See six unique inner NE Portland gardens at this last big garden tour of the summer. Late summer is a great time to see gardens – even better than spring! The late summer flower palette is lush, plants are towering overhead and hummingbirds are dive-bombing the late summer crush of blossoms.

Several of the gardens incorporate a modern aesthetic, and the work of a group of noted landscape designers are featured, along with creative homeowners. Gardeners and designers featured on the tour: Linda Ernst, Joanne Fuller, Jenn Ferrante, Lynn Youngbar, Sean Hogan and Lauren Hall-Behrens.

The tour is self-guided – you receive a map with directions and can visit the gardens in any order you like. Preview the gardens here - and order tickets.

WHAT: Green On Green Garden Tour – a benefit garden tour for the Portland Reading Foundation
WHEN: Saturday September 15, 2012 from 11 am to 4 pm. Pre-tour fern table demo and breakfast 9:30 – 10:30 am
WHERE: tour takes place at six inner NE Portland gardens; pre-tour demo/breakfast is in inner NE neighborhood

COST: Tour: $20 per person; demo, breakfast and tour: $35 per person. Tour proceeds go to the Portland Reading Foundation, to support students in low-income Portland neighborhood schools who are working to build lifetime reading skills.

Tickets can be purchased on line here or in person at Garden Fever Nursery: 3433 NE 24^th Avenue; Portland Nursery: 5050 SE Stark St or 9000 SE Division St.; or Oxalis: 1824 NW 24^th Ave.