This year’s Bibler home and garden tours kick off with a special wine and hors d’oeuvres reception on July 26 that will include an exclusive tour by ornamental metal artist Jeffrey Funk. Funk will showcase the one-of-a-kind gates, sculptures and railing he created for the gardens.
Bibler is a private display garden designed by Louis A. “Sam” Bibler who planted and maintained the grounds surrounding his home. The impressive landscaping includes ponds, waterfalls, sculptures, an arboretum, a log stable with miniature animals and acres of colorful annuals and perennials in full bloom overlooking stunning views of Foys Lake and the surrounding Flathead Valley vistas.
Tours of Bibler’s home are included in the evening. Browse Bibler’s exquisite collection of Inuit tribal art and 18th and 19th century furnishings that include an overwhelming number of Persian carpets in both palace and tribal styles. When complete, the collection of rugs will be the only one of its kind in North America.
All proceeds from the tours go to benefit the Student Scholarship Program at the Flathead Valley Community College. Tickets for the special event on the July 26 are $50 for adults and $90 per couple. The one-and-a-half hour tours on July 27 through July 30 are $10 for adults and $3 for children. All tickets must be purchased in advance.
To purchase tickets, or for times and availability, visit www.biblergardens.org, or call the FVCC Foundation office at (406) 756-3963.
How to get there: From downtown Kalispell take U.S. Highway 2 (West Idaho Street) west toward Kila. Turn south on North Meridian Road. Continue on Meridian, which becomes Foys Lake Road after a curve to the west. Turn west on Lakeshore Drive. Continue on Lakeshore up the hill until it dead ends at Lake Hills Drive. Turn right on Lake Hills Drive to access the Bibler property.