Milton Garden Club announces Fall Garden Tour Oct. 1

The Milton Garden Club will be hosting their 17th annual garden tour Sunday, Oct. 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"People are so happy to hear that we are once again having our garden tour," said Sandy Winterbottom, garden club president, "and everyone is looking forward to seeing the fall gardens." Over the years numerous people suggested moving the tour to the fall to avoid the busy summer weekends and to showcase the beauty of fall gardens. The tour is rain or shine, but if there is a hurricane/nor'easter that floods the downtown then then tour date will be Sunday, Oct. 8.

There are five very diverse gardens on this year's tour. Two of the gardens are located in Heritage Creek and demonstrate what can be done in a short time and small space. One garden is in downtown Milton and is one of Milton's many hidden gardens. Enclosed by a fence, it features bricks collected from other Milton locations over the years. Located just outside of town is a new in progress garden featuring many containers. It demonstrates the beginning steps necessary in getting a garden established. The final garden is located just on the edge of town and is owned by part of the Pepper Family of the Pepper Greenhouses in Milton. It is guaranteed to wow with color, texture and variety. There are many berry bearing shrubs and special features designed and built by the owners including a pergola, a water feature, and a one of a kind outdoor fireplace and fire pit among others.

Food will be available for purchase including a bag lunch that tour goers can eat in one of the gardens. There will also be a bake sale and the garden club will be selling plants as well as dessert - of - the month raffle tickets. Artists will be painting and vendors selling garden related items in the gardens. Music will be provided by local Milton resident Dave Downing and his steel drums.

Tickets are $10 each and are available before the tour at Salon Milton, Hillside Flowers, Pepper's Nursery, and the Milton Historical Society Museum. On the day of the tour the club will have a ticket table at the entrance of the Pepper Garden at 508 Federal St. in Milton. For more information call Kathryn at 302-684-3804 or go to www.miltongardenclub.org.