RUMFORD — Drawing on their fundraising success last year for Black Mountain Ski Resort, lawyer Tom Carey and his wife, Sally, will hold another Garden Tour for the public next month.

This time the event will benefit the new downtown fitness trail that selectmen voiced their support for last month when Rumford business owner Randall Smith presented it, Tom Carey said on Tuesday afternoon.

“If the fundraiser exceeds the proceeds needed for the trail, then net proceeds will be distributed to The Hope Association,” he said.

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 12, at the Carey residence at 228 Isthmus Road. The rain date is July 13. Pets are not allowed. Admission is $15 for adults and $5 for children. There is no charge for volunteers.

The tour has been likened to touring a botanical garden complete with waterfalls, fruit trees, flowers, vegetables, a pond and a mini-Stonehenge.

Tons of granite were trucked in from Eastern Maine, then fashioned into a facsimile of famous Druid ruin. It even has lintels connecting 12-foot-high granite slabs. In the middle is a fire pit.

The tour showcases almost 25 years of the Careys gardening pleasure and design skills.

They converted a forest on their nearly five acres of property into open garden space and woodland gardens; an orchard with approximately 20 apple, pear, peach and plum trees, vegetable garden, grapes, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and cranberries; numerous flowerbeds, a hockey rink-sized pond, beehives, a serpentine garden pathway, countless bushes and other flowers; and a special bittersweet hut known as the “Hideout.”

Guided tours will be on the hour, but people are welcome to roam the property if they wish, Carey said.

New this year are an open-hive bee demonstration at 12:30 p.m., a play field for children, and a wine-tasting competition.

Carey said they decided to add a play field, complete with various activities for children monitored by a chaperon or chaperons so their parents could do the garden tour separately if they so wished.

Also planned but not yet confirmed will be refreshments and a light lunch. Portable toilets will be available.

Carey said Wednesday that he and his wife are seeking wine enthusiasts interested in competing for the title of “Best Home Wine Producer.” Wine enthusiasts are asked to contact Ashley Dyer at 364-7826 as soon as possible for details.

“Interested garden tourists will have the opportunity to taste and rank your wine,” Carey said.

He said the tour’s proceeds will go to the Rumford Fitness Trail, which is planned to circumnavigate the downtown area around the island and river banks. Expenses will include trail construction and signage.

“Please help us raise funds for the Walking Trail and The Hope Association,” Carey said.

For more information, email Carey at careylaw1@gwi.net.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com