BUCKFIELD – Though Mary Jones has nothing to compare it with, she thinks Saturday’s garden tour last weekend, the first by the Beautification Committee, was a success. The tour was dedicated to the memory of Rita Tilton and was sponsored by Tilton’s Market.

Sixteen gardens were on the tour.

The Atkinson garden, named Rock Sprite, uses bedrock as walkways and accents. Sue Atkinson built raised beds around the flattest part of ledge and filled the beds with colorful perennials. Her home has been in the family for five generations, and she is constantly finding metal relics that she uses for accents in her garden.

The layered bedrock continues up a hill with a walkway among plants that takes one to a view of Mount Washington.

The McAlister garden is a treasure of heirloom plants. Though small, it is filled with unique and rare plants that Phil McAlister shows with great pride. He grows most of his plants from seeds. One flower’s tiny white blossom, McAlister explained, closes in an hour and another may burst into bloom. An Aramanthus showed a spiral of blossoms that the Incas used for cereal, according to McAlister. There are three Balm of Gilead trees, rare in this area, growing across the road from McAlister.

Lorosa Heights, the garden of Becky Perry, shows years of tender care and was in full bloom showing off brilliant colors of perennials in every hue. A large double ring sculpture stands in the midst of the garden to signify love. A path in the woods is planted with shade loving plants as it winds down to a river.

Cathy Lee has turned her love of gardening into a small business as she sells perennials in her Village Gardens.

David Ledlie’s love of hybridizing day lilies showed beautiful results.

Jones said the Beautification Committee is getting closer to the goal of purchasing and placing a gazebo on the green in front of the Municipal center. All of the funds from the tour will go toward this project.