If you have ever wondered what lies at the end of those dirt roads marked "private",  behind those locked gates, or within the areas whose estate signs warn "for residents and guests only", the Wareham Garden Club can help.

On Friday, July 9, and Saturday, July 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., The Wareham Garden Club, through the cooperation of some very special homeowners, is sponsoring "Coastal Treasures", a tour of five prestigious gardens in the area. The tour has been coordinated by Christine Decas and Robin Murphy, co chairs for the "Coastal Treasures" garden tour.

The tour starts at the Old Methodist Meeting House located at 495 Main Street, where participants will receive maps directing them to each of the secret gardens. (Tickets may be purchased here the day of the tour.)

The first garden is located in what was originally a maintenance barn for electric trolley cars. The landscaped waterfront promenade, with panoramic views, beckons the residents and guests outdoors for boating and water sports. The buildings' architecture, with its interior landscaped atrium, will be the backdrop for a display of modern American floral designs created by talented members of the Wareham Garden Club.

The second beautifully landscaped property beckons guests through a garden gate into an oasis of rare and unusual plants. The owner has selected shrubs and trees for their color, size, form, and texture and combined them to create an artistic, low maintenance garden.

A corner lot belies the unexpected backyard serenity of the third garden, which overlooks a saltwater marsh filled with the diversity and activity of the natural world. The owners have carved out space for a koi pond and provided sitting and entertainment areas which flow seamlessly throughout the property.

The next garden is located in a bucolic setting, where bountiful perennial borders, a rose hedge, and a vegetable garden create a picturesque, cottage-garden atmosphere. This young garden has been created with a keen eye for detail, color and pleasing plant combinations.

To conclude the tour, Decas and Murray have chosen a spectacular garden boasting panoramic views of Onset Harbor. The estate setting has merged old and new, creating an artistic wonder of natural beauty. Trees and shrubs bloom in succession throughout the seasons. The perennial gardens provide color from May to October. Sculptures, pergolas, stonewalls and other accessories, add more visual pleasure to this magnificent garden.

Tickets are $18.00 in advance and $20.00 the day of the tour. Tickets may be purchased from any Wareham Garden Club member and are also available for sale at the Old Company Store on Elm Street and Sail Away Studio on Main Street.

The Wareham Garden Club is a non-profit organization. Proceeds from this garden tour will be used to support the Garden Club's scholarship fund and civic beautification activities.