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Milton Garden Club 20th Annual Garden Tour set Sept. 19

September 15, 2021

After taking 2020 off because of COVID, the Milton Garden Club is excited to announce their 20th Annual Garden Tour. The self-guided tour will be Sunday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is a rain or shine event, but in the case of a major storm such as a hurricane or northeaster, the tour will move to Saturday, Sept. 25, at the same time. 

The 2021 tour will feature six very diverse gardens. Two of the gardens are located side-by-side, very close to the center of Milton. Both gardens were designed to provide food and shelter for birds and pollinators using mostly native plants. One of the gardens is greatly influenced by “Bringing Nature Home” by Douglas Tallamy. A third garden has been in the works for seven years and has multiple living areas which include a water feature, a pergola with a fire table, a gnome patio and a secret garden with a dry streambed shade garden. This is all decorated with whimsical art collected over the years. The fourth garden, and the last in-town garden, on this year’s tour also features many outdoor rooms, and is highlighted by terraced gardens and a swimming pool. 

Just a short distance away in the Bridlewood development are the final two gardens on the tour. These gardens are larger than the in-town gardens. One features large sculpted garden beds full of trees, native perennials to attract pollinators, and many types of grasses. For color, 80 Royal Magenta Sunpatiens and 150 pink and purple Angelonia have been added. The other garden in Bridlewood is highlighted by 18 raised beds which provide herbs, fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the year. The raised beds, fence and archways provide a lovely setting. 

Along with the beautiful gardens, the tour also features numerous special events. Fourteen different artists will be displaying their work, including watercolor, mixed medium, oil, acrylic, pastels, color pencils, and pen-and- ink paintings, as well as a weaver, a potter and a jeweler. There will be a selection of gift basket ideas, lavender items, decorative gourds, Otter House Creations, a bake table, a plant sale, a collection table for the Milton Community Food Pantry, and a place to ask Master Gardeners all kinds of gardening questions. There will also be some wonderful live music, including a guitar duo, steel drums, keyboard, and a guitar soloist. 

Pre-tour tickets are $15 each and may be purchased at Hillside Florist and Peppers Nursery in Milton and at Lewes Printing in Lewes. Day-of-tour tickets are $20, and will be available at the garden tour tent in front of the Milton Historical Society at 210 Union St. 

The Milton Garden Club would like to thank the business sponsors of its tour: Frantic Frets Antiques and Music Store, Al Frantic Band, Salon Milton, Irish Eyes, Lavender Fields at Warrington Manor and the Women’s Club of Milton. For more information about the club or the tour, go to www.themiltongardenclub.org or call Lynn at 267-475-4466. 

In 2015, the Milton Garden Club undertook the task of raising money to purchase a clock for the town center. The clock that had been there for years had stopped working and could not be repaired. With the support of the entire community, the garden club was able to raise more than enough money to purchase the clock. A local artist, Jean Bowers, painted a wonderful painting of the clock in the town center garden and has donated the painting to the garden club to use as a fundraiser. The club is auctioning it off.

The 20-by-16 oil painting is titled “Time and Place” and is being displayed (weather permitting) at the Milton Garden Tour Sept. 19. Telephone bids will also be accepted. The bidding will close at 3 p.m. For more information about the silent auction or to place a bid call Kathryn at 302-684-3804.

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