Amana offers garden tours Saturday

AMANA — Visitors can see the Amana Colonies in Bloom Saturday during a self-guided tour of select gardens in five of the seven villages.

The gardens will be open to visitors from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The annual garden party will follow at 5 p.m. at the Amana Heritage Museum.

Saturday’s Colonies in Bloom is an event that reflects appreciation of the rich gardening culture of the Amana Colonies.

Gardening has always been a key part of the Amana Colonies and has grown and continued over time, according to the Amana Colonies visitors bureau. In the communal era, fruits and vegetables were grown in two- to three-acre plots to provide food for the community and goods to sell to outside communities.

No space was to be wasted, so hobby gardening was not common.

After the communal system was dissolved in 1932, hobby gardening became more prevalent.

Several residences and businesses will open their gardens for Colonies in Bloom. Each garden is unique, and visitors will see both traditional and modern gardens and both native and exotic plants.

Maps for Colonies in Bloom will be available at the Amana Heritage Museum, the Amana Colonies Visitors Center, and each participating garden location as well as online at amanacolonies.com and amanaheritage.org.

The Colonies in Bloom Garden Party will extend the celebration of gardening in the Amana Colonies into the evening. Live music is scheduled for 5-7 p.m., and food and drink will be available during the party, along with yard games in the courtyard.

Amana Heritage Museum will be open during the event, and admission will be free.

Donations will be accepted for food and drink during the party.

Regular admission to the Amana Heritage Museums is $10 and sites are open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The Amana Heritage Museum main site is open 9 a.m. — 4. m. in the summer.

Check the Amana Colonies website for up-to-date hours for each location.

More information about the Colonies in Bloom Garden Party and the Amana Heritage Society can be found online at amanaheritage.org. Contact the Amana Colonies at 319-622-3567 or heritageprograms@southslope.net.