Jul 5, 2010 By Patty Yauger 3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – Dozens of gardening enthusiasts and those who enjoy a stroll through a colorful field of flowers, trees and shrubbery turned out this weekend for an opportunity to see how several local residents have landscaped their back yards. The Connellsville Area Garden Club sponsored the garden tour that not only provided information about certain plant species, but also allowed for picture taking.

“I just love having pictures of pretty gardens,” said one unidentified photographer as she documented the adjoining gardens of Nancy Calisti and Beverly Oppermann.

The Swan Drive neighbors and garden club members were among eight gardeners who took part in the weekend event.

Calisti said that her grandmother taught her at a young age about the different kinds of flowers, so it was a natural progression to have a variety of them in her back yard and to become a member of the garden club.

While both have their own unique styles, this year they added a wall around a large silver leaf maple tree that had once divided the two properties, but now connects the neighboring gardens.

“We do coordinate our efforts,” said Calisti, pointing to the new addition. “And we trade flowers.”

The number of early morning visitors came as no surprise to Calisti, as last year’s event also drew large numbers.

While the club had hosted tours during its early years, the event had not been held for quite some time until last year, said Calisti.

“I had been to others in Greensburg, Ligonier and Latrobe and I brought it up to our garden club, saying that I thought we should have our own garden tour,” she said. “Last year was very successful, and it looks like this year will be too.”

Like Calisti, Oppermann was introduced to gardening as a youngster by her mother.

“She always belonged to an Iris Society and Day Lilly Society, and with her always being interested in flowers, that’s how I became involved,” said Oppermann. “Each year after the Memorial Day weekend, I go home to Colorado Springs and plant her gardens.”

While some may think of gardening as an additional chore, Oppermann said the hobby is therapeutic.

“I love to be out here,” she said. “It is so relaxing.”

Each year, the Oppermann garden is enhanced with a new flower that sometimes has its beginnings in Colorado Springs.

“I have a Rocky Mountain Bird in the Nest and a Denver Golden Columbine,” she said. “And all of my Irises and some day lillies are from my mother’s garden.”

Many of the Colorado plants, said Oppermann, have been shared with Connellsville family and friends.

“And I’m sure they have divided theirs and given them away,” she said.

The annual tour, meanwhile, is likely to continue, said Calisti and Oppermann.

“It seems to be very popular,” said Oppermann.

Others taking part in the weekend garden tour included Evan and Judy Nardone, Marilyn Weaver, Bob and Cindy Taylor, Ken and Merna Urbach, Chuck and Nancy Haggerty, Mike and Sandy Crocetti and Nancy Koller.