Some might have thought that September was a little late for a garden tour.
But the Cookstown Garden Tour on Saturday offered the perfect opportunity to view six private gardens, plus the grounds at the Cookstown Library, its seed library and its monarch nursery.
There were fall blooms, symphonies of foliage of different textures and colours, artwork and landscaping ideas – from she-sheds to garden rooms, and information on saving seeds.
“We had a theme: Let’s promote the seed library, let’s promote the Innisfil Garden Club,” said organizer Terry Chambers, whose own garden was part of the tour.
At the library, not only could visitors learn more about the art of seed-saving and sharing through the seed library, they were invited to enjoy refreshments, and enter a draw for a Thanksgiving centrepiece, courtesy of Halliday House Blooms.
The library’s monarch nursery also held a butterfly release in the morning and butterflies lingered in the gardens before heading south on their migration.
Only 60 tickets were printed for the self-directed walking tour of Cookstown, and nearly all sold – either in advance or on the day of the tour itself. Winner of the centrepiece was Judith Rogers.
More gardening news:
The Innisfil Garden Club hosts its Fall Flower and Vegetable Show and Social Tea at the Churchill Community Centre in Innisfil this Saturday, Sept. 14. Members are asked to bring entries early, for judging; doors will be open to the public from noon to 1:30 p.m., for viewing and a tea and light lunch for $7. Tickets at the door. Awards for Largest Spanish Onion, Best Chrysanthemum, and Best Gladiolus may be won.
Films for Our Planet. The Lakeshore Branch of the Innisfil ideaLAB & Library, 967 Innisfil Beach Rd., will be screening the documentary, Seeds: The Untold Story, by Collective Eye Films on Wed., Sept. 18 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The film explores the dramatic loss of seed varieties, and the importance of seeds in ensuring biodiversity and food security. After the film, Bridget Indelicato will discuss the seed library, seed saving and sharing as ways to achieve seed and food security. Free but please RSVP, at the Lakeshore Branch, 705-431-7410. Seats are still available.
