Aspen trees glittered among native piñon and pines in the garden of a home off Old Santa Fe Trail last week. At the bases of the trees, yellow columbine tangled with prairie sage and rose bushes. From somewhere amid the verdure, the sound of trickling water mixed with the rush of a cool breeze.

The garden is one of 13 featured over the next two weekends during the Santa Fe Botanical Garden's 14th annual self-guided peek into the beautiful and hidden oases of Santa Fe homeowners.

On May 31, the tour includes nine "cottage" gardens near the Acequia Madre. The next weekend, four other gardens, ranging from downtown locations to the southern end of Old Santa Fe Trail, will be on display. New this year is a picnic lunch on the second Sunday in the garden of the Inn of the Turquoise Bear.

Because of the unique Santa Fe climate, the tour aims to educate gardeners and garden lovers about water conservation and planting in diverse environments.

"Gardening here is like no other," said Carol Johnson, chairwoman for the tour committee.

Each of the gardens accentuates the personal style of the gardener or designer and the space and resources available for the garden, Johnson said.

At Jane Farrar's house near the Acequia Madre, a talkative cockatoo will be greeting visitors. And a garter snake might be basking in the sunlight by a bronze fountain cast and created by Farrar and her mother.

"I don't consider myself a plant expert," admitted Farrar, who grew up in the house. "I think sometimes it's nice to see things and share, because I've been here for nearly 50 years, and it was my parents' house."

Farrar was volunteered by neighbors to be on the tour. According to Johnson, homeowners offered their gardens or were simply asked by members of the garden tours committee. Others were found through the recommendation of an acquaintance or by committee members glimpsing greenery through a garden wall.

The annual tours are a major fundraiser for Santa Fe Botanical Garden. The garden manages two preserves in the Santa Fe area — the Leonora Curtin Wetland Preserve and the Ortiz Mountain Educational Preserve. Money from the tours also goes to the upkeep of these preserves as well as to the creation of a water-wise garden on Museum Hill, Johnson said.

Contact Julia Leitner at jleitner@sfnewmexican.com or 986-3050.

IF YOU GO

What: Santa Fe Botanical Garden Tour

When: 1 to 4 p.m. May 31 and 1 to 4 p.m. June 7

Cost: $35 for one day, $65 for both days. Children under 16 free. Tickets, addresses of the 13 gardens and driving instructions are available at the Lensic Performing Arts Center box office (988-1234) or through the Santa Fe Botanical Garden (471-9103). At-the-gate tickets are $40 for one day, $75 for both days. Reservations are required for the picnic lunch June 7.

On the Web: www.santafebotanicalgarden.org