This is a self-guided tour. It happens July 18 between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. and July 19 and 20 between 10:00 a.m. and 4 p.m. only. Visit as many or as few gardens and railroads are you like during this time.
Water:
 Water gardening is becoming increasingly popular. More and more people are searching nurseries for rare aquatic plants, traveling to koi shows to purchase the best and brightest fish, building gazebos and decks to get better vantage points of their ponds, and taking photos of their water gardens as they grow and mature. Northern Nevada is no exception; numerous area residents are realizing the peace and joy water gardens bring.
Why Get a Pond? There’s no comparison to the beauty and serenity of the pond, especially after driving home in gridlock traffic—just slip out the backdoor for a little taste of paradise. A water garden is the greatest place to forget all the troubles of the day and lose yourself in the beauty and tranquility of the plants, the fish, and the water.
Ponds are oases. They can also become a passion. Perhaps no one in the area has developed more pond passion than Verdi resident Jim Fernhoff. He first wetted his water-feature appetite with a modest front yard pond. Not satisfied, Fernhoff embarked on a massive backyard pond environment in August 2004. By June 2005 he had created a 260,000 gallon water extravaganza featuring six waterfalls and hundreds of koi. Fernhoff continues to develop and improve on the project to this day.
Pond owner Ken Nelson also shares a passion for ponds—though not on such a grand scale. His water garden features two streams and a number of koi—the largest one, which will eat out of your hand and enjoys being pet, Nelson named Cuddles. Nelson says he enjoys the sound and movement of the water. A visit to any of these water gardens will no doubt reveal the joy and peace these beautiful features create.
And Rails:
 Garden railroading has been a passionate hobby for more than a century, mostly in Great Britain. It was popular in the United States in the 1920s and 1930s, but by the end of World War II, its popularity died out. There has been a resurgence of interest in garden railroading as more and more American-style trains have become available.
The difference between a traditional indoor model railroad and a garden railway is realism. The topography of the land as well as existing gardens, trees, ponds, and obstacles are taken into account when planning the track layout.
Having the trains outdoors allows the scenery to be real trees, plants, bushes, rocks, and dirt. Shrubs and trees can be groomed to be in scale with the train. The environment can be enhanced with buildings and other structures—which can be left out to naturally age and weather—as well as figures. Entire miniature town scenes can be created.
Garden railroad tracks can have all the same features as their full-sized counterparts; they may be a complex track plan with many electrical challenges or a simple loop. The trains themselves can be identical replicas of real trains with working doors and lights; some even feature authentic sounds.
Garden railroad enthusiast Hawley MacLean has a track in his backyard that measures out to just under 1,000 feet. His set-up features two tunnels and a hand-built stone bridge made with hand-cut stone that took over a year to build. However intricate or simple the design and features, garden railroads can bring hours of enjoyment to the whole family.
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