Take in the scenic route
Urban Retreats Garden Tour on for June 17
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This article was published 05/06/2017 (3268 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Excitement is blooming for an upcoming self-guided garden tour that will meander through the scenic streets of Woodhaven.
Rain or shine, the Urban Retreats Garden Tour is slated for Sat., June 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The anticipated annual event acts as a major fundraiser for St. Matthews Maryland Community Ministry.
Committee member Ruth Booth took on the task of selecting the spots that will be showcased in this year’s tour. In total, 13 privately owned gardens made it on the map, as well as a guided tour of the natural garden along Sturgeon Creek led by an entomologist and a naturalist.
“It’s always very hard to choose the gardens. They’re all worth seeing and they’re all quite different,” she said. “It’s a lovely day out because people love the gardens and love walking in the neighbourhood.”
They’re closely clustered in the Woodhaven area, with one must-see garden located on Assiniboine Crescent on the east side of the Moray bridge.
Committee chair Shirley Godkin said the tour is held in a different neighbourhood each year, although some favourites have been revisited over its 18-year history.
“Last year it was in Wolseley, which was a very successful tour,” she said. “We sold over 500 tickets last year and raised more than $13,000.”
Volunteer hosts greet visitors at every garden, cultivating a sense of hospitality.
“We recruit people from the community. Many people are longtime hosts and have done it for many years,” Godkin said. “It’s a lovely volunteer experience because you’re sitting in a beautiful garden and enjoying all the people.”
As a new addition included in the event, guided tours of the natural gardens along Sturgeon Creek will leave St. Andrew’s Woodhaven Anglican Church (2700 Portage Ave.) at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Lori Stewart and Paul Hagerman are hosting the tours, which are expected to last about 40 minutes. Hagerman, an agronomist who has studied entomology, plans to bring a sweep net for a closer look at insects along the way.
“We’ll also be looking at what kind of plants grow along the path,” said Stewart, who studied botany as part of her biology degree. “There’s a part that’s quite close to the marsh with reeds, so we’ll be looking amongst them to see what we can see.”
Garden tour tickets cost $15 each and are available at Ron Paul Garden Centre, McNally Robinson Booksellers, Jensen’s Nursery and Garden Centre, Lacoste Garden Centre, St. Matthews Maryland, Sage Garden Herbs and Roger Watson Jewellers.
On the day of the event, tickets will also be available at St. Andrew’s Woodhaven Anglican Church, where the Manitoba Tea and Craft Sale will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in conjunction with the garden tour. Tickets for the tea and craft sale cost $5, and the first 150 people will receive a gift bag.
Proceeds go towards supporting the St. Matthews Maryland Community Ministry. For more information, visit www.stmatthewsmaryland.ca