Pittsfield's "concealed city gardens" open to community12:00AM / Thursday, July 07, 2005
Eight private gardens and the gardens of Springside Park will be featured on Pittsfield's 9th Annual Garden Tour, held this year on Saturday July 16th from 10 to 4 and Sunday, July 17th from noon to 4 p.m.
This year's tour is dedicated to the memory of Richard Schmidt, a great friend of the Pittsfield Garden Tour, who died in August of 2005, less than one month after his own garden was shown on the Garden Tour.
The self-guided tour which is a fund of the Berkshire Taconic Foundation, entitled, "Concealed City Gardens: Pittsfield's Hidden Heart" offers the opportunity to see lush containers, a 10 year-old garden that this year celebrates the owners' 50th wedding anniversary with special plantings, outdoor rooms, vegetable and flower beds, shade and sun gardens of every size, panormic views and intimate spaces.
"Every garden is unique and inspiring" according to Donna DiGennaryo one of this year's tour co-chairs and a member of the garden selection committee, "and has been lovingly created by people who are passionate about their involvement with the land."
The tour, held rain or shine celebrates the beauty of Pittsfield, encourages gardening and offers a venue for those who appreciate or want to explore the varying opportunities gardening offers. Proceeds will be used for enhancement projects in Pittsfield.
"With the gardens on this year's tour, we will have shown 69 different gardens in Pittsfield over the past 9 years" says Pat Keegan who co-chairs this year's tour with DiGennaro. "There is a gardening renaissance happening in our community which mirrors the renaissance of Pittsfield itself which is fabulous." "We are very grateful to our gardeners who generously open their gardens to the public."
Headquarters for the tour will be at Springside Park where tickets may be purchased on tour days. Also at Springside will be a silent auction of garden related items and approximately 40 hand-decorated bird houses, made by Bill Jette and decorated by very generous and creative citizens. This is the 5th year that the Pittsfield Garden Tour Committee has presented these colorful and whimsical birdhouses which have truly become collectors' items. No ticket is necessary to bid on silent auction or birdhouses. Silent Auction ends with a "gong" at 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 16th.
Tickets purchased prior to 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 10th are $12.00, thereafter $15 can be obtained at Dr. Lahey's Garden Center on Rte 7, Agways on Dalton Avenue, Trillium Garden Company on the Pittsfield Rd, Lenox, and Churchill Gardens on Churchill St. Lanesboro.
Tickets for $15 may also be purchased at Springside Park beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 16h and at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 17. |
