By Katie Scarvey
kscarvey@salisburypost.com

OctoberTour gives us a chance to satisfy our curiosity about local historic homes, but what about those of us who are interested in what’s outside of homes — living and growing?
Fortunately, for us, the Salisbury-Rowan Symphony Guild has us covered with its Festival of Summer Gardens next weekend.
The event takes place 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, June 25, and 1-5 p.m. Sunday, June 26.
Not only will tour-goers get to see some of the most beautiful gardens in Rowan County, they can also consult with Master Gardeners, who will be available at many stops to share their wisdom about summer gardening.
Plein Air Carolina artists will have their easels set up in each of the gardens, and musicians from the symphony’s After School Strings Junior Strings and Summer Strings Camp, along with adult performers, will provide entertainment. At Carolina Lily, the Salisbury-Rowan Quilters Guild will be quilting.
Tour stops in Salisbury include the gardens of:
• Barbara and Cliff Sorel, 603 S. Fulton St.
• Ed and Susan Norvell, 128 S. Fulton St.
• Betty and Jim Carli, 419 S. Ellis St.
The festival lineup also includes the Woodleaf gardens of:
• Grover and Millie Ward, 2840 Gheen Road;
• Ann and Sam Meredith, 2542 Enon Church Road.
In Forest Glen, tour-goers can see the gardens of:
• Robert Myers and Jack Page and The Perfect Rose LLC (302 E. Glenview Drive);
• Renu and Yadi Bale, 414 W. Glenview Drive.
Other gardens outside of town include those of:
• Jean McCoy and Rick Travis, 505 Steeplechase Trail;
• Carolina Lily, 1375 Kern Carlton Road.
Presenting sponsors are Cloninger Ford-Toyota-Scion and The Perfect Rose.
Tickets are $15 day of tour. Advance tickets are $12 and available at the Visitors Bureau, 204 E. Innes St. (704-638-3100) or by phone at 704-603-4652 or 704-645-8300.
Tickets are also available online at www.salisburysymphony.org. Click on the “tickets” link.