Tiffin Historic Trust Garden Tour | Explore the Blooming Possibilities!

At the urging of local gardeners, the Tiffin Historic Trust is holding a 2023 Tiffin Garden Tour on Sunday, June 25 from noon – 4:00 p.m.  The tour features gardens that illustrate a wide variety of gardening possibilities. Children and youth, 18 and under, are invited to enjoy the garden tour for free because everyone, especially the youngest, needs to experience the joy, wonder and exercise provided by gardening - and it’s never too early to start! The gardeners’ creativity, planning, love, and hard work are inspiring. The Ticket Donation is $15.00 per person; Children and youth 18 years and under are free.

The map of the tour sites is included with the ticket.  The tour will take place, rain or shine.

Pre-Tour Tickets are for sale at Great Lakes Ace Hardware, 1550 W Market St., Tiffin and Wagner Flowers & Greenhouses, 907 E County Road 50, Tiffin.  On the Sunday of the Tour, tickets are available starting at 11:00 a.m. at The Grammes-Brown House, 172 Jefferson St., Tiffin and the Ora and Jean Preston Home, 3491 East County Road 6 (just South of Melmore).  For more Information Phone:  419-618-9728.

Gardens to explore include... 

Magical, Gnomes, Faeries, Sprites, and So Many Flowers!: Ora and Jean Preston - 3491 East County Road 6 (just South of Melmore)

Leave plenty of time to enjoy and explore Jean and Ora’s “Imaginative and Amusing Faery and Gnome Gardens.”  Jean is a Master Gardener who is also known as the “The Fairy Garden Lady.”  There are many miniature gardens, perennial beds, rock gardens, a superb selection of trees, and even a vegetable garden.  Park here and take a leisurely walk around the many beds and then cross the road to the Lescallett Garden.

Fun, Family, Fruit, Fantasy!  An Amazing, All-Inclusive Garden: Gary and Julie Lescallett - 3544 East County Road 6

Juicy, big, bright, red strawberries are everywhere!  Many plants are creatively and artistically growing in and around old, weathered wood.  A swimming pool provides enjoyment for friends and family.  If you want to learn the right way to grow big, juicy onions, Julie can show you!

The Farmhouse Garden: Amy and Tom Anway - 3129 South County Road 17

This “hidden treasure” garden provides for the family and more.  Carrying on the tradition of the farm, every kind of flower and vegetable is welcome.  There are raised beds in addition to traditional plantings.  Something is growing and blooming throughout the season.  There are spaces to enjoy it all, including a swimming pool for the family to relax in!

Victorian Volunteer Garden: Grammes-Brown House - 172-174 Jefferson Street

The Tiffin Historic Trust’s backyard cottage garden is tended entirely by volunteers.  While the roses are blooming for beauty, the herb garden will be bright red with bee balm and aromatic herbs along with Rosina’s Red Rhubarb.  Violas will be blooming in the front and back gardens.  The gardeners are focusing on edible flowers this season.

An Extensive Shade Garden: Ed Goshe and John Bing - 26 Clinton Avenue

This shade garden, surrounding the more than one hundred-year-old Victorian House, has an extensive flowering shrub border, along with a large selection of hostas, daylilies, and tree peonies earlier in the spring.  Victorian urns, containers and found objects are positioned throughout the garden presenting colorful accents emerging from the greenery!

An Amazing Outdoor Living Space Garden: Denny and Jean Dom - 153 Noble Street

A carved tree stump greets the guests to this in-town garden that features a huge brick patio with an enormous fireplace.  Large clay pots, beautiful flowering perennials, and ornamental trees, are surrounded by a “live fence” of bamboo!  Many of the plants are not seen in other gardens in the area!  This garden evolves every year evoking joy and wonder! 

A Tiffin Landmark Garden: Larry Breidenbach,Tiffin Train Depot - 65 North Monroe Street

The beautifully restored 1862 Tiffin Train Depot is a tranquil and exquisitely landscaped property that tells a story about Tiffin’s growth during the 19^th century.  Larry Breidenbach has created a grotto using enormous boulders, including a waterfall with a sandstone floor, along with five other ponds.  Visitors will be shaded by lavish conifers throughout the property.  Look for the colorful goldfish in the ponds and listen for the frog songs!

We hope you enjoy your experience and thank you all for supporting the Tiffin Historic Trust, Tiffin’s historic preservation organization.  We also invite you and your friends to become members as we work on a Strategic Plan to revitalize our organization. We hope to see you enjoy a beautiful day full of blooms and fun!