Tickets are now on sale for the Bibler Home and Gardens Splendid Summer Evenings and Garden Party.

The Bibler home has an extensive collection of antiques, sculptures and Persian tapestries and is well known for its expansive gardens of tulips and daffodils accented with ponds, waterfalls, fountains, wooden foot bridges and more.

With the exception of privately arranged tours, the home and gardens are accessible only through the Flathead Valley Community College Foundation tours during select weekends in the spring and summer.

Splendid Summer Evenings, featuring guided two-hour tours of the Bibler Home and Gardens, are scheduled for July 19 to 22 at 5 and 7:30 p.m. New this summer, two-hour daytime tours will be offered Aug. 2 and 4 at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. All tours include opportunities to address questions to the Bibler’s head gardener. Tickets are $15 per adult and $5 per child.

In addition to the tours, the Culinary Institute of Montana at FVCC will present a gourmet Summer Garden Party in the Bibler Home at 5 p.m. July 18. Guests will have the opportunity to explore the gardens on their own. Tickets to the Garden Party are $60 per person or $110 per couple.

Tickets for all events are limited and must be purchased in advance through the Flathead Valley Community College Foundation Office by calling 756-3632 or by visiting www.biblergardens.org.

Hosted by the Flathead Valley Community College Foundation in partnership with the Bibler Foundation, these events support student scholarships at FVCC.

Southerners plan annual Catfish Fry

The 20th annual Flathead Southerners Catfish Fry & Gatherin’ is Sunday, June 26, at the Vista Linda Pavilion, 240 Boon Road in Somers.

Social hour gets under way at 4:30 p.m. An all-you-can-eat buffet dinner featuring Southern specialties will be served at 5:30 p.m. The menu includes catfish filets, hush puppies, Cajun-baked chicken and gumbo fried gizzards, okra, jambalaya, turnip greens, cornbread and more. The cost is $22 per adult, and $1 per year for those under 13.

Sweet tea and lemonade will be available, along with a cash bar featuring New Orleans hurricanes and mint juleps.

A raffle and silent auction begin at 6:30 p.m. All proceeds benefit A Ray of Hope’s new women and children’s shelter to be built in Kalispell.

Everyone is welcome. Make reservations by Friday, June 24, by calling Vista Linda at 857-3158.

For more information or to make raffle or silent auction donations, call Bill at 406-250-4117 or email flatheadsoutherner@hotmail.com