Since they can’t open their gardens to the public this year, the Advertiser has invited local horticultural societies to write about what’s going on in their gardens. For questions or to submit articles, email jshuttleworth@wellingtonadvertiser.com.
FERGUS – This is the first year since its inception that the Fergus and District Horticultural Society will not have a Garden Tour.
It has been one of the most successful tours in the region. An admission price has never been charged. Instead donations for the local food bank are requested with contributions far outweighing the money that would’ve been collected if an admission was charged. It shows the generosity of the great people that live in this area.
The idea of garden tours started many years ago but initially as a way of horticultural society members seeing each other’s gardens. They were held for members only on Sunday afternoons ending with a potluck picnic at Agnes Black’s cottage on the lake.
If you have ever had a chance to enjoy one of the society potlucks, you know just how good the food is. No one goes away hungry.
When Roberta Vlietstra became publicity chair she ran an article in the Advertiser attracting quite a few people from the community to the tour.
The next year Roberta put together a more complete campaign and opened the tour to the public.
The tour included refreshment tables, cookies and a jug for donations. They generated $400 that year and the Society and garden tour committee have never looked back. The Food Bank has become the mainstay charity for the tour.
Bert Peel chairs the garden tour committee that includes his wife Marilyn and Julie Kron. The tour usually includes four or five hand picked gardens in the Elora and Fergus area.
The committee works tireless hours helping the homeowners in any way to create the perfect garden for the tour. One year Bert offered one of the homeowners help in taking away garbage. Little did he know just how much garbage was to be trucked away. He is careful offering this kind of help now.
Julie Kron, a Master Gardener, mentored one of the tour garden owners on how to create beautiful gardens around his home.
“He got so excited he literally bought everything he could at our yearly plant sale,” said Marilyn. “We were sold out of almost everything when he left.”
His gardens were absolutely beautiful and a delight to have on the tour.
The committee looks for stunning gardens that include plants you don’t normally see, unique layouts and creativity that inspire the imagination. Each homeowner gets a voucher from Little Tree as a thank you.
“It is a delightful way to spend an afternoon in June, “said Bert. “The garden homeowners love sharing and educating people on their gardens. They provide a wealth of knowledge that can be applied to people’s gardens at home.”
Hopefully, depending on how everything turns out, you will see signs all over town advertising the tour next June.