About 150 people enjoy Kincardine Horticultural Society garden tour

A total of 154 people enjoyed the Kincardine Horticultural Society's Through the Garden Gate tour, held Sunday, July 9, at eight different gardens in the Kincardine area, with refreshments at the Walker House. That number is down slightly from the 170 who took in the garden tour last year.

CRACKNELL GARDENS

First on the list, were the gardens of Roger and Lynda Cracknell on Olde Victoria in Kincardine. The home was built in 1895 and the Cracknells have lived there for 26 years, experimenting with mostly shade species. They have a myriad of trees and bushes throughout, and all the wandering paths are handmade, leading to the secret garden in the back with an added water feature that the fish, toads and even a turtle have enjoyed over the years. The front yard is a compilation of roses, lilac, ferns, hosta, bleeding heart, lavender, hydrangea and many more perennials. "Our garden is a friend you can always visit!"

COLLINS GARDENS

The gardens at the home of Dan and Nola Collins on Boardwalk in the Heritage Heights subdivision, are low maintenance, as the owners do not consider themselves expert gardeners. Their gardens are enjoyed for family pleasure and feature a variety of trees, perennials, carved garden spirits, garden ornaments, annuals for colour, and ornamental grasses. They don't consider it a showpiece but rather, a relaxing place to be.

ROY GARDENS

Dan and Rhetha Roy moved to their home on Snobelen Trail in the Heritage Heights subdivision, six years ago and thought they would stick to low maintenance gardens. However, they soon found out that there isn't such a thing - shrubs need pruning, they get too big or they die, and there is still plenty of weeding to do. While they may have had a plan, they had difficulty following it because when they found a plant they liked, they always made room for it in the gardens.  The annuals, perennials, shrubs and grasses may not be low maintenance "but there is something to be said about getting your hands dirty!"

RUTLEDGE GARDENS

At the home of Allan and Eleanor (Campbell) Rutledge on Snobelen Trail in the Heritage Heights subdivision, built in 2010, there are many different varieties of trees, shrubs and perennials. The back yard now has 10 trees, including Regal Petticoat, Maples, Ornamental Pears, an Eskimo Sunset Maple, Kentucky Yellow Wood, Butterflies Magnolia, and Tricolour Beech. In 2015, a waterfall was incorporated into the patio where the Rutledges enjoy relaxing by the water and seeing many beautiful birds at the feeders. In the front yard, is a colourful Ginkgo Biloba tree, and in the shrub bed, a Threadleaf White Cedar. Throughout the gardens, planters of annuals maintain a constant splash of colour as the perennials come and go.

The other four gardens were located at the homes of the following:
 

• Bob and Lynn Bradley on Troon Court, Kincardine
• John and Helen Boardman on Penetangore Row, Kincardine
• Ernie and Ena Parker on the Southline
• Allen and Cristina Barac on Scott Crescent in the Heritage Heights subdivision