Open Gardens 2010

After flocking to garden centers and nurseries to find the newest and the most unusual, as well as our old favorites to create fabulous containers and replace the inevitable winter casualties. You are invited to volunteer your garden and to enjoy visiting some wonderful gardens.

Every garden has interesting or unique features: special collections such as roses, hostas or lilies, a zone 4 or 5 plant that has overwintered, fruit trees and lush vegetable gardens, ponds or bright, overflowing containers. Maybe you don’t like to compete, maybe you have competed but are not on the tour this year or maybe you just like to share your garden with friends and neighbours. I invite you to open your garden so other EHS members and a guest can share in the beauty of your ideas and creativity. Let’s face it, we all like to have our efforts praised and it is a great way to share with other gardeners.

In these gloomy times, we all need to renew our spirits with fresh growth and the wonders of nature, so please volunteer your garden to be on the Open Garden tours this summer and we can all have the opportunity to see these lovely gardens and recharge our batteries. This is not a competition but a pleasant way to spend an afternoon in your garden and visit with fellow gardeners. In order to have all the addresses published in the appropriate newsletter, I need anyone considering an Open Garden to contact me as soon as possible. By having all the addresses in the newsletter, we can reach most of the membership and this usually results in more visitors and is more fulfilling to the gardener.

I really encourage EHS members to bring a guest and enjoy these very special gardens.

Gardens are open on selected Sundays from 12:00 to 5:00 pm.

I thank all of last year participants. Although we have no control over the weather to know the exact day when our garden will be at its peak, most of us have a general idea when the lilies are at their best or the containers are lush. Email me soon to book your Open Garden and if possible can you give me a first and second choice of dates to allow for better grouping of locations. I will also be available at most EHS meetings.

Email OpenGardens@edmontonhort.com

Heiko Lotzgeselle

Open Garden Chair