Kirsten Jantze, a Riverside resident, has always had gardens, even when she lived in a small condo.

Now, on Sunday, June 28, the garden she spent three years cultivating will be featured in Riverside’s garden walk.

When her family first moved into their house in Riverside, not much development had been done on the current garden, she said. Along with her husband, she spent hours and hours clearing away old vegetation and planting new things.

“It’s a way to be creative,” Jantze said. “It’s a way to give back to the environment, it’s a way to have wildlife.”

The garden walk is organized by the Riverside Garden club, and Jantze, a club member, was asked by the planning committee if she would like to have her garden featured.

“They saw a dramatic change from A to B,” Jantze said.

In addition to the Jantze garden, seven others will be included on the walk, said Susan Deems-Dluhy, a club member.

“(The gardens) are very mixed,” Deems-Dluhy said. “Some are very natural — one of the homes uses all natural landscaping — some use garden art. Each one is different. That’s one thing the committee was looking for.”

Each garden was designed by the owner, although members of the garden walk planning committee sometimes offered suggestions for the owners to emphasize their themes, Deems-Dluhy said.

The theme for Jantze’s garden is “Hidden Resort.” Other themes include “French Quarters” and “California Dreaming.” There also is a Frank Lloyd Wright house on the garden walk.

“I just love looking at other people’s gardens and getting ideas from other people’s gardens,” Deems-Dluhy said. “There’s always different things. You never see two alike.”

New to the garden walk this year is the garden faire, which will run throughout the day and will feature live music, food, art vendors and gardening experts, Deems-Dluhy said. The free faire will be at the Riverside Presbyterian Church, at 116 Barrypoint Road.

“The idea is really to make it a community event,” Deems-Dluhy said. “We’re really hoping that’s how it turns out.”

More than 20 local vendors will be at the faire, and Jem Cafe of Riverside will be providing food for the event, she said. Gardening experts also will be in attendance, and gardening demonstrations will be given throughout the afternoon.

With the garden walk less than a week away, Jantze said her garden is ready for visitors.

“You’re hoping everything grows and nothing dies,” Jantze said. “It would be nice if it got a little warmer so everything could perk up.”

If you go
• Garden walk runs from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 28
• Garden faire runs from noon to 6 p.m.
• Tickets to the garden walk are $15 in advance, or $20 the day of the event.
• Tickets are available at the Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, Shamrock Gardens of Riverside, 18 E. Burlington Road, or by contacting Sheila Gentile, (708) 442-1778 or e-mail sheila_e@att.net.
• The day of the walk people can purchase tickets at any of the houses on the walk or at the faire.