FERGUS – The Fergus and District Horticultural Society is holding its garden tour that is described by vice president Mary Ann Branciere as being “colourful, inspiring, relaxing, peaceful, and educational.”
The Garden Tour is scheduled for June 23 from 12:30pm to 4:30pm, rain or shine.
It’s free; it’s self guided and it’s a fun filled enjoyable way to spend a Sunday afternoon, organizers say.
You may even come away with some ideas for your own garden.
There will be four gardens on the tour, each unique in their own way.
Healing Garden
The Groves Memorial Hospital “Healing Garden and Memorial Forest” is one of the gems this year, that’s located at 131 Frederick Campbell St., Fergus.
“Most people have heard of the Healing Garden but not seen it,” said Dawn McClure, secretary of the Elora and Salem Horticultural Society and a member of the Fergus and District Horticultural Society.
“This is their chance. It’s quiet. It’s peaceful. It’s tucked away behind the hospital. Just take the service entrance road at the roundabout. There is lots of parking.”
The Grand Valley Agricultural Society had the vision and the funding to create this garden.
The whole area is full of gardens, a gazebo, a fountain, a tree-lined meandering path with benches and chairs.
“It helps patients, families and staff get away from the busyness of the day and catch a moment of peace and reflection,” said McClure added.
The Elora and Salem Horticultural Society had the vision to create a pollinator garden within the Healing Garden.
Their team maintains this and keeps it full of flowers and of course butterflies all summer long. They also take care of the bulk of the Healing Garden introducing new plants and further refinements constantly.
All with the support of the Grand Valley Horticultural Society.
The Healing Garden, located behind Groves Memorial Community Hospital, is one of four sites on the Fergus Horticultural Society’s garden tour that’s coming up on June 23.
492 and 486
Washington St. Salem
These two gardens are separated only by a gate. Parking is on the street, or the Ontario Potato Board parking lot across the street.
Terry and Nancy Jackson at 492 have a ¼ acre of gardens on the shore of the Irvine River.
Everything has been grown from their greenhouse.
The setting is peaceful and serene. The property has a mix of mature trees and shrubs, shade and sun gardens and colour bursting from a mix of perennials and annuals that come from their greenhouse.
Raised beds at the river’s edge provide an explosion of colour.
When you open the gate, you are entering 486, the home of master gardener Lee-Ann Lennox.
This is a gentle sloping backyard garden also on the shore of the Irvine River across from the Salem Park.
The raised beds close to the water’s edge are full of colour with a wide variety of annual flowers mixed with spring bulbs.
The property is full of gardens, with shrubs, perennials and a mixture of beautiful trees, making it relaxing and peaceful.
121 Halls Dr. Elora
The fourth garden is at 121 Halls Dr. in Elora.
It was created by Ann Ironside, president of the Elora and Salem Horticultural Society.
Ironside has done an amazing job in her gardens both in front and back of her home.
The space is full of colour, Japanese Maples, lots of trees, interesting ground covers, and verbascum.
Ironside grows her own plants in her greenhouse and fills the garden with colours from coleus, impatiens, orange marigolds and more.
The self-guided Garden Tour is organized by the Fergus and District Horticultural Society for June 23, from 12:30pm to 4:30pm.
It’s free but cash donations to the Food Bank will be appreciated.
Details and a map can be found at fergushorticulture.ca.
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By Ken Johnston, Fergus and District Horticultural Society
