, and a newly planted hill are just some of the features you’ll enjoy. Coneflower, daisies, hostas and canna abound.