Gardening lectures, food, wine, Genoa homes, all at Sunday's tour

The Genoa Home & Garden Tour will take place 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, with strolls along the streets of Genoa's oldest settlement and views of some of the finest homes and gardens.

Ten properties - from several historic homes to the Genoa Cemetery and the Genoa Lane hanging tree - are included in this self-guided tour. Horse and carriage rides will be available.

Gilles Menagerie at 2291 Main St. is a garden and animal menagerie nestled next to an 1890 bunkhouse. Check out the llama, pot-bellied pig, chickens, ducks and sheep.

Gardening lectures will be held throughout the day with presentations by Ron Brown at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on the growing and care of orchids. Brown's lectures will take place at his home, 2428 Genoa Aspen on the seventh hole of Genoa Lakes Golf Resort. Artist Russell Blackburn will be there to talk about his artwork.

Other gardening lectures will be conducted starting at noon by Dave Ruff of Greenhouse Garden Center in Carson City, and Dan McClure of Nevada's Own, who will speak at 1 p.m.

Wine tasting and appetizers will be available at the Brown home, with all wine and gourmet food presented by Rick and Kathy Halbardier of Tahoe Ridge Winery and Marketplace in Genoa.

This year's proceeds will benefit, in part, the Carson Valley Pops Orchestra. Tickets are $12 each and can be purchased at Antiques Plus in Genoa, the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce located in the museum in Gardnerville or the Greenhouse Garden Center in Carson City.

For more information about this event, visit the Web site www.genoaevents.com or call 782-4951.