We’re disclosing a secret today – but it’s fine with the organizers. The Bowling Green State University
Women is holding its "Secret Garden" tour June 29, from 1 to 5 p.m.
Seven different city homes will be featured. The secret is that much of the beauty of these gardens is
tucked away, often out of view from the street.
Tickets, priced at $5 are on sale at Grounds for Thought and Calico, Sage & Thyme. They will also
be available at each of the seven homes on the day of the tour.
The organization will donate 100 percent of the proceeds to its scholarship fund.
Jo Ascunce, a tour committee member, said the seven gardens were selected to provide a variety of
features and garden aspects.
Years ago when the organization held previous tours, there were 15 gardens on the tour and the
"tourists" felt rushed to make it to all of them. So this year, there are only seven, but the
committee is excited about each of them.
"We (the committee) hope that with a smaller group of gardens, people would perhaps linger a little
more at each garden," Ascunce said.
The Sentinel-Tribune was given a preview of one of the gardens.
Sheila Kratzer showed off her garden which the master gardener tends with her husband, Doug. The primary
feature of the home is a mammoth White Willow tree which nearly fills one side of the backyard.
Kratzer said it was formerly listed on the Ohio Big Tree list as the largest of its kind in the state.
However, a few of its limbs have been lost due to storms and it has been replaced on the list due to the
loss of some of its canopy which, at its peak, was 110 feet across.

List or not, the tree is massive with its trunk measuring more than 27 feet in circumference and standing
more than 100-feet tall. By itself the tree would be worth the visit to the garden; however, there are a
lot more things to see at the Kratzer home.
They moved into the home in 1996, and Kratzer said she started working on the garden in 1997. One of the
first things was a three-year project of personally installing pavers with 22 pallets of pavers adorning
their driveway when the project began.
She has a preference for spring flowers, so the tour will be held too late in the season to see all her
spring bulbs, ephemeral and woodland flowers.
Guest will enter through the gates and arbor into what is named "Willow Way Garden." The arbor
was constructed from former railings from the Wood County Historical Museum.
Kratzer’s love of hostas showcases what she calls a "serene and relaxing setting." The koi
pond, which is Doug Kratzer’s pride, is prominently visible from the deck. Other areas of the yard have
water and statue features.
The other "secret gardens" are as follows (descriptions supplied by the committee, including
Ascunce, Phyllis Hartwell and Karen Johnson):
• Jeffrey and Rebecca Cullen, 1242 Conneaut Ave. This garden includes a water garden with a beach for the
birds, as well as many feeders for a variety of birds. Another feature expected to be ready for the tour
is a livestock watering tank planted with an Oak Openings specialty garden.
A past winner in the Beautiful BG contest, the yard has been named as a certified wildlife habitat
through the National Wildlife Federation and in 2013 was certified as a Monarch Waystation through
Monarch Watch.
• Boyd Crawford, 1052 Lindewood Lane. The deck at his home provides an excellent view of Simpson Garden
Park and there is a pond right behind his property. While there, it is just a close walk to the Healing
Garden in Simpson Garden which abuts this property and was donated by the Wood County Hospital and the
Crawford family and friends.
• Milton and Lee Hakel, 1435 Cedar Lane. This garden features numerous pots and planters and is accented
with quite a bit of art and sculpture items, including a distinctive glass sculpture.
• Phil and Joan Hollenbaugh, 1107 Napoleon Road. On this property there is also a lot of garden art,
copper flowers and a small backyard with lots to look at, including a hand-crafted koi pond. The garden
features mostly perennials, including more than 80 hostas and more than 30 daylillies.
• Clark and Jo Anne Searle, 842 Pine Valley Dr. An interesting feature in this garden is the combination
of usual and unusual flowers and how they complement each other. The garden art adds just the right
touch. A tiny shade garden introduces the front entrance to the home.
• Matthew and Heidi Reger, 540 W. Wooster St. The homeowners say the most distinctive feature is the 50
by 80-foot pond and waterfall accented by the garden which surrounds the waterfall. There is also a
wrought iron fence with brick pillars which was originally located at Oak Grove Cemetery.