Open-Garden Tour

In this town of volunteers and cheerful fundraisers for all sorts of causes, a neat way to gather a few bob is to open up your garden and invite the public in. Christ Anglican Church is in need of new washroom facilities and a sprung wooden floor. Four/five private garden owners thought they would like to show off their gardens. Some 50 people followed the invitation, thus an income of $250 was made on the day. 10 volunteers helped with showing people around. Was that a good return on their time?

Garden No. 1: a recent garden project, from building rubble to landscaped flower garden and veggie plot. The owners were very kind and offered a taste of their pea pods and carrots, plucked from the ground specially for me.

Cucumber flower

Garden No. 2: an artist's town house garden, well designed, with decorative items throughout, two ponds and decking, 20 years in the making.

Double Daylilies, Hosta, Vinca and ferns, surrounding goldfish pond with Buddha.

Glass Ball floating on the fountain.

Garden(s) No. 3: a hotchpotch of back gardens, with friendly neighbours who let the children roam without borders. 

 A clever idea for your B-B-Q: dig down rather than build up.

Garden No. 4: out in the sticks, a garden with a lot of space, a swimming pool and a dedicated colour-from-seed gardener.

Canna (kept over the winter), Zinnia and Tagetes (annuals from seed).

Rudbeckia (herbaceous)

Dahlia (tuber kept over winter).

Crossing the town, I waited at the main train track traversing London. TWO trains rumbled by in opposite directions at the same time!

So had it been worth the effort, for the somewhat meagre return in financial terms? I think so. Proud gardeners had had a reason to spruce up their plot. They received recognition for their achievements and pretty compliments which soothe the soul. New ideas were spread. Advice was exchanged, conversations were had - people got together and had fun for an afternoon. They also made a little money for a good cause.