Guests visit gardens during 16th annual tour
The Southern Butler County Garden Tour is not just a way to raise money for charitable donations, it is also a way to bring the community together.
Running for its 16th year, several Southern Butler County Garden Club members opened their private gardens to the public. The club also had a raffle at the Seven Fields Community Center, where registration tickets could be purchased for $25 the day of the event.
“It’s so that we can unify the community,” chairperson Alicia Garrison said.
Despite rain during the first hour of the garden tour, attendees made their way along the driving tour and walked through the beautiful and scenic gardens.
“It’s rain or shine, and it’s a chance to tour private gardens that you normally would not have access to,” garden club president Jill Barger said.
Not even the COVID-19 pandemic could stop people from taking part in the garden tour. Because the event is outside and took social distancing measures, the garden club did not have to worry about canceling the event.
“We knew it would be outdoors,” Barger said. “I can’t tell you the number of thank-yous.”
The garden club shows different gardens each year. This year, the tour featured three gardens in Zelienople and two in Cranberry Township.
“I enjoy seeing other people’s creativity, and I think there’s a lot of creativity on tour today,” Barger said. “We’re extremely grateful to the people that have opened up their gardens.”
Barger, who displayed her garden last year, said the event is a big deal for the homeowners who display their gardens in the tour.
“I started with cut flowers and expanded into small flowering trees,” she said.
One garden belongs to Cranberry Township resident Michael Hunt, who is displaying his garden on the tour for the second time. Tucked behind his pool, the garden features a fountain and several plants.
“It just gives people a chance to see all this,” Hunt said.
“I’ve been out here a couple of times; it’s wonderful,” attendee and Cranberry Township resident Kathlen Perry said. “I just like the variety of each of these gardens.”
