SWARTZ CREEK — The gardens of several Swartz Creek homes will be featured in the Genesee County Master Gardener Tour 2012 on July 21.

The garden tour is a fundraiser for the Michigan Master Gardner Association Genesee County Chapter, with the proceeds going to benefit Genesee County beautification projects, including the I-69 rest area.

The self-guided tour begins at 9 a.m. and lasts until 5 p.m. and features 10 gardens, including eight private homes, the I-69 rest area and the Swartz Creek Area Veterans Memorial garden.

“Each garden has its own unique look,” said Kay McCullough, chairperson for the Genesee County Master Gardener Tour 2012. “It gives homeowners more ideas on what they could possibly do to their own home.”

At each site there will be a master gardener available to answer questions for people on the tour.

Each year the tour rotates to different areas around Genesee County. This year the tour found its way to Swartz Creek.

“There are lots of big gardeners in the Swartz Creek area,” McCullough said.

The 2013 tour will take place in the Gaines area, with the 2014 tour moving to either Davison or Burton.

Gardens on the tour will feature colored flowers, a backyard waterfall, vegetable and herb gardens, a wooded pathway and redbud tree flowers.

Tickets for the tour are $10 for adults and $2 for children, with tickets on sale at many local nurseries and shops in the Swartz Creek area. Details: Visit the website at www.GCgardentour.weebly.com.