Over 200 garden lovers took advantage of cloudy blue skies on Saturday, April 26, 2025 to tour the gardens of four homeowners in the eastern Minden and Homer areas, including one on Lake Claiborne.

For those coming from Minden, the Piney Hills Louisiana Master Gardeners’ “Trails & Trellises” Garden Tour this year followed LA Hwy. 79 eastward to the Gruner garden, where a wide variety of plants grown by master gardeners were available for sale. The following descriptions of all four gardens were offered:

PAM & FREDDIE GRUNER GARDEN: Alvin Miller Road. Pam Gruner’s garden, cultivated over 40 years, features vibrant spring blooms, thousands of bulbs, and a raised vegetable garden. Whimsical gnomes and rabbits peek from the flowers, while a new native rock water feature adds charm. With 700 more bulbs planted last fall, the garden offers a stunning display, especially in spring, for lovers of crocus, daffodils, and snow glories.

JIMMY & LYNN MAY GARDEN: Hwy. 9, Homer. The May Garden offers a serene escape with heirloom plants, native species, and a butterfly garden. Visitors can explore wooded trails, a secluded pond, and enjoy the view from the back porch surrounded by maples, azaleas, and tropical plants. Rockers on the front porch provide a peaceful spot to take in the sweeping vistas of hills, ponds, and grazing cattle.

PATTI & TOMMY BOURNE GARDEN: Hwy. 9, Homer. At the home of Master Gardener Patti and Tommy Bourne, visitors are greeted by a meticulously cared-for yard, complete with vibrant flower beds filled with an assortment of flowers, shrubs and hanging fern pots. Adding a unique twist, Patti’s husband proudly showcases his collection of antique cars. Visitors enjoyed refreshments in the antique car barn, making this a perfect blend of garden beauty and a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

JANICE PLUMMER GARDEN. Coleman Loop, Homer. The Plummer Garden is a vibrant lakeside oasis highlighted by striking azaleas, hydrangeas, loropetalum, sweet olive, and acuba japonica. Flower beds are filled with day lilies, platycodone, echinacea, and blue salvia, while oak trees stand surrounded by hostas and ferns. Near the lake, a beautiful rose garden complements more azaleas, zinnias, marigolds, and begonias. The expansive deck and garden spaces feature potted hibiscus, macho ferns, and exotic plants. It’s the perfect spot to relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.