May 6, 2005
If you thought Bisbee’s homes were eclectic, take a walk through the mile-high town’s private gardens. Visitors will have a chance Saturday to explore 10 of the town’s gardens during the fourth annual Bisbee Bloomer Garden Tour.
"We’ve arranged the tour to emphasize secluded streets, back pathways and little-used stairs," says Fred Miller, president of the Bisbee Bloomers, a civic improvement group. "It is a Bisbee that only the adventurous visitor and resident ever sees."
Nestled in the Mule Mountains and the overlap of the S onoran and Chihuahua deserts, Bisbee isn’t the easiest place to garden: The altitude, the prevalence of rock, the extreme alkalinity and absence of organic materials challenge gardeners.
The 1 1 /4-mile walking tour involves climbing a few stairs, so bring water, comfortable shoes and sunscreen.
Bisbee Bloomer
Garden Tour What: 1 1 /4-mile self-guided tour of 10 gardens
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: Begins at the Bisbee Visitor Center, 2 Copper Queen Plaza
Cost: $8 for tour, $1 for shuttle bus
Information: (520) 432-1418 or
