The glory of gardening

submitted by Alfred Austin

The Merrickville Garden Tour, sponsored by Holy Trinity Anglican Church, will take place on Saturday, June 17th from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and feature six diverse and beautiful gardens to inspire both novice and avid gardeners alike. In the Village, the Stephen Merrick House, built in 1850, is a prime example of a garden created to support and not distract from the house’s historic facade. The view from the side of the house, where rubble stone replaces the front’s elegant and precisely cut stonework, is mirrored in the large informal perennial garden. Allium, peonies, irises, lupine, Russian sage, hydrangeas and Autumn Joy Sedum make a colourful display throughout the seasons.

.The centrepiece of the backyard is the 150-year-old cast iron fountain surrounded by formal landscaping. This garden holds surprises from the past, including an ornate cast iron fence and ruins from a long ago collapsed structure. The doors of Studio Ten Six, featuring the awardwinning works of William Ellison, will be open as well. Heritage Garden is one of four riverside gardens featured in this year’s tour.

The front of this elegant 1840 stone house features a professionally restored drystone wall. The property descends gracefully past a wildflower meadow to the river where a large and equally elegant pavilion welcomes alfresco entertaining. Of special note, are the beautiful hand-made wood kayaks and antique boat. Dancing on the River welcomes visitors past its long, rambling woodland path, past a fruit tree allee and a sculpture garden featuring the works of local award winning artists Laura Brown-Breetvelt, Pieter Doef and Michael Gray. The Morning Mist Gallery will be open featuring the art of the Merrickville Arts Guild-Photography Collective. A Country Garden features beautifully landscaped perennial borders and shrub gardens on roughly two acres.

Creekside Garden, situated on 10 acres along the Rideau Creek, is a relatively young garden whose owner managed the propagation department for the largest perennial nursery on the West Coast. Her husband operated heavy equipment on the local mountains. They have used their combined skills to create “a slice of paradise” at creekside. Young Garden has been expanding annually since 2019. The aim of this lovely emerging garden is the planting of species which support caterpillars, pollinators, and birds all the while co-existing with the local wildlife. Enjoy the gazebo at the forest’s edge, a tranquil spot to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature and reflect on the history of Merrickville beside a historic cedar rail fence. This year’s tour will offer a special presentation at 4:30 pm (Holy Trinity Anglican Church) by David Dunn of the award winning Rideau Woodland Ramble Nursery on the “Art of Gardens”.

Ticket holders will also have the opportunity to participate in a guided forest therapy meditation and gentle walk led by certified Forest Therapist Ann Martin. A number of talented artists from the Merrickville Arts Guild will be either painting “en plain air” or displaying their works in the gardens for your added enjoyment. Please visit our website http://www.Merrickville-Gardentour.ca to purchase your ticket along with a full description of each garden, added attractions and discount page. Do not miss this unique opportunity to celebrate Merrickville, “The Jewel of the Rideau“, it’s rich architecture, award winning artists, it’s many lovely shops and restaurants while strolling through some of the prettiest private gardens on the Rideau corridor.

cont'd from page 10 be March 2024 with the first phase of construction and the first down payment on the CT Scanner due ($200,000).

How to Donate:

• Donations can be made online at www.kdhfoundation.ca

• By Calling or visiting the Foundation Office, 2675 Concession Road, Kemptville, 613-258-6133, x157, or 613 408 0086 (Joanne Mavis)

• Send in your donation by mail at P.O. Box 2007, 2675