Smell the flowers during Raymond Garden Tour June 24

RAYMOND — Gardening enthusiasts are invited to tour eight private gardens Saturday, June 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and talk with garden designers about their creative processes in cultivating those inviting spaces. Rain date June 25.

This is all part of the third Raymond Garden Tour, a self-guided outing held to raise money to benefit the Raymond Village Library, 3 Meadow Road. The tour begins at the library, allowing participants to purchase their tickets, including a brochure and map documenting the individual gardens, and then move on to view the gardens.

This self-paced tour is planned as a whole day’s event, visiting several gardens in the morning, taking a break for lunch at one of numerous businesses nearby (featured on the map), then continuing the tour. Advance tickets are $15 — $20 the day of the tour — and are available at the Raymond Village Library (cash, checks or credit card) as well as online at raymondvillagelibrary.org.

As an added attraction, there will be an opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for a stunning, original painting generously donated by well-known local artist, Donna Kantor, on display at the library.

Attendees are encouraged to save room for dessert. Following the tour, the historic Hawthorne House will host its Annual Strawberry Festival at 3:30 p.m., featuring Jeanne Christie, executive director of the National Association of State Wetlands Managers, speaking on “Gardening for Bumble Bees and other Native Pollinators.”

This will be followed by homemade strawberry shortcake. Donation of $10 per adult or $5 per child (8 and under). Although walk-ins are welcome, reservations are greatly appreciated. Reservations may be made by e-mail to janoush@twc.com.