If you want to see some of the finest and most creative residential landscapes in the Portland area, then mark Saturday, June 18 on your calendar, and make plans to attend the eighth annual Behind-the-Scenes Garden Tour, presented by the Association of Northwest Landscape Designers (ANLD). The self-guided, multi-site tour will be held from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at locations throughout the Portland area.

I saw last year’s edition and it truly was spectacular, and full of ideas. This year, the gardens are expected to highlight a variety of fresh and innovative design features, including stone work and structures, maximized use of space, edible plants, sustainable stormwater and wildlife features, colorful low maintenance plants, and customized garden art. The featured designers this year are Courtney Downing, Rick Hansen, Steve Carruthers, Kip Nordstrom, Lucy Hardiman, and the duo of Anne Marsh and Gary Fear. Tickets are $20 each. They are available at www.anld.com. Participants using the website can purchase tickets before April 30 and get a $5 early bird discount per ticket. Starting on May 1, tickets will also be available through several Portland-area garden centers, including Magnolia Manor (Lake Oswego), Garden Fever! (Portland), Portland Nursery (both locations), Cornell Farm (Portalnd) and Dennis’ 7 Dees Landscaping and Garden Centers (Southeast Portland, Cedar Hills and Lake Oswego).

The Association of Northwest Landscape Designers (ANLD) is a professional organization created in 1982 to provide landscape designers and associates in Oregon and Washington with opportunities for networking, education, and support.