The third annual Holiday Avenue Garden Tour kicked off on Saturday, welcoming residents to explore eight unique and vibrant gardens across the area. Organized by the Garden Tour Committee, this event offered attendees a self-guided experience, complete with various floral displays, gardening knowledge, and opportunities to shop, support, and socialize.
Byrna McDermid, one of the tour’s co-chairs alongside Lori Carlson-Judson, shares her appreciation for everyone involved in making the event a success.
More than a garden tour
The day offered more than just a stroll through beautiful yards. Island Park hosted a silent auction and vendor market, while local musicians brought the park to life with live entertainment. Community support is central to the event’s charm.
“Thanks to those who volunteered at the gardens and silent auctions. The musicians entertained the park. those who sold 50/50 tickets and all the tasks leading up to the day,” adds McDermid.
“Thanks to a great group of vendors for providing a great shopping experience and to so many local businesses for donating to our silent auction,” she continues.
“And, of course, thanks to all the garden hosts who graciously allowed us to tour their garden spaces,” says McDermid.
Passion for pumpkins and petals
Tracy Vanstone, a featured garden host this year, offered visitors a peek into her colourful world of pumpkins and cut flowers. Based on a family farm, Vanstone has transformed her garden into a seasonal display of rare pumpkin varieties and vibrant blooms.
“We focus on really unique pumpkins, ranging from pink to blue. white to red pumpkins,” notes Vanstone. “I've also gotten into cut flowers, so they have my heart, and that’s where I spend my time."
“I try to grow unique flowers. I like to dry them sometimes and use them in pumpkin bouquets,” she adds. “It’s what balances my life out, being outside in nature,” continues Vanstone.
Among her most cherished blooms is the ranunculus, a striking, rose-like flower that’s as delicate to grow as it is beautiful.
“It starts with a seed. It looks like a dried spider, and then you soak it for three hours. You have to stick it in dirt in the complete dark for about 7 to 10 days till it sprouts, and then you transplant it,” notes Vanstone.
“It’s a cold flower. It looks like a cross between a peony and a rose, and it’s just stunning. Ranunculus has my heart for sure,” adds Vanstone.
Tips from a seasoned grower
Gardening success, Vanstone says, often comes from dedication and patience. She encourages beginners to start small and learn as they go.
“Don’t go on holidays because you have to stay near it,” says Vanstone. “You need to be mindful if they require cold to get started."
“Start with seeds. Which are very inexpensive,” adds Vanstone. “Just trial and error. Try it. Plant it. If it doesn’t work, pull it out. Try again."
A compact sanctuary in bloom
Rose Park, another garden host, has turned a smaller yard into a lush, pollinator-friendly retreat. With raised beds, perennials, and an abundance of blooms, her home garden is a peaceful haven filled with purpose.
“It’s just been a work in progress,” says Park. “We have kind of a really small space, but there’s a lot in it."
Park has a passion for supporting pollinators, especially monarch butterflies, and grows milkweed specifically to encourage their return.
“I try to attract a lot of pollinators, the bumblebees, the native bees,” she adds. “I raised and released probably 40 monarchs two years ago. If I take them and put them into a screened-in house, it helps protect them."
“My flowers or my garden is my place where I can go and just do stuff,” continues Park.
From seed to sanctuary
Park, like many of the garden hosts on Saturday, started small and learned through experience. She urges new gardeners to keep it simple and embrace the learning curve.
“Start with simple things. Petunias are easy to grow. Geraniums are easy to grow. Zinnias, most of the time, are,” notes Park.
“It’s so much easier now because you can Google things,” adds Park.
For vegetable gardening, Park keeps it fresh with lettuce, squash, herbs, and peppers. She shares some tried-and-true methods.
“I use bone meal when I plant them,” says Park. “I save eggshells all year long. Wash, dry, and crush them to put in the soil."
“It’ll help with any slugs or anything that likes to eat your plants,” she adds.
Building a garden with heart
Beyond the flowers and vegetables, Park’s space is filled with handmade garden art and personalized touches, many created with the help of her husband.
“I always loved visualizing things,” says Park.
“We want to have our own little sanctuary here,” adds Park. “I try to attract the little birds. We had a baby bunny in here for a while,” continues Park.
The Holiday Avenue Garden Tour offered more than a glimpse into local landscapes. It was a celebration of creativity, community, and the quiet joy of growing something beautiful.
Related stories:
- Award-winning yard featured in upcoming Portage garden tour
- Sharing ideas, new plants and learning on the latest Lawn & Garden Journal
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