Gardens, music and neighborhood pride were in full bloom June 20 as residents gathered for the 16th Annual West End Neighbors’ Garden Tour.

The free event drew visitors from across the community to explore seven featured gardens throughout the West 7th neighborhood while enjoying live music, family activities, local food and opportunities to connect with neighbors.

Tour headquarters at West 7th and Chatsworth Ave. served as a hub of activity throughout the day. Visitors picked up garden guides, listened to performances by Mary Cutrufello and Martin Devaney, participated in children’s activities, browsed local vendors and enjoyed food from Potter’s Pasties and more.

One of the highlights of this year’s event was the debut of the West 7th/Fort Road Federation’s new native garden installation at the Chatsworth Triangle, a small green space at the corner of Chatsworth and Rogers streets. The project transformed a previously underutilized parcel into a vibrant pollinator-friendly landscape and marked the first phase of a larger vision for the site. Federation leaders hope to eventually add seating, public art and other community amenities to the space.

The featured gardens reflected the growing interest in urban agriculture, sustainability and native landscaping throughout the neighborhood. Stops on the tour included vegetable gardens, backyard orchards, pollinator habitats, prairie restorations, water features and the Sunflower Community Garden. Several gardeners showcased creative approaches to maximizing small urban lots while supporting bees, butterflies and other pollinators.

The annual tour began in 2008 as a way to celebrate the creativity of West 7th residents and strengthen neighborhood connections. Sixteen years later, the event continues to highlight the people who invest time and care into making the community greener and more vibrant.