Open Gardens

During the months of June, July and August, several of our members open their gardens to EHS members and friends for viewing. The open gardens are usually held on Sundays from 1:00 to 5:00 and are arranged, as much as possible, into regions. Every year we get to visit these wonderful gardens completely free of charge. Sometimes we will have a garden open at night.

Many of the gardeners that open their gardens are novices and many have been gardening for years. This is not a competition. It is to exchange ideas and ask questions. It is a great way to get information and learn about plants that may interest you, for your garden.

Both the gardeners and the visitors have said that they have enjoyed themselves. The Edmonton Horticultural Society likes to encourage different gardens to be open each year. Every garden is unique. Your garden does not have to be perfect, nor does it have to have every weed pulled; it needs to be a garden that you would like to share. If you would like to have an open garden at your home next season, please contact Britta Johnson by email to OpenGardens@edmontonhort.com.

Update from Britta - 2008 Open Gardens in Review:

I would like to thank all these generous gardeners who took the time and made the effort to show their special gardens to EHS members.

Lynda Blize & Phil Frenette                        Mark Hughes
Barb Heagle                                        Jack & Pearl Newman
Wilf Maul                                          Shaif & Mary Jetha
Vicky & Ed Gartner                                 Colin & Leona Buskirk
Gary & Lorraine Friedel                            Heather Bittner
Mary Shewchuk                                      Veronica & Bob Kadylo
Janie & Gerald Shimko                              Fedelia Sharun
Irene Lopushinsky                                  Phyllia McIntosh

These gardens included a rooftop garden, a small half duplex lot, a large acreage and numerous other garden of all shapes and sizes. We were treated to lush displays of annuals and containers, water features of all sizes, lots of old fashioned and unusual perennials, lavish displays of roses and lilies and many interesting and personal garden artifacts. There was always something new to see!

A cool and late spring delayed blooming of many perennials and potting up of containers. June and July provided good growing conditions and one of the best displays of roses in years. August brought on record high temperatures, creating watering challenges. As autumn approaches, we rush to move plants, plant bulbs and get our gardens ready for winter.

As a newcomer to the position of Open Gardens Coordinator, this year provided a challenge in recruiting gardens. Most of the gardens in July were in the newsletter beforehand and had good turnouts. Unfortunately, some of the gardens in August were not committed until after the newsletter deadline, and combined with 2 weekends of record temperatures had disappointing results.

We all enjoy visiting other gardens for inspiration and pleasure. However, we need people to volunteer their gardens in order to do this. When you host an Open Garden, you have a chance to show off your hard work and design, exchange ideas with fellow gardeners, spend an afternoon in the garden and maybe even arrange to exchange some plants. You will, of course, have a lovely, well weeded garden since you spent a few hours tidying up.

I ask all EHS gardeners to consider hosting an Open Garden next year. I am sure there are many more gardens out there we would love to see. If we get gardens committed early enough, all the addresses will be in the newsletter beforehand. Maybe I will be able to organize them better by area to avoid long drives. If you have a suggestion or can help to recruit gardens, please call or email.

Thank you all for sharing your gardens this year. A special thanks to Lynda Blize for sending thank you notes to everyone. Your help was appreciated.

Britta Johnson
Coordinator