Vashon Allied Arts is gearing up for its 21st annual Garden Tour, a weekend-long event slated for June 24 through 26 that will feature strolls through six Island gardens, live music, seminars and even a public market for avid gardeners.

In addition to all this, tour organizers have added another special event this year — a presentation by celebrated author Elizabeth Murray, who wrote the acclaimed garden book “Monet’s Passion.” 

Murray, who lives in Monterey, Calif., will share Monet’s color theories, design elements and use of light and shade and also talk about the development and maintenance of the famed Impressionist artist’s estate. The event will include French wine, cheese tasting and a book signing.

Murray helped restore Monet’s gardens and photographed them for more than two decades — a vocation that started 25 years ago when she spent a year living and working at Giverny, in exchange for room and board. Her photographs have traveled with Monet’s paintings to eight museums and are published in annual calendars. 

For more information about Elizabeth Murray’s publications, photography and art, visit her website, www.elizabethmurray.com.

Tickets to Murray’s talk, slated for 6:30 p.m. Saturday, June 25, at the Blue Heron, are $30 if purchased individually or $15 if purchased in conjunction with a complete Garden Tour ticket. They are on sale at Blue Heron, Heron’s Nest, Books by the Way and www.brownpapertickets.com.

Check out gardener and writer Karen Dale’s preview of the six Garden Tour gardens on her blog, “Garden On, Vashon!” found on The Beachcomber’s website, www.vashonbeachcomber.com. For complete information on the tour, visit www.vashonalliedarts.org.