St. Albert is well known as a city of flowers with many dedicated backyard horticulturalists. Now anyone can have the chance to check out some of our residents’ professionally designed cultivations, all through the collaboration of the city and two important local organizations.
Next weekend will see the launch of the inaugural and annual Lady Fern Home & Garden Tour, organized by the St. Albert Senior Citizens’ Club, the St. Albert Botanic Park and the City of St. Albert. Think of it as the festive home tour the seniors’ club puts on during December. According to the club’s executive director, that was pretty much the inspiration for this event as well.
“The Lady Fern tour was born out of Homes for Christmas but only in the summer,” Leslie MacEachern said. “We just thought that we had a lot of beautiful yards in St. Albert and we didn’t have a home and garden tour already so we decided to see if we could get one going with the botanic gardens involved.”
She added it was a natural decision to host the event considering the city’s new branding and ‘Cultivate Life’ motto.
“We also have added on the map all of the nice park locations in St. Albert, so you can go to the homes that are on the tour but there’s also a bunch of other locations … in our beautiful city.”
The botanic park itself seems to be taking great advantage of this marketing-minded focus. Lately the site played host to a fashion show by budding Edmonton-based designer Laura Dreger, not to mention its annual rose show back in July. The joint effort is a cultural union that already has strong roots and promises to keep blossoming.
“We started working with them with Canada Day and they helped us out with Homes for Christmas. I think it’s the same audience. A lot of our club members are active with the botanic park and vice versa. This just opens the door for a lot of other people to be able to experience some of the lovely gardens that we have. I think a lot of St. Albert residents haven’t even been to the botanic garden,” MacEachern said.
Considering the enthusiasm that many flower people exhibit when it comes to their own gardens, she also expects there will be a few phone calls from more and more residents who want their own homes on next year’s tour.
“We’re starting out quite small this year just to see how it goes and get it off the ground. We did have a couple of homes this year that we were going to put on the tour but [couldn’t] because of timing and holidays and whatnot, it just didn’t work out. They’re already on the list for next year. Just starting it was what needed to happen and we’ll grow from here.”
Attendees can buy tickets and then take self-directed tours of the botanic park plus four homes within the city and surrounding areas, starting from the clubhouse on Taché Street. MacEachern said she hopes to see at least 300 people take part in this event for its premiere. All proceeds will go to benefit the club.
Preview<br />Lady Fern Home & Garden Tour
Aug. 12 to 14 between 1 and 7 p.m.<br />Aug. 15 between 1 and 4 p.m. <br />Presented by the St. Albert Senior Citizens' Club, St. Albert Botanic Park and the City of St. Albert<br />Features wine tasting and entertainment at Ironwood Estates on Aug. 14 from 2 to 4 p.m. and tea at St. Albert Botanic Park on Aug. 15 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.<br />Tickets: $20, available from the seniors' club at 7 Taché Street or the botanic park at 265 Sturgeon Road.
