HAYDEN — The vibrant, colorful and sweet-smelling plants and flowers in Susan Lovelace's backyard garden aren't just for her.

They're part of a welcoming space for Mother Nature's winged and wonderful creatures that do their part to maintain a healthy and beautiful ecosystem.

"I have a pollinator garden," the Idaho Master Gardener said Monday. "The whole yard is based on who's welcome here. I have hummingbirds, butterflies, all kinds of bees, giant bumble bees, mason bees, bees I don't know. You have to provide water for birds and bees. Everybody needs water, especially right now. The hummingbirds are in love with my yard."

At 11391 N. Riata Road in Hayden, Lovelace's garden will make its debut during the Coeur d'Alene Garden Club's 23rd annual Garden Tour. The theme this year is "Bloom where you're planted."

In Lovelace's garden, it's evident that loving hands have toiled long hours to keep the flora flourishing.

A deep blue-violet clematis happily grows toward the sun on a trellis on the fence, tropical yellow Asiatic lilies burst open among a sea of greenery, and the perfume of glorious pink David Austin roses fills olfactories with the sweetest scent of midsummer. A peaceful bubbling from a rock water feature completes the serene scene.

"I had my own garden when I was 4, as a child, because I 'helped' my parents too much," Lovelace said. "They gave me my own square."

She enjoys the inspiration and process that goes into planning her garden.

"I knew that I needed to have vivid color, smell, sound, texture and my little guests coming through," she said. "It's not a garden if you don't have feathered friends and winged friends coming through. Everybody needs to enjoy a garden."

Lovelace has been a part of the Garden Club for about seven years. She said she's thrilled to have her garden on the tour this year.

"I love the concept of supporting a community process that brings so much good in our community," she said.

As of last year, $159,000 in proceeds from the past 10 years of Garden Tours have been distributed back to the community in the form of North Idaho College dual enrollment scholarships and funding for Hayden Meadows Elementary's Greenhouse Project, Safe Passage, the Kootenai Humane Society and more.

Last year, even when COVID canceled the event, sponsors generously stepped in to ensure Garden Tour funds could help the Community Action Partnership Coeur d'Alene Food Bank.

"That is one of the reasons we started Garden Tours, was to support the community," said Bonnie Warwick, Garden Tour chairwoman emeritus. "We pass all of our earnings out to the charities that apply to us. It's a wonderful give-give."

The 23rd annual Garden Tour will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 11. Six Coeur d'Alene and Hayden gardens will be featured, from the large and luxurious to the small and intimate. Artisans and musicians will be found throughout the gardens.

Tour-goers will be welcome to roam the private gardens, rain or shine, and enjoy inspiration to help make their own gardens a personal paradise.

"Everything is beautiful in its turn," Lovelace said. "This is what heaven looks like to me."

Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 the day of the tour.

Info: 208-641-9534, 208-661-0773 or www.cdagardenclub.com