Amanas in bloom

German and American flags sit in front of Scott and Ursula Williams' brick home in Middle Amana. The flags are an invitation — they indicate visitors are welcome to stop and take a stroll through the couple's extensive backyard flower garden.

Their yard is part of 'Colonies in Bloom,' a summerlong event celebrating the flowers and gardens of the Amanas. Visitors can pick up a map of participating gardens at the Amana Visitor Center. Eight full gardens are on the tour, as well as 14 additional homes with flowers and landscaping that can be viewed from the street. Any time the German and American flags are displayed in front of a home, the public is welcome to walk through the garden. Several Amana businesses also have fairy gardens on display.

This is the first year for the event. David Rettig, executive director of the Amana Colonies Convention and Visitors Bureau, came up with the idea after hearing about a similar tour in the United Kingdom. He thought it would be a perfect fit for the Amanas, where he says landscaping was already a big focus for the tourist-filled community.

'I saw that and thought, we've already got a lot of businesses and homes doing this. All we have to do is get a few more people involved and do some marketing for it,' he says. 'I contacted residents and asked if they would open their gardens up. I really wanted to get people thinking about the flowers. I just wanted to beautify it and make it special,'

In the past, almost every home in Amana had a vegetable garden, Rettig says. As the communal days ended, many families started planting flowers in the garden beds, and that continues today.

'I grew up here. I've always thought the residents take a lot of pride in their yards and their gardens,' he says.

Colonies in Bloom ends August 1 with announcements of awards for best curb appeal florals, best overall display for residents and best business fairy garden. The Lily Lake should be in full bloom for visitors to enjoy that day, and limited space will be available for guided van tours of the gardens. A 'Brushes and Blooms' event will give enthusiasts a chance to paint their own flowers to take home.

Some of the gardens show off elements unique to the history of the seven villages of colonies. At one home, a terraced backyard slopes down to the Mill Race, a canal that connects to the Iowa River. Traditionally, many Amana gardens were terraced, though few remain so today. The Haldy family has kept the terraces and planted them with flowers.

At Scott and Ursula Williams' brick home in Middle Amana, trellises line the outer walls. Covered in thick grape vines on the south side, they help insulate the home against summer heat. Growing this greenery is both beautiful and an Amana tradition — at one time almost every home in the villages sported grape-covered trellises.

Ursula Williams, a master gardener, has added plenty of new touches to the garden as well. When they moved in eight years ago, the only landscaping in the yard was four threes, including a rare American chestnut. Since then Williams has steadily planted beds of lilies, coneflowers, zinnias and other flowers, surrounding her home with riotous color,

She says she's happy to show off her garden, and the Colonies, to visitors.

'Beauty, it's all about beauty,' she says. 'Color just brings out the architecture of the homes. I just really think it's beautiful.'

If you go

Colonies in Bloom

When: Through Aug. 1

Where: Pick up a map at the Amana Visitor Center, 622 46th Ave., Amana

Cost: Free

Guided garden tour

When: 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 1

Where: Meet at the Amana Visitor Center, 622 46th Ave., Amana

Cost: $25

Reservations: (319) 622-7622

Brushes and Blooms

When: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 1

Where: Amana Heritage Museum, 705 44th Ave., Amana

Cost: $45

Reservations: (319) 622-7622

amanacolonies.com