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Notes From the Garden

July in the Garden

Summer Garden Tours--One a Week, All Month

By Kimberly Christensen

Jul 04, 2002 -- In late June I often suffer from garden malaise. When our one week of summer-like weather hits, I want to lay in a hammock and forget about the upcoming months of weeding and watering, and the fact that most of my veggies aren't going to be ready to eat for a long, long time.

However, an evening stroll through my neighborhood often chases away that mood as I admire my neighbors' landscapes and puzzle over the intriguing plants. By the end of my walk, I am inspired to take up trowel and compost again. I am rededicated to tearing out misfit plants and to filling in the holds in my garden with beautiful cultivars. I am ready to wait for my end of summer tomatoes as I have lots of work to do before fall!

If you're finding yourself in a similar garden-funk that no walk will fix, consider spending a morning at one of Seattle's many garden tours. Not only will you discover new varieties of plants, but you will also meet other gardeners with whom to exchange stories and ideas. You will see how ingenious urban gardeners are growing veggies in small places, turning the strip of dirt between the curb and the street into a wild English garden, adding whimsy to a landscape with recycled art. You are guaranteed to walk away from a garden tour with more ideas than you have space, so make sure to bring a camera, notepad and pen. And wear some comfy walking shoes!

Central Area Garden Tour: Saturday, July 6, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

An eclectic garden tour that boasts individual homes as well as a collaborative neighborhood garden, a wildlife sanctuary, heirloom plants and a bicycle in a tree, the Central Area garden tour showcases creative urban gardening. Eleven gardens, ranging from low to high maintenance, will be open for touring. A plant sale is being held in conjunction with the tour, and will feature plants from the gardens. Six dollar advanced tickets are available at City People's Garden Store on Madison Street, Madison Market at 16th and Madison, Ravenna Gardens at both the University Village and Queen Anne locations and Rosebriar Gardens & Design on Rainier Avenue South at King Street. Eight dollar same-day tickets will be sold at Midtown Center Plaza at 23rd & Union, where the plant sale is also being held. All proceeds will benefit the Union Street Improvement Project. For more information, call (206) 726-1615 or visit the Web site www.centralarea.org, which includes a photo tour of several of the featured homes.

Georgetown Art and Garden Tour: Sunday, July 14, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

With a focus and gardens that real people have created themselves, the Georgetown Garden and Art Tour will inspire the city dweller to make the most out of any workable space. One of Seattle's few free garden walks, this tour promises gardens that reflect the personality of the people who design them. This may include anything from plants growing in unexpected places to tour stops that boast art sales in the yard, live music or a free barbecue (at the Georgetown Gospel Church stop, vegetarian and carnivore food available). In addition to providing lunch, Georgetown Gospel Church will be showing off its vegetable patch and will offer master composter demonstrations throughout the day. Maps will be available the day of the event at the Union Hall Parking lot at 1010 S. Bailey St, where there will also be a plant sale. More plants will be sold at the Flora Avenue tour stop. For more information, call (206) 763-9895.

West Seattle Garden Tour: Sunday, July 21, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Do-it-yourselfers will find plenty of ideas and advice at the West Seattle Garden Tour. Since many folks have no idea how to design or care for a garden, this community tour has evolved as an experiment in teaching people how to work with the small, urban landscape. This year, the tour will boast a plethora of specialists, including gurus in such areas as roses, composting, native plants, water gardens and art-scapes. A lunchtime lecture with radio personality and horticulturist Ciscoe Morris will be available to all tour-goers at South Seattle Community College. Proceeds from the $15 tickets will benefit ArtsWest, the Seattle Chinese Garden and the Morgan Community P-Patch. Tickets may be purchased at the West Seattle Nursery, ArtsWest and the West Seattle PCC. Call (206) 938-6080 for more information.

Kimberly Christensen lives and gardens in Wallingford.


Reader Comments

Discuss this article in the forums!

Michael Italiaander Nov 12, 2002 Litchfield, CT Tour Operator
   Dear Kimberly, I am a garden tour operator and we have been offering tours of the Seattle reagion for many years now. If possible I could use your help to refresh some of the private gardens that we visit. We are of course willing to make donations along the way. We visit the Miller garden, Jansons garden and Chase garden south of Seattle as well as the great public gardens in the area. Also we have found many groups that want to travel to yopur area this year and we are in need otf some new garden orientated guides. We pay per diem expenses as well as a daily fee if you know anyone that is interested. If you can help please e-mail me at michael@expogardentours.com. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Michael Italiaander President, Expo Garden Tours www.expogardentours.com
Sarah Phillips Apr 24, 2004 Lake Forest Park, WA 98155
    Lake Forest Park Garden Tour The Secret Gardens of Lake Forest Park Garden Tour and Garden Fair June 12, 10AM-4PM. Visit six unique and beautiful private gardens in Lake Forest Park. Artists and music will be featured in each garden. Advance tickets for $10 will be available starting Saturday, May 1, 2004 at Wild Birds Unlimited at Lake Forest Park Towne Center, located at the intersection of Bothell Way (SR522) and Ballinger Way (SR104), Sky Nursery in Shoreline and Molbakís Garden Store in Woodinville. Tickets will be available for $12 at the lower level of the shopping center on the day of tour. Ciscoe Morris of KIRO radio will be broadcasting from the lower level of the mall between 9AM and noon. There will be an all day Garden Fair at the mall. The Garden Fair has plantsóhostas, ferns flowering plants, shade plants drought tolerant plants and more. Andrew Schulman, author of The Northwest Cottage Garden, will be on Third Place Stage at noon and Cass Trunbull, author and founder of Plant Amnesty will be on stage at 4 PM. Free Compost will be available while supplies last. For more information, call Sarah at 206-362-5440, or visit our website at http://www.ocsiweb.com/SecretGarden/

 

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