Garden tour returns June 20
There will be a lot to dig during the 7th annual South Butler County Garden Tour June 20.
Greens, perennials, annuals and petals of all colors will be on display in this fundraising endeavor for the Southern Butler County Garden Club at six gardens throughout the county.
Mark and Sue Breedlove of Adams Township have been creating their garden oasis for 11 years.
It boasts a waterfall, pond, terrace bed, boulders, an arbor and a variety of perennials.
“I've worked in many different gardens as we moved 11 times,” said Sue, a certified master gardener through Penn State, Allegheny County. “I love being outdoors and enjoy having something beautiful to look at all year.”
When they moved to their Adams Township home 12 years ago, the only landscaping element they chose to keep was the water feature.
“We used the design with the river rock and boulders to carry through the new beds we built in the rest of the yard. We moved here from Michigan and based our design on the Tamarack region of northern Michigan with its native river birch, hemlocks, ferns and astilbe,” she said.
“Don't do it if you don't want to work in your yard most days. You need to enjoy this type of work. It takes both of us to do this,” Sue said.
Their garden has more than 100 species of plants.
“Perennials are the back drop and texture of the garden. Annuals add the splash of vibrant color,” she said.
“We use a variety of heights, textures and bloom times for all-season beauty. Every time you turn a corner, one can expect a different view or perspective,” she said.
The Breedloves' pond is a perfect breeding ground.“We end up with thousands of tiny tadpoles that mature into frogs so small that they could fit on your little finger nail. They hop out of the pond and disperse back into the landscape until the next year,” Sue said.Newer to gardening, Phil and Laura Mason of Cranberry Township have offered to share their garden, which features a 50-foot-long raised flower bed made of stone.“There are also eight stone columns spaced out in the garden. Each column contains a large pot that we fill with overflowing annuals each year,” said Phil.Their garden is a work in progress since they bought the home three years ago.“Every year we start from scratch in the flower bed. Each year we try to make over a small portion of the back yard,” he explained.Gardening wasn't something they sought.“It was almost forced on to us when we bought the house. The previous owners constructed all the landscape with the flower beds, so naturally we couldn't leave it bare. And so started our journey as amateur gardeners,” said Phil. “We've enjoyed the challenge of filling in those bare spots to make the garden our own.”Because their jobs require them to spend a great deal of time indoors, they enjoy the outdoor aspect of gardening.“More than anything, though, it lets us spend time with each other and our two young boys, even if they are picking off all the petals,” said Phil.Their family life is pretty scheduled and organized, so they enjoy using spontaneity in their garden.“We'll see a spot that needs filled, and we'll go to the nursery not having any idea as to what should go there. It takes but a few minutes before we find a plant that fits,” he said.The garden tour is a fundraiser with a portion of the proceeds this year benefiting Zelie's Garden, a project begun three years ago when several trees had to be taken down on the Passavant House property of the Zelienople Historical Society, 243 S. Main St., Zelienople.“That opened up the possibility of developing the grounds to enhance our house and museum,” said Sue Casker of the Garden Committee of the historical society.“Since we are able to read what the Passavant family planted in the 1800s from Zelie Passavant's letters, we know exactly what to plant in 'Zelie's Garden' to extend our house tours outside to the gardens,” she added.“We love that we are mixing what we are learning about the history of the Passavant family and early Zelienople with our love of plants and gardening,” Casker said.“We are currently raising money to build a gazebo in the middle of the gardens that will be a venue for musical presentations, historical and gardening talks and membership functions,” Casker said.This year the tour features a surprise vendor selling wares at each garden stop.At registration, ticket holders will receive a booklet with garden descriptions and driving directions. Tickets will also be collected for a chance on a door prize, and chances may be purchased to win several “Gardener's Delight” raffle baskets.The tax-deductible ticket helps to fund local horticultural programs in the community.
WHAT: 7th annual South Butler County Garden TourWHEN: 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 20WHERE: Six gardens throughout Butler CountyTICKETS: $20 each by mailing a check and self-addressed stamped envelope to Belinda Stuetelberg, 143 Pinehurst Drive, Cranberry Township, PA 16066. Also available from 9 to 10 a.m. the day of the event for $25 only at the Cranberry Municipal Building, 2525 Rochester Road, Cranberry Township.INFORMATION: Visit www.southernbutlercountygardenclub.org or call Karen at 724-822-1670.
