Insider staff
Don’t you just love the signs of spring.
The sun is shining for more hours a day than it’s not, people are walking around in shorts, T-shirts and flip flops and beautiful flowers are popping up everywhere.
And even if you’re not the best gardner or forgot to get those early season bulbs in the ground last fall, you can still enjoy the colorful array of blooms. All you have to do is sign up for South Congregational Church’s seventh annual spring garden tour, entitled “Beyond the Garden Gate, The Seventh and Final Tour of Special Gardens.”
Yes, the title says final because this will be the last year South Church will put on the fundraising tour. Since these aren’t just any old gardens, it’s become harder each year to find new and worthy gardens, and they want to give tour-goers something special to see.
“We’re repeating two this year from previous years, but they are quite spectacular,” said Polly Shumaker, a member of the tour committee.
So if you’ve never been, but have always wanted to, here’s your last chance.
“These are just beautiful gardens,” Shumaker said.
There will be seven gardens on the tour, which is broken up into two parts. Three of the gardens, one in Concord and two in Bow, will be open in the morning, 10 a.m. to noon. The other four, in Chichester, Epsom and Pembroke, will be open from noon to 4 p.m. And before we forget, the tour will be held Saturday, June 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – and yes, it’s rain or shine.
“It will take people a while because the ones in the afternoon are spread out,” Shumaker said.
There will be a suggested route, but you can really visit the gardens at any time they’re open.
“People usually do their own thing,” Shumaker said.
Proceeds will support local Concord community organizations, particularly those that deal with the issues of hunger and homelessness, as well as maintenance of the church’s own gardens.
The ladies of South Church are making cookies and there will be drinks, mostly lemonade, iced tea and water at the gardens.
Tickets may be pre-purchased for a discounted rate of $18 on or before June 17. Tickets may be purchased after June 17, including the day of the tour at South Church (27 Pleasant St.) from 9 to 10:30 a.m., for $25. Tickets for seniors are $15 if purchased on or before June 17 and $22 after.
Go to southchurchconcord.org and click on the garden tour link under the what’s new tab for more information.
