By Linda Schreiber

Garden enthusiasts are invited to Open Gardens Weekend 2026, a free self-guided tour showcasing more than 20 residential and prairie gardens in Iowa City, Coralville and across Johnson County.

The annual event, hosted by Project GREEN, will take place Saturday, June 27, from 4-8 p.m. and Sunday, June 28, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Visitors may tour participating gardens whenever a sign reading “The Garden is Open” is displayed.

Now in its seventh year, Open Gardens Weekend has become one of the area’s most anticipated summer traditions, inspiring more residents to garden and share their landscapes with the public.

^{Left: JCMG April and Brad Nevers welcomed visitors into their gardens in Coralville for the 2025 Open Gardens Weekend. Right: The garden spaces at Ed and Kelli Rinderspacher’s West Branch home are famously curated as distinct rooms framed by lofts of trees. (Photos by Linda Schreiber)}

“Area gardeners have such interesting gardens because they put a lot of thought into creating their spaces,” said Diane Allen, Project GREEN co-president and MG emeritus. “We love the generous gardeners who are willing to share their gardens more than once and refer to them as Encore Gardens on garden maps.”

The featured gardens highlight plants at their seasonal peak and reflect a range of styles, from carefully cultivated residential landscapes to expansive prairie plantings. 

Organizers say the event celebrates gardening as both an art form and a way to strengthen neighborhoods, improve environmental stewardship, and foster community connections.

MG and Project GREEN co-president Cindy Parsons said, “Every garden tells a story. Visitors will discover creative ideas, plants that thrive locally and the passion gardeners put into shaping their landscapes.”

Maps identifying participating gardens will be available beginning the week before the event at local sponsor businesses and during event hours at Project GREEN Gardens at Ashton House, 820 Park Road, in Iowa City. A complete list of map pickup locations and sponsoring businesses will be available on the Project GREEN website and social media.

Interest in Open Gardens Weekend continues to grow. Last year, visitors picked up nearly 1,500 garden maps, reflecting increasing enthusiasm for home gardening and nature-based activities.

The event remains free thanks to support from local business sponsors, whose participation helps expand access to gardening education and community engagement. The tour also encourages visitors to explore area neighborhoods, public spaces and local businesses.

About Project GREEN

Project GREEN (Grow to Reach Environmental Excellence Now) promotes environmental conservation, community beautification and public gardening initiatives. Since its founding in 1968, the nonprofit organization has funded more than $2.3 million in community projects, including parks, roadsides, riverfronts, school grounds and the Project GREEN Gardens at Ashton House, a public garden located on the grounds of the city-owned Ned Ashton House in Iowa City. The organization celebrated 55 years of community service in 2023.

Find more information here about this year’s Open Gardens Weekend. For an overview of how the tour works, check out details here.

For map pickup locations, visit the Project GREEN website and social media.