Experienced gardeners have long known that certain spring bloomers do not do well in the heat of the summer.
Cooler temperatures have certainly kept this year’s glorious irises waving rhythmically in the breeze.
The Fergus Horticultural Society’s annual garden tour has always been held rain or shine. This year’s weather was downright chilly and many visitors had to wear jackets to break the unseasonable temperatures. But gardeners being gardeners, they know that a tour means lots of new presentations can be seen in just one day. Despite the weather, the event was exceptionally well attended and made the June 12 show a success.
The society’s mandate is Education for All and each year it sponsors the tour. That allows fellow gardeners and homeowners to meet and chat with each other, posing questions concerning treatments and identifying various species while raising funds for a good cause.
Novice gardeners to seasoned horticulturists spoke highly of the value of garden tours. They bring plant treatments used in magazine pages to life. Many unusual plant combinations are found growing in neighbouring gardens. They become a possible reality for their own individual growing spaces.
That tradition was carried on by offering five diverse town and country gardens. Each gardening space was unique and offered a plethora of ideas of mixing architecture and gardening techniques.
Gardening has been a huge weather challenge this year. The season started very late and really has not allowed for many traditional perennials to show their true colours.
This year’s gardeners who chose to have their properties showcased were Kate and Jad Dodsworth, Dudley and Liz Foster, Joanna and Gary Kent, Rich and Deb Schlieker and St. James Anglican Church.
The guests books listed visitors travelling from many surrounding locales also including Brantford, Kitchener, Flesherton, Orangeville, London, Milton, Toronto, and Wainwright, Alberta.
Donations to the Centre Wellington Food Bank raised $238 and 308 pounds of food.
The tour was co-chaired by Cheryl Yuill and Joan McWilliam. When asked what was new in this year’s tour, Yuill said, “We were a little more spread out as the homeowners volunteered their gardens this year, instead of having to solicit them. We had a range from a three-year-old butterfly garden to the 28-year-old schoolhouse garden.”
The tour committee keeps a keen eye for unique garden designs. “Many gardeners are looking for ideas, something new or different to try. I heard from various tour goers who had purchased shrubs or specific plants because they saw a snowmound spirea and veronica growing in a tour garden,” said Yuill.
At my first stop on the tour, I was greeted by an absolutely stunning Dappled Willow (Salix integra) Hakuro-nishiki. It wasn’t long before a group of tour goers gathered around and began discussing the characteristics and the care with the owner.
The owner explained that it is a smaller willow that can be grown as a tree or large shrub. The variegated Japanese cultivar is noted for its bold pink-white-green foliage. The delicate branches are always moving in the breeze. In the winter, the branches turn a bright red to add to overall beauty of the plant.
The society is always aspiring for new gardens to add to the tour. These gardens can be newly formatted or well-established historical growing spaces. Those who have been urged or are contemplating showcasing their gardening efforts with visitors should note that the society is always looking for gardens of distinction. If anyone would like to be considered for next year’s tour, contact the Society at fergushortsociety@hotmail.com.
Ron Stevenson is a member of the Fergus Horticultural Society
