There’s going to be a garden party this Sunday – and judging from public response, it’s going to be quite a bash.
A June 12 garden tour has sold out, which is great news for organizers of the 104th annual Aldergrove Fair Days – happening July 15 to 17 at Aldergrove Athletic Park and the Aldergrove Kinsmen Community Centre.
The tour serves as a fundraiser for the fair and will make stops at six gardens within Langley Township between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The tour is so popular, in fact, it’s slightly overbooked, said Robin Bandenieks, who along with Suzanne Robinson is involved with both the tour and the Aldergrove Festival Days Society.
The 56-seat coach originally requested is now a 54-seat coach, meaning two of the paying guests will be driven to each garden, as well as the two master gardeners who are on the tour, Bandenieks explained.
“Every garden on this tour has a distinct personality reflecting the owner’s preferences and creativity,” she said.
Those on the adults-only tour will visit: large estate gardens, gardens with views, gardens with hardscape, arbours, fountains, and ponds, and gardens “planted to energize and focus the visitor’s well-being,” according to Bandenieks.
These gardens are rarely open for public viewing, and two of the gardens on display include Erikson’s Daylily Gardens and Yewstone Gardens.
Each ticket includes:
• a hosted tour of six private gardens;
• pick-up and final drop-off at the Otter Co-op (248th Street, just south of Fraser Highway);
• coach transportation;
• lunch and refreshments;
• two master gardeners on hand to answer questions; and
• free admission to the Aldergrove Fair July 15 to 17.
To view descriptions of each garden, visit aldergrovefair.ca/garden-tour/.
This is the first year of the tour, Bandenieks said, noting, “with such a positive response we are seriously thinking about holding another tour next year.”
Garden enthusiasts as far as West Vancouver, Point Roberts, Vancouver, and Delta have purchased tickets.
“There are so many special gardens in our area – even just driving through the beautiful rural countryside is a treat,” Bandenieks said. “We have already been approached by gardeners who wish to show their gardens next year and would very much like to open up a ‘Call to Gardeners in the Township of Langley’ for 2017.”
Again, this would be run as a fundraiser for the Aldergrove Fair.
The format may be changed in the future, though, and run as a garden passport tour, meaning you drive yourself instead of going on a coach, and lunch would not be included, Bandenieks explained.
The garden tour is a fitting fundraiser considering the theme of next month’s fair is “Garden Party.”
This year’s fair will feature a whole fairground full of garden displays and activities.
