Preparation underway for Annual Garden Tour

Catch a glimpse of Paris’ most creative and well maintained properties as the Horticultural Society presents its annual tour June 3-4

By Carolina Saenz

The Paris Horticultural Society (PHS) always has something for all garden and nature lovers to enjoy, from their annual plant sale (the successful one-day fundraiser was held last Saturday) to their regular meetings and presentations Their most anticipated event of the year, however, is their Annual Garden Tour – and it’s just right around the corner. This exciting event takes on Saturday June 3rd and Sunday June 4th from 10 am to 4pm. Six beautiful gardens in Paris and area will be featured, alongside local artists and musicians who will preform. Serryn Stephenson, Publicity Director for the PHS, and Anne Vernon, organizer of the Garden Tours, share all the details about the Garden Tour, which took roots in Paris in 2001.

Since then, the annual event has grown to include local artists and musicians, to enhance the visitors’ experience, also giving the artists and musicians extra

Mark your calendar, the Paris Horticultural Society’s popular Garden Tour returns the first weekend in June. Hosts are busy preparing their landscapes! Paris Horticultural Society Photos exposure in the community. The Garden Tour was originally hosted on the same weekend as “Springtime in Paris,” an annual celebration of Spring that always filled Lion’s Park the first weekend in June. It passed through several organizers before folding a few years ago, and the Garden Tour continued to grow into an event all its own Rain or shine homeowners and talented gardeners graciously open their gates for attendees to tour their grounds and admire the displays of creativity. It is a volunteer-run event, and an important fundraiser for the PHS. The gardens featured are searched out by the PHS Garden Tour committee and are contacted a year in advance.

“We are always looking for new gardens to tour. Any suggestions would be welcome,” shares Vernon. This year’s gardens include three country properties and three in-town properties

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Fifteen groups of musicians and artists will be participating, including well-known local artists Amy Walsh Harris, Jeanette Obbink, The Beechnuts, some members of the local sketching group, as well as The Little String Orchestra and Katie’s Music Group from Brantford.

Tickets are $15/ person and can be purchase in advance at Sobey’s floral department, Green Heron Books, Home Hardware (on Rest Acres Road), Walters Garden Centre, and Dragonfly Landscaping Supply. They will also be available at any of the participating gardens on the weekend of the tour. If you like what you see on tour, or you have a genuine interest in gardening, the PHS welcomes visitors and encourages everyone to learn more by attending a meeting. Their next one will be held on June 7th at the Paris Fairgrounds, with social time starting at 7 pm and the meeting at 7:30 pm This meeting will feature the annual Flower Show with the theme “Royalty Past and Present: Celebrating Elizabeth and Charles,” a competition amongst PHS members.

Guest speaker Anna Leggatt, who writes for several magazines and much more, will also be presenting on the topic of ‘Shade Gardens’ on this date In addition to their June meeting, this summer will include excursions, socials, and an annual ‘mystery tour’ for members to enjoy. “As a long-time member of the PHS (also director on the executive), I invite newcomers to come and join us. We are the Friendly Garden Club; you will be welcomed with a smile,” writes Stephenson.

It will no doubt be a memorable summer with all PHS events on the calendar. The annual plant sale held last Saturday, May 13th was just the exciting beginning. “Our plant sale 2023 was truly most amazing. We had weeks of planning and preparations Countless volunteers before and during the sale. Everyone was impressed with the setup, the quality of the plants, the variety and just friendliness People were lined up 40 minutes before the sale began. A huge success!” concludes Stephenson.