“Mistress Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?”
Very well indeed, in the case of nine Ashcroft residences that opened their doors (or rather gardens) to some three dozen people on June 22 for a Garden Tour sponsored by the Ashcroft Communities in Bloom committee, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Ashcroft-Cache Creek. (One garden that had previously been part of the tour had to withdraw unexpectedly.)
Participants took a self-guided tour at their own pace of the nine gardens, met with the gardeners, asked questions, and admired the hard work and dedication that literally created oases in a desert. It was also enjoyable to see the same faces at garden after garden (despite appearances to the contrary, The Journal was not stalking Hilda Drinkwater and Lois Petty).
Yards on display ranged from beautifully manicured lawns and flowerbeds to gardens planted with a feast of fruits and vegetables, as well as one hidden gem that could almost have been in a forest glade rather than a suburban backyard. Many of the gardens contained water features, and were filled with whimsical creations, sculptures, figurines, driftwood, pottery, and more among the plants and flowers.
Members of the Ashcroft Art Club also loaned paintings — with an appropriately botanical theme — to some of the residences, to be displayed alongside the gardens, although a few scattered showers meant some scrambling to keep the artwork out of the elements.
Ashcroft CiB committee chair Andrea Walker says that the tour — which was brought back by popular demand — was a success: “Those who attended said it was a great idea.” The committee will now evaluate the event and decide whether to do another garden tour next year.
editorial@accjournal.ca
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