Olbrich Home and Garden Tour: 2010

Do you doubt summer is here? Check out the calendar for this coming weekend in Madison with three classic events vying for your time and attention: The Art Fairs on and off the Square (Sat. and Sun.), La Fete de Marquette (Thurs.-Sun. with Sonny Landreth, Marcia Ball and the incredible, unforgettable Dobet Gnahore to mention a mere three performers at this fabulous fundraiser for the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center), and the annual Olbrich Home and Garden Tour featuring Edible and Ornamental Gardens (Fri. and Sat.).

 

My attendance at the first two fundraisers on this list ebbs and flows, but I never miss a garden tour. We'll be continuing the tradition of meeting another couple for breakfast on Friday morning before the four of us get down to the serious business of looking at gardens, cameras and notebooks in hand. I love touring with other gardeners because they always see something I've missed and they turn the event into an all-day garden party. 

 

I'm looking forward to this year's Olbrich tour for a couple of other reasons as well:

1. First, it's on Madison's north side which means we will get to see some real gardens, rather than the dream spaces offered by Shorewood or Maple Bluff garden tours. The information that the folks at Olbrich sent me noted that this year's tour features "eight home gardens created and maintained by talented home gardeners." Enough said.

2. The tour includes public space at the legendary Troy Gardens and individual gardens. If you are not familiar with Troy it is the result of grassroots efforts of local gardeners which allowed state-owned land to be purchased by the Madison Area Community Land Trust. "The 26-acre urban parcel includes community gardens, an organic farm, demonstration gardens and restored prairie and woodland areas." And that is just a brief description of the variety of things happening at the inspiring site.

 

3. One of the other gardens on the tour surrounds a B&B whose property abuts a natural area. The garden has been certified as a wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. But even more important is the fact that this is one of the first gardens we ever toured back when we were in the early stages of house hunting and garden dreaming. Visiting this garden in its maturity (and ours!) should be a memorable experience. 

Olbrich 2010 Home and Garden Tour

Friday, July 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Saturday, July 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Advance tickets are available at the Greeter Desk at Olbrich Botanical Gardens along with Felly's and Jung's garden centers. Advance tickets: $10 for Olbrich members, $12 for the public. Tour-day tickets: $14 for Olbrich members, $16 for the public. Proceeds benefit Olbrich Botanical Gardens.

All photos by Elizabeth Ogren Erickson courtesy of Olbrich Botanical Gardens. 

Comments

[Lisa at Greenbow]

You have just too much fun to look forward to this weekend.

[Barbara H.]

Oh, what fun! Take lots of pictures...

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