AAUW set to hold 30th Garden Tour

Apr. 16—Amid flowers, the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Marysville-Yuba City group will hold its 30th annual Garden Tour on May 4.

As part of the tour, six private gardens will be open to people who have bought tickets, and pamphlets with addresses and a QR code will help tour members navigate the locations.

According to Lee Jones, a longtime owner and caretaker of the Harkey House Bed & Breakfast in Yuba City, the first floor of the historic Harkey House will also be on the tour. Jones has even recruited community members to portray members of the Harkey family during the tour — the house was built in 1874 as the home of Sheriff William Harkey of Sutter County.

"He was a true pioneer of early Sutter County, as well as Yuba County. He came on a covered wagon," Jones said. "And was elected sheriff and served for nearly 20 years as a sheriff, and he knew everybody's name and he believed in second chances."

Jones said the Harkey House will have a harpist playing outside during the tour. The Harkey House's courtyard plantings include herbs for preparing dishes for family and guests and fresh flowers to decorate the dining room and guest rooms.

"Jasmine, roses, hydrangeas, lilacs, and lavender provide lovely fragrances," according to the tour's pamphlet.

As part of the tour, local artists will also be showing their work in the yard of the McCampbell Mansion in Yuba City: Edie Fogel, Terri Foley, Diane Funston, Cindy Gaven, Sue Graue, Leslie

Greenetz, Nikki Pearson, Eileen Sparks, Linda Trudgeon and Walt Zukas. There will be a whirl of watercolor, photography and more.

Martha Bunce, chairwoman of the tour, said that the tour is just fun.

"Spend a day in a completely pleasant way where there's no agenda, there's no hassle, there's no rancor, there's just pleasure," Bruce said.

An artist for the event, Graue, said she has done the tour before and finds the event to not be depleting.

"I was never tired because the Garden Tour feeds your energy," Graue said.

Passing on the energy, the Garden Tour is an AAUW fundraiser that supports scholarships for women and girls — AAUW strives to advance equity for both.

"When I was working full time, and I had my daughters, I didn't have time to be active in the (AAUW organization)," Bunce said. "But when I learned about it, I thought, yes, that's an organization for my girls, if nothing else, to have the kinds of opportunities that they deserve as smart, wonderful people."

Tickets for the Garden Tour are now available online at mvyc-ca.aauw.net/garden-tour and at the following local businesses: K Roberts Gifts, Country Florist, Sperbeck's Nursery, Digs on D Street and Plumas Bank. Tickets are $25 at all locations.