Blooming gardens on tour
It’s time to get your traveling shoes on and visit some of the great gardens that can be found in this region. This weekend will offer two days of touring opportunities.
On Saturday, The Inland Empire Gardeners will host its “Spokane in Bloom Tour” with six gardens featuring such themes as “Romantic” “Renaissance” and the “Impressionist.” A few highlights include:
“The Romantic Garden” is a quiet sanctuary only five minutes from downtown. A large, multi-level deck, used for dining and entertaining, has several large planter boxes and a striking water feature. Surrounding the pool are gardens filled with arbors, roses and a mix of annuals, perennials, potted plants and garden ornaments. Natural stone outcroppings and a pond filled with colorful gold fish and water lilies finish the garden.
“The Renaissance Garden” is a woodland shade garden in a backyard filled with hostas, astilbes, trilliums, ferns and rhododendrons, and accented with pools, totem poles carved by the gardener, and a gazebo. The front garden is sunny and filled with succulents, roses, heather, ground covers and yuccas. The side of the house has roses, herbs, and garden art. A sense of tranquility and balance pervades this spectacular setting.
“The Impressionist Garden” is an incredible estate garden in Peaceful Valley that is landscaped down to the edges of the Spokane River. This Japanese-style garden blends natural basalt rocks and life-sized animal sculptures with plantings that capture the site’s beauty. Several small ponds and water features draw the power of the river into the garden. Appropriately, an Oriental-style lunch at an additional cost from Lylo’s Oriental Cafe will be available.
Along with the opportunity to visit beautiful gardens, more than 20 vendors of plants, crafts, garden artists and garden organizations will be scattered among the gardens.
Tickets are $7 each and will be on sale the day of the tour at any garden, or for advance purchase, at local nurseries. Call (509) 535-8434 or e-mail tiegclub@wmconnect.com.
Addresses of the Spokane in Bloom Tour:
“The Romantic Garden” – 1026 S. Carousel Lane
“The Renaissance Garden” – 806 S. Montavilla Drive
“The Impressionist Garden” – 1918 W. Clarke Ave.
“The Classic Garden” – 3719 S. Ridgeview Drive
“The Expressionist Garden” – 9515 E. Holman Road
“The Art Deco Garden” – 10721 E. 35th Ave.
Pond Tour
On Sunday, the Inland Empire Water Garden and Koi Society will hold its annual tour from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets at $5are available at Koi Gardens, Blue Iris Water Gardens, Smart Gardens, Rietters Nursery, Jared Family Greenhouse, Greenacres Ponds and Plants, Northwest Seed and Pet, Stillwater Gardens (Cheney) and Animal House (Hayden). They will be available at each of the gardens the day of the show. For more information, call Mary at 466-2082 or Mike at 328-0518
For more information on the koi society tour, see full story on page 18.