Monday, June 24, 2013

the garden tour of the year...

Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; 
they are sunshine, food, and medicine for the soul. 
 ~Luther Burbank

I agree!

The 11th annual Chilliwack Rotary Garden Tour happened this past weekend.


I was there.
I think I have gone every year since 2005.


I tour for a good cause...
Rotary.

And it's always a good time...
usually in the company of a sister. 


And I go because...
I get to see the backyards of the places one normally just drives by.

Like this one...
on the same road as our farm.
A place I pass by many times every week.
Who knew they had exotic birds and beautiful gardens behind  the house?


It's always fun to pick up ideas for garden art.


Decked out bikes seem to show up in many a  garden!

I toured with my sister and a friend...
and we took a lunch break at our local airport cafe...

...famous for their pies.
They are meant to be shared!

After lunch we made our way up the mountain for the last three gardens on the tour.
We saved the best for last!
 

Each garden had a Rotary Club host at the entrance.
I had a favorite one...
but forgot to take his photo. :)


Here was a garden with a view...



...sprawling and inviting.
This particular garden has been in-the-making for only eight years.



The hosts welcomed us warmly...
even serving coffee, tea and goodies from their finest china out on their deck.


 And my favorite place on the tour...
...was the last one we visited.



It sat high on a ridge...


 
...and had 2 1/2 acres of gardens, paths and ponds.

 

With an incredible view...
and a lovely home...


...it was really something to 'crow about'.

I think I might do the tour again next year!


17 comments:

  1. Good morning! Goodness, how lovely was that! Thanks for sharing...Enjoy your day!

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  2. Are different homes and gardens featured each year? Have you ever participated showing off your own gardens? Now this is a tour that I could get very excited over.

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    1. Ten different (new) gardens every year, Vee. I'm afraid my gardens wouldn't be much of a tour in comparison to most of those we visit!

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  3. As with every place you "take" us to, this one was lovely indeed. Thank you so much for sharing the beauty of the part of the world you live in!

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  4. I love the quote and also agree whole heartedly. What a great tour - those gardens are all so beautiful! I think yours ranks right up there too from what I've seen. A great cause indeed! Happy Monday to you.

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  5. What a beautiful way to spend an afternoon. Maybe next year crow about your good idea before...and after. How do I miss this every year? We probably have one in our town too. Gorgeous gardens! Thanks for sharing.

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  6. I am waiting for your garden to be part of this tour. You have so many wonderful plants and trees with stories. And it even looked like the rain help up while you made your tour. It's always amazing and stunning to watch people create such beautiful gardens. It truly is an art.

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  7. Wow. Those views are spectacular. That piece of pie is amazing. :) I might have to make garden tours a tradition with Lana now, too. I'll be sharing the ones we visited this week on my blog. No panoramic views, though.

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  8. Wow, those are beautiful gardens and homes. The last one is just stunning with it's views. Thanks for taking us along Judy.

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  9. What a lovely way to spend some time. Gorgeous gardens, and the views those crows have - stunning! That's some pie!

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  10. I understand why you have not missed a year touring these gardens. The mountain views alone would make it worth your time, but the gardens are so beautiful! I like the bear on the bike. The last home is one I would like to visit and just sit in their yard and stare in every direction. Thanks for sharing this.

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  11. Thank you for taking us along on your garden tour, Judy. If it was this good in pictures I can only imagine how fabulous it was in person. Most definitely something to crow about.

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  12. That first photo with a white bridge was in a private home garden? Wow! I adore garden tours! Folks with a passion for gardening are so interesting. A new gardening idea can always be found in their gardens during tours, which adds to the fun.
    The most fabulous garden around here is about to be sold; the owners are aging and realize they will not be able to keep it up. I had never thought about what happens to fabulous gardens when their owners either move or pass away...

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  13. Judy: Such a pleasant little while I just spent soaking in your post and pictures of the garden you toured. I want to link to you and share a couple of teaser photos for LGH..such a lovely post

    Jonell

    [I am trying to "make the rounds' touching base with all my followers in coming weeks-I appreciate every single one of you]

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  14. What a lovely tour Judy. Loved the last garden too. Oh to have my place landscaped like that. Someday...all in good time eh? WE are making more progress this summer though...decking (finally).

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  15. Beautiful gardens! How DO you share that pie? I like the photo with the crows.

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  16. What a nice time you had visiting all these wonderful gardens, Judy! I loved the "moss man" bicycle rider and the the garden with such a magnificent view! The meringue on you pie looks the tallest of any I've ever seen--how delicious!

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'The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it.'
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson