The Santa Fe Garden Club began its house and garden tours about 70 years ago.

"It started with members paying a quarter and walking to each other's homes," said Barbara Templeman, an organizer of the this year's Behind Adobe Walls Home and Garden Tours.

On both July 20 and July 27, participants will pay $75 to board one of four buses at Hotel Santa Fe about noon and travel to four upper-end homes in various neighborhoods, returning to the hotel about 4:30 p.m.

The locations of the selected homes are not disclosed prior to the tours to protect the privacy of the homeowners.

The tour allows participants, usually mostly tourists, to "see behind adobe walls ... There are so many hidden features that tourists to Santa Fe don't get to see," Templeman said.

In addition, Templeman said, those on the tour "will get a lot of different ideas for wherever they live."

The club's Joan Barrett said this year's homes were selected for the uniqueness of their architecture, the art collected and displayed by the owners, and the variety of the gardens showcasing flowers and plants indigenous to Northern New Mexico.

"We (were) looking for gardens in bloom, wonderful examples of art collections, (outstanding) architecture — homes that have the full variety," Barrett said.

She said one home on this year's tour features numerous pieces of Asian art, and another "an incredible collection of folk and Native American art."

Barrett added that several of the homes feature stone fountains and a variety of patio and pocket gardens.

She said several homes on the city's east side are wonderful examples of adobe construction, with more contemporary homes featured in Las Campanas-area neighborhoods.

"The gardens are beautiful, and there is lots of artwork and textiles," Barrett said.

She said several of the homeowners are world-travelers and have gathered a wide variety of art from around the globe.

Templeman said members of the garden club will accompany the participants on the bus, offering information on Santa Fe 's indigenous plants and the vagaries of the New Mexico growing seasons, as well as passing out historical tidbits about the city.

The club uses proceeds from the tours to help maintain numerous area gardens including the garden in the courtyard of the New Mexico Fine Arts Museum and the Spanish Colonial Arts garden.

Barrett said the club, which has about 75 members, also helps fund horticultural and environmental conservation projects in schools, and sponsors various flower and garden projects.

Anyone interested in more information or participating in the tours is asked to call 800-283-0122 or 505-984-0022 or visit http://behindadobewalls.blogspot.com/