On Sunday, June 8th 2008 there were 109 visitors to the beautiful gardens featured in the Georgetown Horticulutal Society Garden Tour. With sunshine and warm temperatures for support, volunteers donned their new yellow horticultural shirts and with water bottle in one hand and sun screen in the other set out to assist at the garden sites.

The Lucy Maud Montgomery Heritage Garden was featured as the public garden on the tour. Community gardeners were working hard right up to the day of the tour to present the garden at its best, and were available on the day of the tour to provide details about the garden. Amidst arbours, a memorial sundial and charming sitting areas, wisteria, peonies and dahilias added a variety of spring colour. This property, a 15 year old project, was recognized in 2005 by the Ontario Government for its cultivation and preservation of heritage plants.

Len Doucette’s garden was awarded Best Town Garden in 2006. This property has a strong perennial backbone interspersed with natural rockery. A highlight his year was a perky robin perched in the begonia planter.

Roy Vollert’s rural property exhibited many varieties of trees, including a fruiting quince, leading you to perennial beds, vegetable gardens, an intriguing scree garden and a woodland area. The strolling hens added to the country setting.

Betty & Jack McFarlane’s garden contain new walkways, walls and outbuildings that spill seamlessly into the neighbor’s side yards and wooded areas. Fountains and waterfalls provided a soothing background sound. Weeping willow, Japanese Maple and Mulberry trees create height in the large perennial beds.

Arnold Ellis maintains a garden with deep perennial beds and a central pond with fish, waterfall and fountain! An attractive gazebo bult by the owner proveded shade. A begetable garden, containers and vines provide additional interest. A Collection of colourful iris were just beginning to bloom.

Nancy Wilson was awarded the Best Water Feature in 2007. Nancy is committed to an environmentally friendly property. In addition to the water feature on the front steps and the pond in the backyard, visitors were enticed by the number of trees, perennial and vines on show.

Eloise and Larry Aldebert’s property welcomed visitors’ into a setting prepared for guests. Outdoor patio table was elegantly set for dinner! This 2007 Best Town Garden winner exhibits a variety of trees with effectively anchor the corners of the backyard perennial bed. Statuary, wooden arbors and sitting areas are strategically placed, inviting you to stay and explore this well maintained property.

Many visitors this year were from out of town and included the tour as part of their day’s excursion. The positive comments of guests and volunteers, as well as the enthusiasm of everyone involved, affirms the success of the day. Thank you to all the volunteers who manned the sites and the gardeners who offered their gardens for the tour. We appreciate the continued support of Foodstuffs on Main Street, Hallmark Greetings at the Georgetown Marketplace mall; both sites handling ticket sales for the Garden Tour.