The upcoming 15th Annual West Seattle Garden Tour that will take place on July 19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with guest lecturer "master gardener" and TV and radio personality Ciscoe Morris. This will be Morris' second year attending.

This year's self-guided tour will feature an eclectic mix of eight residential gardens. Tickets for the tour are $15, which includes lecture admission. Children under 12 years old are free. Tickets will be available throughout the Seattle metro area as well as on-line beginning in early June.

The 2008 edition of the West Seattle Garden Tour attracted more than 650 attendees and raised $17,000 for ArtsWest and four specially selected beneficiaries. In addition, two of the featured gardens showcased in the 2008 tour won honorable mention in the 2008 Pacific Northwest Magazine garden competition.

Each year, the Garden Tour donates a portion of the day's proceeds to Seattle-based non-profit organizations that promote horticultural education or community gardens. The proceeds from the 2009 Garden Tour will once again benefit ArtsWest in addition to Seattle Youth Garden Works, Transitional Resources and Plant Amnesty.