Local garden tour blossoms

Local residents volunteered to share personal floral facilities with the public during the popular garden tour that took place at various homes throughout Hants County July 5-6.

Haliburton Garden Club vice chair Pauline Sullivan says the event was a huge success with over 75 people attending the garden viewings and more than $700 being raised directly from the tour for the West Hants Historical Society and Haliburton Place.

Everyone who participated in the event shared a real love for gardening, Sullivan said. “However, I’d still like to give a ‘thank-you’ to all who attended and to the gardeners.”

The garden tour provided much entertainment because each one viewed was different from the next, Sullivan said. As well, it was a great awareness opportunity for The Friends of Haliburton and the West Hants Historical Society. “Both groups worked in the gardens.”

Windsor Home Hardware owner Jeff Redden also contributed to the garden tours by supplying refreshments for the event and by offering an additional $1,000, earned through tickets sold for the garden centre opening, to the garden tour cause.

“It’s wonderful knowing the garden club has given the money we gave them to the West Hants Historical Society and the Haliburton Place,” Redden added. “Both groups give a lot to the community and don’t ask for much so it’s great to be able to help them out.”

The garden centre sales represent a growing party of Home Hardware’s business, Redden said. “We like how garden clubs are helping to beautify the landscape of Hants County.”

Falmouth resident Marianne Swinamer owns one of the six stops featured in the garden tour. Her garden has been an expanding project since the home was built in 1974.

The clay soil and bugs in Falmouth can be challenging to work with, Swinamer said. “But the bugs were here first... and gardening is wonderful for you mentally.”

It can also be difficult to share a garden with other because gardening is a personal thing, Swinamer said. “It’s like having people coming in to view your children… You put so much time and energy into raising it.”

However, the turnout was excellent and the weather was nice with a bit of a breeze most people could appreciate during a rather hot day, Swinamer said. “Everyone was very complimentary and positive… It was a good event and a good cause.”