Ryen Kavanagh earned a degree in biology and traveled with the Peace Corps for three years, but in all the 27-year-old's experiences, nothing beat coming home to Hermitage to work in the family business, Cottage Gardens Landscaping.

"I've been back for two years and I really enjoy it. How could I not? People come in who are really excited about plants, and I meet all different kinds of people," said Ms. Kavanagh, who manages the greenhouse part of the 24-acre business at 4945 E. State St. "It's nice to see people get really excited about their plants and the possibilities."

The landscaping business is just one of five stops on the Mercer County Country Tour, now in its 19th year. The tour will be from 1 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Other stops include the Hermitage Historical Society, 5465 E. State St.; McCullough Grain, 75 McCullough Road, Jefferson Township; and the more-than-century-old Highland Farm, 1811 Lake Road, Jefferson Township. Refreshments will be sold during the tour at the Jefferson Township municipal building, 7407 Lamor Road.

Cottage Gardens Landscaping was established in 1969 by Ryen's parents, Tom and Elaine Kavanagh, when they bought the 30-year-old Braine and Foreman nursery business. Besides shrubs and chrysanthemums and other fall nursery items and decorations, visitors will be able to see animals such as fallow deer, reindeer, pheasants, peacocks and alpacas.

The Kavanaghs own three alpas. For the tour, they will host additional alpacas from Alpaca Outback. It's a 30-acre Alpaca farm owned by Dr. Allison Angott and family.

The animals will be behind the Kavanagh home, next to the business. Display flower beds also are there to see.

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