Marv Zehnder looks over his extensive Ohio Street garden. The garden is one of six on the 24th annual Garden Tour, set for Thursday. (Journal photo by Christie Bleck)

MARQUETTE — Marv Zehnder doesn’t consider himself as much a gardener as a collector of plants.

People can see his personal plant collection, if you want to call it that, during the Marquette Beautification & Restoration Committee Inc.’s 24th annual Garden Tour set for 1 to 7 p.m. Thursday.

The tour, which features Marquette area gardens, is a major fundraiser for the committee, which is in charge of the annual Petunia Pandemonium in the city of Marquette.

Zehnder’s garden at 425 E. Ohio St. won’t be the only one on display. The other spots on the tour are at the homes of Richard and Susan Vanderveen, 812 N. Front St.; Earl Senchuk, 207 W. Arch St.; Debby and Dan Dagenais, 856 W. Bluff St.; and Carol Labine, 6408 U.S. 41 South.

Also to be shown is the children’s garden at the Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St., the site of a tour refreshment stop.

Zehnder and his wife, Monica, have lived at the spacious Ohio Street home for about 42 years.

“I’m a plant collector, everything from exotics to whatever,” Marv Zehnder said.

The Zehnder front yard has many plants, to be sure, but it also has two large linden trees that provide a lot of shade.

They also can be a bit noisy. Earlier this year when one tree was in bloom, the honeybees took a liking to it.

“The whole tree was buzzing,” Monica Zehnder said.

The backyard is pretty much solid flowers, with a few small paths leading to spots like a sitting area.

Pat Gruber, a member of the MBRC, called it “very nice.”

That’s putting it mildly.

Growing behind the Zehnder home, which has a greenhouse and a garden shed, are plants like an evergreen amaryllis, a hybrid begonia, a climbing hydrangea and purple poppies. He also has orchids hanging from trees.

“When we moved in here, there was absolutely nothing back here but a sand pit,” Marv Zehnder. “I always have the need to grow something.”

He also has the need to “rescue” plants, which haven’t been purchased at local businesses that have plants that haven’t yet sold during the garden season.

Not only is the Zehnder backyard scenic, it’s pleasant in an audible way with the gentle sound of running water coming from a rill — a small shallow channel.

Tickets for the event, which will take place rain or shine, are $10, with children under 12 admitted free. Tickets are available at Forsberg’s…A New Leaf, Garden Bouquet and Design, FlowerWorks. Lutey’s and the Landmark Inn, all in Marquette; Nagelkirk in Harvey; and All Seasons Floral & Design in Ishpeming.

For more information, contact Sue Hefke at (906) 249-5308, or visit mqtbeautification.org.

Christie Bleck can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.