Garden Tours

2022 Behind the Garden Gate Tour

Quincy Preserves “Behind the Garden Gate” Garden Tour – Saturday, June 18

The beauty of Quincy is blooming at every corner and your Quincy Preserves is ready to showcase 5 fascinating gardens and a block of historic residences during the annual “Behind the Garden Gate” tour. Saturday, June 18 is the day, rain or shine, to view gardens of all varieties! Whimsical, freeform, formal, water features, and more will delight you.

The addresses of this year’s featured homes are:

1680 Maine Street
1224 Park Place
3111 Cabot Road
921 Maple
1840 Jersey
9th-10th Kentucky

Tickets are $20 the day of the tour and may be purchased at any of the tour locations. $18 advance tickets may be purchased online and at select businesses beginning in May. The day of the tour, full price tickets may be purchased at the ticket tent located at Lorenzo Bull Park, 1550 Maine.

2021 Behind the Garden Gate Tour

2019 Summer Home & Garden Tour

You are invited to a brand-new Quincy Preserves tour to experience beautiful historic indoor and outdoor living. This year’s tour includes secret garden spaces, outdoor relaxation areas, grand homes, and a unique restaurant venue.

Our tour locations take you all over the Gem City. You will see slices of normally private spaces that offer inspiration for your own back yard and historic homes that highlight some of the best architecture of Quincy.

Quincy Preserves tours help support and bolster Quincy’s unique catalog of great architecture through donations, scholarships, commercial and residential façade programs.

Featured on this NEW summer tour:
Illinois Veterans Home: Dudley Mansion & Shirley Northern Garden
1401 Maine House*
428 Maine, Red Light Bar & Grill – National Register of Historic Places
1656 Maine House and Garden
910 Birdie Lane Garden
4733 North 12th House and Garden

Tickets are $15 in advance and are available at Domestics, Emerald City Jewelers, Kirlins in the Quincy Mall. Tickets are available for $20 on the day of the tour at any of the tour locations. *Ticket pickup and day-of credit cards sales at 1401 Maine only.

Quincy Preserves Annual Membership Picnic

The annual Quincy Preserves Membership Picnic will take place on June 22nd at 6:00 pm on the beautiful Illinois Veterans Home grounds at the Dudley Mansion. The evening will include a scholarship presentation and volunteer appreciation party.

The mission of Quincy Preserves, Inc., is to foster awareness of and to promote appreciation of the historic architecture of Quincy, Illinois, and Adams County and to encourage active membership involvement in the recognizing, protecting, maintaining and displaying of these structures.

2018 Behind the Garden Gate Tour

Quincy Preserves “Behind the Garden Gate” Garden Tour – Saturday, June 9

The beauty of Quincy is blooming at every corner and your Quincy Preserves is ready to showcase 5 fascinating gardens during the annual “Behind the Garden Gate” tour. Saturday, June 9 is the day, rain or shine, to view gardens of all varieties! Whimsical, freeform, formal, koi ponds, waterfalls and Williamsburg inspired gardens will delight you. A very special opportunity will be the Four Winds Farm that features flowers, organic veggie, and herb gardening – this will be educational AND a beautiful experience so allow a bit more time at this location.

The addresses of this year’s gardens are:

413 Kentucky Road West
2421 Kentucky
2105 Curved Creek
1900 SE Wilmar Dr
3729 North 36th – Four Winds Farm

Tickets are $12 the day of the tour and may be purchased at any of the tour locations. $10 advance tickets may be purchased online and at select businesses beginning May 9th. Patrons may claim online advance ticket purchases and credit card sales at the Four Winds Farm location.

Advance tickets are available at the following Quincy locations:
Adam Florist – 522 S. 8th
Emerald City Jewelers – 3236 Broadway
Kirlin’s Hallmark – Quincy Mall

In Hannibal:
Java Jive – 211 N. Main Street

Added attractions are “ASK THE PRO” your gardening questions, expertly designed flower pot arrangements by Creative Gardens (Carol Rakers) for purchase, and tasty pastries and beverages for your enjoyment and purchase.

Tour proceeds provide Quincy Preserves the funds needed to support our Façade Programs, Scholarships, and other sister preservation organization needs.

2016 Behind the Garden Gate Tour

Quincy Preserves “Behind the Garden Gate” Garden Tour – Saturday, June 25

You are invited to join Quincy Preserves “Behind the Garden Gate” on Saturday, June 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Attendees will enjoy the little pieces of heaven found in so many residential yards in Quincy. The 2016 tour is being held in conjunction with the Midsummer Arts Faire – www.artsfaire.org. Gourmet pastries and refreshments will be available in the garden at 1680 Maine during the tour.

Advance ticket sales are now closed. Tickets are $12 the day of the tour and may be purchased at any of the garden locations.

The addresses of the gardens are 205 South 16th, 307 South 16th, 327 South 16th, 1801 Maine, 1680 Maine and 1440 Kentucky. This is an ideal self-guided walking tour as the gardens are within a 4 square block area. Proceeds from the tour will benefit the Quincy Preserves Scholarship Fund and Façade Program.

Most of the gardens are located in the backyards and are not visible to the public which creates a “secret garden” tour experience. This up close and personal tour features a wide variety of plants.

This year’s tour will feature exquisite pastries and beverages for sale at 1680 Maine Street, created by Sweet Dreams Bakery’s Cordon Blue School trained pastry chef. Another new feature will be ‘Ask the Pro” featuring University of Illinois Extension personnel at 1440 Kentucky, Carol Rakers of Creative Garden Designs at 1680 Maine, and Brent Bergman of Bergman Landscape Architecture at 307 South 16th.

Many gardens have water elements that provide the soothing noise that also gives a cooling effect on a summer afternoon. Music and wind chimes are featured in other gardens. A few of the gardens are professionally planned and maintained while others are the owner’s creations. Some homes have beautiful decks, others have patios that provide a tranquil outdoor space during the spring, summer and fall. Patio furniture, lighting and decorations give these outdoor living areas an inviting and peaceful appeal perfect for entertaining or just relaxing on a beautiful day.

Make plans to visit these beautiful treasures of Quincy! Those purchasing tickets with a credit/debit card will need to begin the tour at 1680 Maine. For additional information please contact Deb Davis at 217-223-3306.

2015 Behind the Garden Gate Tour

The beauty of Quincy in early summer will be easily seen on Quincy Preserves “Behind the Garden Gate” tour taking place Saturday, June 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The tour is being held in conjunction with the MidSummer Arts Faire. Refreshments will be available in one of the gardens during the tour.

Tickets are $10 and will be for sale Friday, June 26 at the Midsummer Arts Faire information tent in Washington Park, by clicking on the link below and at each of the homes the day of the tour. Those addresses are: 1501 Kentucky, 1505 Kentucky, 1461 Maine, 224 South 24^th Street, 230 S. 24^th Street and 2000 Jersey. Proceeds from the tour will benefit the Quincy Preserves Scholarship Fund along with the Façade Program.