Approximately 200 people made their way through nine beautiful gardens Sunday in Bradford, and in the end selected the two they liked the best.
As a result of the successful inaugural Garden Tour and Gala, Main Street Manager Chelsea Schwab, organizer of the event, expects to continue the event in the future.
“We had an excellent turnout, more than we had expected,” Schwab said on Monday. “Each stop had light refreshments (including) cookies, ice tea and lemonade, you know, summerfare.”
Schwab said the Best in Show trophy was awarded to Dan and Sandy O’Brien of Forman Street while the People’s Choice trophy was awarded to Chris and Carol Wurster of South Avenue.
Honored with a plaque for Outstanding Community Service were individuals from Futures Rehabilitation Center who have watered the downtown flower barrels this summer.
Schwab said the Garden Gala, held afterwards at Graham’s Greenhouse and Landscaping on East Main Street, also was well-attended. The event included live music, wine and refreshments.
“It was a mixture of people who had done the tour and our homeowners who received complimentary tickets to the gala,” she said of the nine property owners who were selected to display their gardens.
“There were also people who just came to the gala (and paid for separate tickets), and our volunteers were provided tickets to the gala,” she added. “The feedback we’ve gotten from everyone — the homeowners, the volunteers and people on the tour — was they had a great time. It exceeded our expectations and we’re excited to do it again next year.”
Schwab said that in addition to plans for a Garden Tour and Gala to be held annually, she also expects to conduct a Garden Symposium on March 30, 2019, at a venue to be announced.
“This (current event) is kind of kick-starting that whole thing,” Schwab explained. “We’re hoping to continue the schedule of the Garden Tour and Gala in July and hold the Garden Symposium in March.”
Schwab noted the proceeds from the tour and gala will be used to conduct the symposium.
“Once the symposium is (operating) on its own, hopefully the funds from both of the events will go toward green space improvement downtown,” Schwab added. “It will be used for our flower barrels and flower baskets, and extra projects we might not normally be able to do with our limited funding stream.”
When contacted for comments on his garden, O’Brien said he was happy his garden was one of the two winners.
“I was pleased, it was a nice tribute to receive the Best of Show award,” O’Brien remarked.
When asked if winning the prize has inspired him to continue on with his gardening in the future, he replied, “Yes, I’ll just try to keep up with the hobby.”
Schwab said other gardens that were selected for the tours, and were considered finalists from a number of entries, were at properties owned by Pat Drummond on Cornelius Lane; Benjamin Wentworth on East Main Street; Linda Newman on Derrick Road; Terry and Melanie Lopus on Laurel Drive; Marcia McAdams on Jerome Avenue; Jeff Coast on East Main Street; and Chapel Ridge on St. Francis Drive, managed by resident gardener, Claudia Sprague.
