One doesn’t have to be a gardener to enjoy exploring a nice garden. There are a public ones in central Alberta but many of the private ones are opened at the request of friends or garden clubs. When offered the chance to visit, take the opportunity to as they are well worth the time. The following will give an idea of where to start looking for gardening tour opportunities.
The Alberta Dahlia and Glad Society is hosting its annual Garden Party Aug. 4 and 5 at the Alberta Trial Gardens on 40 Avenue in Red Deer.
Sunday it starts with workshops at 9 a.m. and concluding the day with a social at 4 p.m., which includes beef on a bun.
People are welcome to attend for the day or arrive at 4 p.m. to take in the flowers and enjoy the company.
To register for the Sunday or Monday workshops please contact Marilyn 403-346-4902 or Ken 403-782-5095.
For directions or more information visit the website www.albertadahliaandgladsociety.com.
The annual Gladiola and Dahlia show is Aug. 23, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 24, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Pidherney Curling Centre, upper level. This will showcase the best of the best Dahlias and Glads in Alberta. For more information contact Lorne at 403-346-4902 and go to their website.
Aug. 10, Parkland Nurseries and Garden Centre is hosting its annual yard and garden tour from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a cost of $45 per person, which does not include lunch.
For more information contact the garden centre. This is one tour where you can sit back on a comfortable bus and let others do the driving.
The Red Deer County runs a Rural Beautification tour every July. It doesn’t advertise the event as tickets sell out in the first or second day.
If interest in attending next year, keep an eye on the Red Deer County website in June.
It is a full day coach tour, which includes lunch and coffee stops.
The Red Deer and District Garden Club hosts garden tours on a weekly basis in July and August. Buy a membership for $20 per household and enjoy the best gardens in and around Red Deer.
The Red Deer and District Garden Club hosts one of the few remaining flower shows each August.
This year the show is taking place Aug. 15 at Festival Hall.
It is free to enter and to attend.
Garden shows are a great way to meet other gardeners and to find out what grows well in the area.
More information, including the show booklet is on the club’s website at http://reddeergardenclub.ca/Home.php
The Innisfail Garden Club meets on the third Saturday of the month to tour local yards and gardens.
For more information, send the club a message though its facebook page.
Sundre has two active gardening groups, Sundre and Area Gardeners and Sundre Lawn and Garden. Both can be found on Facebook.
Lacombe Garden Club meets monthly with special events held throughout the year.
It is easy to keep in touch with this group through Facebook.
Each town has its own public gardens. The type and variety of gardens depends on the town’s budget and residents interests.
When in Red Deer, take time to walk and or sit to enjoy all that City Hall Park has to offer.
In the spring, it is full of flowering bulbs and during the summer, the beds overflowing of annuals and perennials.
It is a great place to spend time relaxing and people watching.
Walking through the Olds College Campus is a feast for the eyes, and nose. Like the college itself, it combines heritage plants with new trial gardens. The Botanical Garden and the Wetlands are open for the public to walk through from dawn to dusk or book a tour through the college. There is a charge for the tour and a minimum number of people need to attend.
Summer is short, so take advantage of the opportunities available to go out and smell the flowers.
Linda Tomlinson is a horticulturalist that lives near Rocky Mountain House. She can be reached at your_garden@hotmail.com