KINGSTON, R.I. -- May 29, 2003 -- Expert gardeners trained through the University of Rhode Island’s Master Gardener program will open their gardens to the public for the first "Gardening with the Masters" tour.

Sponsored by the URI Master Gardener Association, the 29 private gardens scattered around the state and three public gardens on URI’s Kingston campus will be open rain or shine from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 21 and from noon to 4 p.m. on June 22. Master Gardeners will serve as guides at each site, and educational materials related to each garden’s features will be available.

Six of the garden sites open for tours are in Providence County, while four are in Kent County, five in Newport County, three in Bristol County, and 14 in Washington County.

Guidebooks, which serve as admittance tickets and provide directions to each garden, must be purchased in advance. From noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, the guidebooks can be purchased for $12 for Master Gardeners with IDs and $18 for the general public at Schartner Farms in Exeter, Lincoln Gardens in Lincoln, Hidden Gardens in Barrington, Chaves' Gardens in Middletown, or at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Gardens Greenhouses in Providence.

For more information, call the URI Cooperative Extension Education Center at 874-2900.