The Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City is a volunteer organization operated by the University of Missouri Extension.  The organization provides the community with research based gardening information throughout the four county area (Jackson, Clay, Platte and Cass).  The garden tour is the only fundraising event for this non-profit organization.  Proceeds from the garden tour help fund a variety of community projects.  This year’s projects include an innovative demonstration garden at the new Swope Park Community Center, a healing garden at Ronald McDonald house, a rain garden at Loose Park, demonstration gardens at Harvesters as well as the Swope Park community garden, a bird garden at Martha Lafitte Thompson Nature Sanctuary, and a kitchen garden at Watkins Woolen Mill state park.  The master gardeners also operate a free gardening hotline (816-833-TREE) from March through October as well as weekly help desks in the Cass and Platte county extension offices.  A Speaker’s Bureau provides speakers for community clubs and organizations as well as adult community education classes.

Additional information is available on the internet at http://extension.missouri.edu/gkcmg or you can call (816)252-5051.