Garden Tour celebrates 23rd year
Lawn and garden enthusiasts will have quite the selection of local gardens to view Wednesday for the 23rd annual Jamestown Garden Tour. The tour is hosted by the Jamestown branch of the American Association of University Women and will feature four Jamestown gardens from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.By: Brian Willhide, The Jamestown Sun
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Lawn and garden enthusiasts will have quite the selection of local gardens to view Wednesday for the 23rd annual Jamestown Garden Tour.
The tour is hosted by the Jamestown branch of the American Association of University Women and will feature four Jamestown gardens from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.
“It’s a good variety this year,” said Kelly Krein, chairman of the Garden Tour. “I consider them artists because these people are really painting a picture with the work of their garden.”
The tour, which Krein said has been known to attract more than 350 people in years past, raises money for AAUW’s education foundation.
“At the national level, the educational foundation provides more than $3 million in scholarships and grants for women each year,” Krein said. “We’re very happy that we in Jamestown can contribute to that.”
Beyond just a good cause, Krein said the tour is a way for people in town to have an enjoyable evening while learning some things about gardening, including what kinds of plants, trees and flowers grow well in this area.
Each yard selected this year has unique characteristics, according to Krein.
The Werons
John and Brenda Weron’s yard at 3540 Sixth Ave. NW, sits on the couple’s lot overlooking Jamestown Reservoir and features a vegetable garden in addition to a wide variety of flowers.
“It’s always a work in progress, but I just really enjoy having a vision of what I want to do and then enjoy watching it come together,” said Brenda Weron, who has lived in the house with her husband, John, for 10 years.
The Werons’ flower garden features roses, oriental and Asiatic lilies, in addition to other perennials as well as annuals.
Brenda said her favorites are the roses, which she said are important to keep “deadheaded,” meaning free of dead blooms.
“I work on the garden about as much as I possibly can, sometimes five to six hours a day,” she said.
Brenda said she’s a true gardening enthusiast who enjoys talking about her hobby with others.
“It’s hard for me to imagine that others would want to see my garden, but the real joy I get is talking to someone else who is as crazy about gardening as I am,” she said.
The Schumachers
DeAnn Schumacher and her husband, Frank, have enjoyed watching the widespread growth of their garden since moving into their home at 233 23rd Ave. NE, 12 years ago.
“We’ve added a pot or two each year,” said DeAnn, who models her yard after a woodland fantasy garden. “Day lilies and irises are my favorite.”
She said she enjoys having garden statues throughout her yard, with gnomes, trolls and small fountains setting the tone for what audiences will see during the tour.
“I’ve been going on the garden tour for a few years now and I just love it,” DeAnn said. “I get my ideas from magazines, looking online and just looking at other people’s gardens. Then I like to take those ideas and tweak them to fit our garden and our yard.”
DeAnn said beyond the flower beds, she anticipates people will enjoy the gazebo in their backyard.
She said there’s still plenty of work for her and John to do prior to Tuesday when this year’s featured garden owners will have a chance to view each other’s work the night before they’re showcased on the tour.
John Zvirovski
No stranger to the Garden Tour is John Zvirovski of 1601 Seventh Ave. SE, who is making his second appearance in three years on the tour.
Zvirovski serves as the garden editor for The Jamestown Sun and said he thinks people will enjoy seeing some of the new features he has as part of his garden this year.
“It’s always fun to hear people’s questions and find out what their concerns are,” said Zvirovski, who has lived at his current home for six years. “One of the new things this year is a gnome garden called ‘Gnome Home.’”
The gnome garden is hidden toward the back of Zvirovski’s property, but before that he hopes to have up and running a large, nine-piece, 2,500-pound fountain that is featured as part of his backyard.
“I removed a raspberry patch to make way for the fountain,” he said. “It’s quite a project but I think it will be worth it.”
Zvirovski said he hopes those who view his garden as part of the tour come away with a few different thoughts.
“Color and texture can be a big part of your garden in more than just your flowers,” he said. “And there’s a lot to do with foliage beyond just the flowers. You want to make sure you have something that’s lasting in your garden even when the plants aren’t necessarily blooming.”
The Lundes
While many gardeners find sanctuary in the gardening itself, Kim Lunde’s cottage dedicated to her gardening magazines and tools is what she enjoys as much as anything. It’s also where she prepares some her containers and flowers she purchases.
“I bring things home from garden shops and can’t wait to see where things will fit in our garden,” said Lunde, who along with her husband, Paul, have made their home at 1605 Seventh Ave. SE since 1991.
The Lundes live next door to Zvirovski, and they said he has been a tremendous influence on their gardening.
“A few years ago, a lot of this was just a regular yard,” said Paul, as he pointed to the front of his home where a garden bed now highlights the ground. “It’s come a long way though, and John has certainly helped us and given us tips.”
While Kim does a lot of the work with the flowers, Paul takes pride in the vegetable garden the couple has in their backyard.
“We’ve got corn, peas, beans, carrots and potatoes,” he said. “As cliché as it sounds, I just like to watch things grow — you know, the very basics.”
Both Kim and Paul said their favorite part of the Garden Tour is how they always manage to see something new each year.
Tour details
Krein said she encourages everyone going on the tour to wear walking shoes, as not all yards will have flat ground.
“You can start anywhere you wish and take a break wherever you like, as we know it could be warm out,” she said.
The tour will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.
During tour hours, visitors are encouraged to stop at The Arts Center in Jamestown for refreshments and to view the current exhibit. They may also create a tile which will be fired in the kiln and become part of a community piece to be installed in The Arts Park.
Advance tickets are $8 and are available at The Arts Center, Country Gardens Floral, Don’s Garden Shop, Lloyds Toyota, Don’s Garden Center, The Garden Gate and Don’s House of Flowers.
Tickets the day of the tour are $10 and after 4 p.m. may only be purchased at The Arts Center or at each site during tour hours.
For more information, visit http://jamestown-nd.aauw.net.
Sun reporter Brian Willhide can be reached at 701-952-8454 or by email at bwillhide@jamestownsun.com
Tags: local news, news, garden
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