Annual Lewes Garden Tour celebrates 24 years June 21

The Lewes Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau will sponsor its 24th annual Lewes Garden Tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, June 21.  The tour will feature unique and private gardens that can only be fully appreciated by stepping inside the gates that enclose them.

The seven private gardens on this year’s tour were selected by tour Chair Carolyn Marshall. They are places that represent a variety of styles and types of gardens. Six of this year’s gardens are in or near the historic district, and many of them are walking distance from Zwaanendael Park, where the Garden Market and the chamber’s visitor center are located.

A unique feature on this year’s tour is the inclusion of the newly planted Monarch Butterfly Way Station garden on the grounds of Cadbury at Lewes. Lewes in Bloom Co-chair Warren Golde is designing the garden, and Cadbury volunteers will be planting it. Lewes Garden Tour ticket holders will be transported to the butterfly garden by a Cadbury at Lewes vehicle throughout the hours of the tour.

In response to the dwindling monarch butterfly population, Cadbury has initiated the process for its garden to be designated an official Monarch Way Station and will be providing information and education on how others can help save the monarch. Visitors to Cadbury will also enjoy live music by guitarist Patrick J. Sise and a Butterfly Shop during the tour.

This year’s tour will include a water-garden installation by landscape architect Paul Devilbiss in one of the tour gardens. Tour-goers can view the demonstration at various stages and return to the garden at the end of the day to see the completed project.

The event also includes a Garden Market where more than 40 vendors will be located, selling garden-related items during the hours of the tour. Artists will be in the tour gardens painting, and tour-goers can enjoy beverages and lunch in the Refreshment Tent provided by Café Amici in Zwaanendael Park with coffee service beginning at 8 a.m. During the tour, free shuttle service is available for ticket holders. Chamber members Beebe Healthcare, Lewes Senior Center, Irish Eyes Pub & Restaurant, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Gallo Realty and the Jolly Trolley will provide shuttle services.

Local artist Libby Zando returns to the Garden Tour and will be painting in one of the gardens. Four other gardens will have members of the Cape Artists: Jean Bowers, Bev Andrion, Sonia Hunt and Ellen Serafini.

Tickets for the tour are $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the tour. They will go on sale Memorial Day weekend at the Lewes Chamber of Commerce visitor center in the Fisher-Martin House in Zwaanendael Park next to the Zwaanendael Museum.

For more information on the tour or to order tickets in advance, call 302-645-8073.