A school of brightly colored koi fish swim just below the surface of an intricately designed pond in front of Jane McElreath’s front yard.

She tosses out a handful of food and the fish scurry about eagerly snatching up the treats.

The sound of rushing water flowing through the pond adds to the rustic scenery of McElreath’s country estate.

“The sound is so tranquil and restful,” McElreath said. “It’s what people love.”

McElreath’s koi pond is one of 12 stops on the 2012 Pond and Garden Tour which will be held June 2 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 the day of the tour.

“We’ve got a variety of ponds and the gardens are world class,” McElreath said.

At two stops on the tour master gardeners will be on hand to speak with visitors, McElreath said.

McElreath said she came up with the idea to organize a tour to help raise funds for Bartow Health Access, a charitable care medical clinic in Cartersville.

The nonprofit recently moved into a new location at 31 Pointe North Drive and McElreath said the move helps continue the work of providing assistance to uninsured Bartow County residents.

McElreath said through the fundraiser the hope is to raise enough funds to enhance the services offered by Bartow Heath Access.

“We plan this summer to be a fully operational clinic,” said McElreath, who is president of the Board of Directors for the organization. “And by the end of the summer our goal is to hire a physician.”

McElreath said that in addition to raising money for a good cause the tour also serves as a sounding board for Bartow Heath Access.

“Equally important is the exposure,” McElreath said. “We’re hoping that Bartow Heath Access will become a well known name,” McElreath said.