Garden Tour is here!

Garden Tour is almost here! Vashon Allied Art’s 21st annual Garden tour takes place this weekend, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, June 25 & 26. Since tickets are valid for both days, you’ll have plenty of time to savor the details of six totally different private Island gardens. From Dockton and Pohl Road to Pt. Robinson, mid-Island to Cedarhurst this year’s Tour offers inspiration for all the Island’s microclimates and all types of gardeners. Carpool if you can, ride your bike if you’re hearty. Tickets, $25 each, are available now at Blue Heron, Heron’s Nest, Books by the Way, Kathy’s Corner, Dig and Books by the Way, or by calling 463.5131. Every ticket helps support Vashon Allied Arts’ programs.

Tickets also include seminars both days with garden designer/horticulturist Jonathan Morse and Master Gardener/Rosarian Cheryl Prescott. Live music may also be heard between noon and 2 p.m. both days: Leslie McMichael, harpist; Dan Brown and Friends, guitars, bass and fiddle; Richard Person, horns and Jim Hobson, piano; and DeGuzman dueling violins.

New this year, Garden Market will be open to the public. Located on 107th, across the street for Garden #3, at Cynthia Johnson’s Fox Farm, this is a great opportunity to stock up on gifts for everyone you know with fused glass, scarves, painted furniture, cards, painted gourds, hand made soaps, birdhouses, jewelry and much more. “Between Garden Market and art in the gardens, we are hosting more than 20 artists this year,” say Garden Tour art coordinators Mike Urban and Catherine MacLean.

Also new this year, author Elizabeth Murray will discuss her book, Monet’s Garden, at a special event 6:30 p.m., Saturday, June 25, at the Blue Heron. French wines and cheese tasting included in the $30 ticket.
Sunset Garden Gala, the garden party of the year, happens Friday, June 24, in a beautiful, serene North End garden, complete with libations and gourmet dinner, catered by The Hardware Store Restaurant and live entertainment by RedPerl. Tickets are $125 per person; Call 463.5131 to reserve your seat.

Special thanks to this year’s major Garden Tour sponsors, who help make this fabulous FUNdraiser possible: Puget Sound Energy, Thriftway, JR Crawford, John L. Scott and Island Home Center & Lumber.