A showcase of some of Squamish’s most spectacular gardens is on tap for attendees of the 16th annual Squamish Garden Tour.
While those who take the June 22 tour organized by the Squamish Gardeners can enjoy both visual art and music and even an author along with their garden browsing, the sojourn’s most surprising feature might well be a pair of gardens at industrial sites — the Miller Capilano Maintenance Co. yard in the Squamish Business Park and the Coast Aggregates/Cardinal Concrete facility on Centennial Way.
The gardens in the Miller Capilano yard were chosen for the tour not just because of their excellent appearance, but for the way the plantings showcase some vintage, restored pieces of highway maintenance equipment, Squamish Gardeners president Carol Anderson said.
The two are “great examples of gardens that can be done in an industrial area,” Anderson said of the Miller Capilano garden, which is stop No. 5 on the 10-garden tour, and the Coast Aggregates yard, which is No. 8.
As with previous years, the work of local artists and musicians will be featured at the 10 gardens on the tour. The artwork of Linda Bachman and Cindy Watson, who designed this year’s Garden Tour poster, are among those featured. As well, well-known local musicians Carolyn Grass and Friends are among the groups performing at selected sites.
Author Sharon Hanna, who just released her second book, titled The Book of Kale and Friends, is also set to take part of an author visit and Master Gardener clinic with Anderson and fellow Master Gardener Carol Robson.
“The ‘and Friends’ are herbs,” Anderson said of Hanna’s book, a sequel to her popular book The Book of Kale. “It has more information about growing kale and herbs. She had quite a presentation at the last Master Gardener meeting.”
A raffle featuring more than $2,000 in items is planned, with proceeds going to Squamish Gardeners, the Howe Sound Performing Arts Association, Visuals and the Friends of the Squamish Public Library.
Onatah Coffee in the Spectacle Building on Tantalus Way is the tour’s official coffee stop. At 5:30 p.m., the post-event gathering and raffle prize drawing will take place there.
The tour runs on Sunday, June 22, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets cost $15 and are available at the Squamish Adventure Centre, On the Farm Country Market, Garibaldi Nurseries, Anna’s Interiors and the Squamish Public Library, or at any of the gardens on the day of the event.
