By Jim Misunas
jmisunas@gbitribune.com
STAFFORD — Ruth Rewerts learned her gardening touch by watching her mother tend to flowers in between a garden. When she got a chance about 15 years, Rewerts put into action everything her mother Margaret Meyer taught her.
Ruth grows a variety of perennials accented by annuals each year. She also showcases a rose garden, highlighted a pink rose bush and iris transplanted from western Kansas in 1955.
Ruth Rewerts’ garden, 27 Northeast 70th Avenue, will be one of the five featured gardens during the Stafford County Historical Society’s garden tour of homes from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. The tour is the second year for Stafford residents to see some of the city’s best manicured gardens.
Rewerts started a vegetable garden and perennial flowers to fill in some vacant space left from a shelterbelt. She started with grass and perennials. The certified master gardner spends several hours a day gardening.
‘‘I spent time with my mother in the garden and I’ve always enjoyed seeing flowers grow in the garden,” she said. “My flower garden just outside my kitchen door is my favorite.”
She has picked up ideas over the years seeing some gardens in Wichita.
“I’ll add a perennial or two every year and see what works and what I like,” she said. “It’s basically trial and error. I do it for personal enjoyment, but it is fun to see the family enjoy spending time outside. People enjoy driving by and seeing how everything looks.”  
Ruth has prepared a brochure detailing the perennials she has cultivated,
At each location, volunteers will sell a tour card for $6 per person or $10 for two. Cards will be punched at each location.
• Stafford schools, 420 E. Broadway. The Stafford schools feature an After School program for K-8 students Shining Through Academics and Relationships at Stafford. The students work with FAA students on a garden on the north side of the schools. Mike Morris oversees the project done by the STARS students. The project is funded through a 21st Century Learning Grant and assisted by the Chickadee Checkoff on Kansas State Income tax forms.
• 707 Cleveland, Jeanne and David Johnson. Jeanne has earned the distinction of being a master gardener, which she uses to showcase a shade garden and a wild flower garden.
• 207 N. Boston, Sherry and Brent Mawhirter. The Mawhirters feature a unique backyard with ponds, goldfish, lilypads, shade plants, flowers and fountains.
• 635 E. Vickers, Barb and Ken Sewing. The Sewings feature a variety of flowering purple plants in their garden.