A NOT-SO-SECRET GARDEN. Chippewa River Trolley will soon offer "Behind the Garden Gates," an exclusive look at the Valley's accomplished gardens – curated by Eau Claire's own Master Gardeners and in collaboration with the Chippewa Valley Biodiversity Partnership.

Ding Ding! Do you hear that? It’s the sound of a new trolley tour hitting the streets of Eau Claire this spring and summer!

Take a moment to wander and appreciate the beauty of our area gardens – perhaps even stop to smell the flowers – during "Behind the Garden Gates: Exploring the Private Spaces of Eau Claire's Master Gardeners."

Chippewa River Trolley will soon offer an exclusive look at the private – and publicly hidden – gardens of accomplished gardeners, curated by Eau Claire's own Master Gardeners.

Master Gardeners are environmental stewards who possess certified trainings in the science and art of gardening; their goals locally are to "connect people with resources and research-based information to help people better understand horticulture and their environment."

These individuals and members of the Chippewa Valley Biodiversity Partnership will host a three-hour guided trolley tour through the blooming Mount Washington neighborhood; guests will visit three gardens and receive a masterclass on how to create their own sustainable, native plant garden.

Local Master Gardeners connect residents with resources and research-based information to better understand horticulture and their natural environment.

Each stop will spotlight a half-acre property – bursting with natives, nativars and cultivars and prairie plants; treescapes including oak, cherry, hackberry, ironwood, pagoda dogwood and serviceberry.

There will also a beautiful private garden where guests can see how native and non-native plants, trees and shrubs coexist to provide inviting habitats for birds, insects and other wildlife.

Behind the Garden Gates will also highlight Eau Claire's vibrant public pollinator garden, where Master Gardeners have removed invasive species and in turn, created a haven for local pollinators.

Guides will lead conversations on the beauty and benefits of low-maintenance native lawns, composting and soil health and practical strategies to identify and remove invasive species.

You won't want to miss this limited chance to ask your most pressing questions on how to create, or improve, your own garden!

Tickets to Chippewa River Trolley's "Behind the Garden Gates" ($32/person) are currently sold out for May, with additional tour dates available this August. Visit chippewarivertrolley.org/tours to learn more.