GALLERY: Over a dozen gardens opened to the public
Photojournal by Tristen Amidon, pictured is a hummingbird moth with bee balm
The Whitesville Public Library held their annual “Hands in the Dirt, Nose in a Book” Garden Tour Fundraiser on Saturday, allowing patrons to venture to various vibrant and verdant properties.
The four-hour long event featured 16 gardens: 13 you could walk to and three you had to drive to. Most of these gardens were residentially owned.
All of these gardens had their own unique charm, whether because of their location, their owners or both.
A pair of blue, red and green painted boots sit on a wooden ladder in Whitesville, Saturday, July 25. (Photo/Tristen Amidon)
One of these gardens, owned by Robyn Lynch, was especially charming. Her garden was dotted with handmade ceramics, made by both her and her friends, as well as old shoes used to hold plants. A pair of silver glitter high heels, some pink saddle shoes, and a pair of painted boots were just some of the shoes-turned-pots she had.
Another garden, owned by Harold and Gay Thistle, benefited greatly by the surrounding area. The native plants surrounded the house with a ring of dense forest acting as a backdrop. Handmade garden beds and even old tree stumps held a plethora of plants, including echinaceas, thistles, black-eyed Susans and various lilies. A fairy garden made with the Thistle’s granddaughter was especially adorable, with small animal figures, dolls and painted rocks sitting on tree stumps.
The talk of the day centered around the garden owned by Cindy and Ron Welch. Their garden was built with the help of their daughter, Hannah, who they now dedicate their garden to. A certified wildlife habitat, this garden holds many species of flowers, plants, and a sprawling backyard filled with tree-lined pathways.
Not all gardens revolved around flowers, though. Doug VanSkiver had many fruits and vegetables, including raised garden beds of various vegetables, berry patches in the woods behind his house and multiple fenced-in fruit trees.
Whether you’re a garden lover or just want to spend the day outside looking at beautiful scenery, this is the perfect event to look forward to in the summertime.
