Notes on the 2nd Annual T.O.N.Y. Tour of OKC Native Yards
May 30th the second annual 2026 TONY tour went off without a hitch? This year, the five featured home gardens were located in and around the Paseo and Mesta Park neighborhoods, with three native gardens planted in Crown Heights Park, Edgemere Park and Sparrow Park as noted as destinations on the TONY ticket/map.
Despite hot, humid weather, tour attendance was up by 25% compared to 2025, with over 600 in attendance. Best of all, 42 children attended for free! Folks took note of plants in peak state such as pale coneflower, purple coneflower, giant coneflower, rattlesnake master, blanket flower and frogfruit, and browsed the nine plant vendors who participated in the tour and plant sale.
Over 30 volunteers, garden hosts and partner organization staff members greatly enjoyed the pre-tour on Friday night with Katie Huskerson hosting the reception at her home as the final stop. This year’s yards were really impressive. You wouldn’t be surprised to see any of them in a home and garden magazine.
To thank the homeowners, we purchased long-lasting metal plant signs for their gardens to highlight the common and scientific names of each native plant. Proceeds from TONY ticket sales are being donated to the Wildlife Habitat Grant Program which reviews detailed applications. Two ONPS board directors are now a part of the committee that selects recipients!
Gardens on the tour
The homes of Dylan Bergey, Joel Dixon, Katie Huskerson and Lesa Bowman, with giant and pale purple coneflowers, rattlesnake master, winecup mallow, Baptisia, frogfruit and native grasses. Photos: Juliette Hulen
We’re all looking forward to next year, reach out if you’d like to volunteer or help organize next year’s tour, see you there in May 2027!