NATCHEZ — Gardens can stimulate the senses and restore tranquility, momentarily separating a person from a world that can be loud and demanding.

Guests of the fifth annual Symphony of Gardens Tour will be treated to a weekend of beauty, nature and serene locales around Natchez May 6 and 7.

“This is an opportunity to see gardens that are not always open to the public, enjoy their beauty and pick up ideas for your own landscape whether you plant in containers or have a full-size garden,” said Karen Dardick, chairperson of the Symphony of Gardens Tour. “Seeing what other people do can be an inspiration. And, it’s fun.”

Dardick said guests will be exposed to styles of gardening from traditional to imaginative.

“We will have the Southern landscapes from large estate gardens like Brandon Hall, and (we will) also see the work of enthusiastic gardeners, like Williams Garden,” Dardick said.

Besides gaining perspective on gardening trends and styles, tour participants will also take home an education from one of the South’s foremost horticulturists and authors, Harvey Cotton.

Cotton is vice president and chief horticulturist of the Huntsville Botanical Gardens in Alabama. He will present a workshop at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Natchez Convention Center to discuss how to create a garden showplace. His presentation will feature plants that are simple to grow, require minimal water and provide months of color in the Southern landscape. He will answer questions and autograph copies of his book, “Easy Gardens for the South” following his presentation.

The workshop is free with tickets to a Friday or Saturday garden tour.

Dardick said proceeds from the tour will benefit the downtown Natchez beatification project. The beautification, carried out by the Adams County Master Gardeners as part of the Community Alliance’s community project, will enhance the downtown area with trees and flowers.

“The tour is all about creating beauty,” Dardick said.

Dardick said she is thankful for the kindness and generosity of homeowners who will open their gardens to the public on the tour.

“They are some of the most generous people on earth,” Dardick said. “And they get nothing financially. In fact, they often have to pay to make their garden shine.”

The self-guided tours will explore eight town and estate gardens, some open to the public for the first time.

Neil Varnell, owner and operator of Bluff Top Bed and Breakfast on Clifton Avenue, has opened his garden to the tour in the past and will do so again this year.

“I hope people can be exposed to gardening that involves a variety of annuals and perennials, and a concept of what I call ‘layering’ for the different seasons.”

The tour kicks off from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 6 at Bluff Top, Brown Garden, Williams Garden and Wills Garden. Saturday’s tour is from 9 a.m. until noon, featuring the gardens at Brandon Hall, the Garden at Anna’s Bottom, Holder Garden and Jordan Garden.

Dardick said in a Southern garden, there should be something blooming throughout the year.

“We started the Symphony of Gardens to encourage people to garden more and think beyond early spring,” Dardick said. “You get can more ideas for the time when camellias and azaleas stop blooming.

“Come and bring your friends,” Dardick said

Tickets are $15 per person each day or $25 two days. Tickets can be purchased at the Natchez Visitor Reception Center at 640 Canal St., in Natchez. They can also be purchased online by clicking “Symphony of Gardens tickets” at www.visitnatchez.org, or calling 601-446-6345 or 1-800-647-6724, ext. 17. No refunds will be given due to weather.

For more details, including summaries of the gardens on tour and photos, visit www.symphonyofgardenstour.com.