Leisurely walks through flower gardens with crimson roses and purple pansies, or vegetable gardens ladened with fragrant red tomato plants and yellow summer squash, will be on the community calendar in July with the return of the Bradford Garden Tour.
The tour, slated to be held from 1 to 5 p.m. July 29, will be hosted by the Downtown Bradford Business District Authority and sponsored by Northwest Bank, said Chelsea Schwab, Main Street Manager.
Schwab said the tour seeks to revive the tour that was once hosted as part of the Betty Jane Monjar Garden Symposium through the First Presbyterian Church. She said plans to reinstate the tours came from downtown businesswoman Sheryl Silvis, committee chairperson for the event. Silvis, who remembered the previous Monjar garden tours in town, said there has been widespread interest in reviving the event.
“We are excited to bring such a well-loved event back to Bradford,” Silvis said.
Schwab said those who purchase tickets for the tour will register at Graham’s Greenhouse on East Main Street where they will receive a guide map. From there, they will visit each of the 10 gardens that will be selected by the committee to be on the tour. Schwab said refreshments will be provided at each garden stop and participants will have the opportunity to explore the gardens, vote for their favorite property and enter for various prizes.
Schwab said after the tour, participants may also purchase tickets for a Garden Gala from 7 to 9 p.m. at Graham’s Greenhouse and Landscaping on East Main Street. Wine and other refreshments will be provided during the outdoor soiree.
Tickets will be available this spring for both the tour and the gala, Schwab continued. She said admission to either the tour or the gala are $10 for each event, while combination tour and gala tickets will be $15. Proceeds will benefit the improvement of green spaces and landscaping public spaces in the Bradford area, Schwab added.
“The money might be used for updated planters, but there are also some project areas where we would like to see more plantings of trees” and vegetation near off-ramps, she explained. “We would also like to raise more awareness for the Safe, Clean and Green Committee we would like to get going.”
Schwab said all 10 garden owners on the tour will receive free admission to the gala, where the awards ceremony will take place.
As for the gardens selected for the tour, she said the committee will take applications for consideration from property owners in the city of Bradford, as well as Bradford and Foster townships. Gardens of all types will be accepted for consideration, including traditional vegetable and flower gardens, large and small landscapes, container and patio gardens and hardscapes.
“Starting in June, our committee members will set up appointments with each person who applied to visit their garden,” Schwab said, noting the judges will narrow down the applicants to the 10 best gardens for the tour
Local Master Gardener and committee member Bob Harris said some of the best gardens he has seen are the small ones.
“Don’t think you have to have a massive vegetable garden to become a finalist,” he said. “There are many types and styles of gardens, each impressive in their own way.”
Schwab said garden applicants need to return their applications to the committee by May 14. Applications may be picked up at Graham’s Greenhouse and Landscaping, Northwest Bank on Main Street, Bella Capelli Salon on East Main Street or Proper’s Florist on West Washington Street. Applications can also be found on the Bradford Garden Tour’s Facebook page.
Gardens selected for the tour will be asked to provide refreshments and one to two volunteers at their site during the tour. Garden owners are not required, but are encouraged, to be present for the duration of the tour. One “Best in Show” and one “People’s Choice” award will be presented to the top gardens during the gala and all finalists will receive certificates and recognition at the event.
For her part, committee member Kim Graham said she believes the tour will provide a wonderful summer event.
“Garden enthusiasts and novices alike will enjoy touring the best gardens Bradford has to offer, or relaxing and interacting during the gala,” Graham said. “Tour participants will have plenty of chances to win prizes and learn more about gardening, and our gala guests will also be able to win prizes while enjoying a refined summer evening.”
