The Audubon Community Nature Center in Jamestown has announced the location of the six gardens featured in their 2017 Secret Gardens Tour. Pictured here is one of the large gardens visitors can explore. Photo courtesy of Dave Cooney

Spectacular! Stunning! Breathtaking!

These are some of the words being used to describe what you will see at the 2017 Secret Gardens Tour being presented by Audubon Community Nature Center on Saturday, July 1.

Because of the size of some of the gardens, the tour has been extended from 10:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Plan to wear comfortable walking shoes and be inspired by some beautiful and unique gardens in and around Jamestown, New York.

The gardens are “secret” because you have to be invited by the owners to see them. Here are the names of the gardeners, locations of their hidden treasures, and hints about their presentations:

¯ Dave Anderson – 126 Wilton Avenue, Jamestown; defies you to say you don’t have room for a garden

¯ Steve Arnone and Sue Carlson – 3363 Strunk Road, Jamestown (town of Ellicott); a big property with many gardens, created from scratch by a florist and a former landscaper

¯ ACNC’s Kitchen Garden – 1600 Riverside Road, Jamestown (town of Carroll); maintained by a team of dedicated volunteers

¯ Bob and Paula Gaus – 5170 Damon Hill Road, Sinclairville; with an Asian-inspired “river of stone,” pergola covered with hops, and a breathtaking view

¯ Kay and Gary Johnson – 4107 Nutt Road, Jamestown (town of Busti); relax by the pond before heading back across this large property with its spectacular glacial rock fountain

¯ Sandy Nagurney (Dan Nagurney, head carpenter) – 796 Hunt Road, Lakewood; the most frequently requested repeat from the 2014 tour

Whether you garden in feet or acres, you are sure to bring home some ideas for your very own patch.

Tickets have maps that include the GPS address for each garden, directions, and recommendations on where to park.

In addition to Audubon, presale tickets can be purchased for $12 in Falconer (New York) at Robert’s Nursery (3172 Dry Brook Road) and in Jamestown at Lake View Gardens (1259 North Main), Peterson Farm (3206 Fluvanna Ave.), Secret Garden Flower Shop (559 Buffalo St.), and Stillwater Garden Market (1445 Foote Ave.)

Tickets can be purchased for $15 at these businesses and participating gardens on the day of the tour.

For the $12 presale price you can also pay online and bring a print out or on-screen version to Audubon to pick up your ticket. If you are starting your tour at Audubon, you can collect your ticket the day of the event.

As sponsors of the Tour, Taco Hut and Alfie’s Restaurant are recommended should you want to add lunch or supper to your excursion. Monday was the cutoff date for additional businesses — especially restaurants — to be included in the handout to tour takers.

You will want to dress for the weather as the tour happens rain or shine; there are no ticket refunds.

For more information, call 569-2345 or visit auduboncnc.org/gardenstour.

The Secret Gardens Tour includes admission for the day to Audubon Community Nature Center at 1600 Riverside Road, one-quarter mile east of Route 62 between Jamestown, New York, and Warren, Pennsylvania.

The Nature Center building, housing the Blue Heron Gift Shop and exhibits of live fish, reptiles, amphibians and more, is open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sundays 1-4:30 p.m. Outdoors, the arboretum, gardens, picnic area, more than five miles of trails, and exhibit of Liberty the Bald Eagle are open dawn to dusk daily. To learn more, call 569-2345 or visit auduboncnc.org.

Audubon Community Nature Center builds and nurtures connections between people and nature by providing positive outdoor experiences, opportunities to learn about and understand the natural world, and knowledge to act in environmentally responsible ways.