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Spring is in the air, and the garden, at St. Jude's by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver 17 | Friday, May 8, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com The blossoming of St. Jude's Anglican Church's colourful garden begins with its annual spring plant sale tomorrow (Saturday, May 9). The yearly event is St. Jude's Garden Guild's sole fundraiser in 2015, which provides muchneeded financial support to replace plants and shrubbery that perished over the winter. It will be held at the 160 William St. church from 8:3011:30 a.m. The last two winters have been especially difficult on the greenery because of the cold temperatures, according to garden guild president Cath Sparling. "We've had a couple of really brutal winters. We've had a lot of winterkill. There's a magnolia that I am seriously worried about. The sale gives us the monies to continue planting. We're constantly replenishing, refurbishing and redecorating the gardens," said Sparling. "This time of the year for us is huge because of the need for funding. It's not inexpensive to maintain a garden like this (and) to buy plant material." The type of plants for sale will range from astilbes, sedums and hostas to ferns, trilliums, a "huge variety" of perennials and others that will be new this year, Sparling said, noting there will be between the spring and fall (until November) and from 9 a.m. to noon in the summer. The club is always looking for volunteers, as the St. Jude's garden is "hugely important... it is a part of the community," Sparling said. The three-season garden is more than 30 years old and about one acre in size, she noted, which encompasses church property surrounding King, William and Thomas Street. "If you sit here on any morning or afternoon, I would estimate that 20 or 30 people walk through the gardens. They sit on the benches... some might have lunch, some just read a book and some just sit and view the gardens." The plot also has a white chapel that is used regularly for weddings in the summer. Mike Lanning, the garden guild treasurer and volunteer gardener, said the chapel is also the "ethereal setting" for the Wednesday evening service held in the summertime. "St. Jude's is so fortunate to have such a great ministry with the Rev. Canon Rob Fead and his wonderful team. The feeling of community within those enjoying such gatherings is echoed through the surrounding vibrant floral display of colour, texture and design, which nature is providing with the help of the garden guild," said Lanning. Some of the church's plants were purchased from Sheridan Nurseries, who donated a number of them to the sale, and Mississauga's Bulows Garden Centre. Those who make purchases of more than $50 will be entered into a draw to win gift vouchers from Sheridan, Bulows and JAC's Bistro. The plant sale will be held Saturday in Victoria Hall at St. Jude's. For more information on the sale or becoming a garden guild volunteer, contact Cath Sparling at lenandcath@gmail. com. Come see why we have been voted best optiCal stoRe sinCe 1994! Rose Sekulich has some fun as she helps with the last-minute preparations for the annual plant sale at St. Jude's Anglican Church. A fundraiser, the sale runs tomorrow (Saturday, May 9) from 8:30-11:30 a.m. | photo by Riziero Vertolli ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_ photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) a wide variety Of deSigner BrandS: 1,500-2,000 for purchase. She noted the costs will range from $2-$20, depending on size and quality of the plant. While the sale is the major source of revenue for the garden's upkeep, the guild also receives donations of $5, $10 or $100 periodically, Sparling said, which goes towards the plants' maintenance. "There are memorials that come in if a loved one passes away and they want to have a tree planted for them or a shrub. That's another avenue for funding," said Sparling. The club's 25 volunteers tend the garden beds every Thursday -- afternoons in Oakville's experts in eye Care: Denise pala, niCky pala & mike mCGrath · armaNi · Tory Burch · Versace · ray BaN · marc JacoBs · carrera · coach · Juicy couTure AnD mOre... Designer lenses: nikOn, Zeiss, essilOr CriZAl kODAk AnD mOre Family Owned & Operated Optical A Name You Can Trust! 125 Cross Avenue, Oakville www.spaceoptical.ca · 905-842-2821 (Across from Home Depot) Space CONCRETE ExposEd aggrEgatE (pebble) · DRIVEWAYS · FRENCH CURBS · PATIOS · STEPS · WALKWAYS · GARAGE FLOORS Standing in front of a boardroom will be easy after this. uality At Its Best! Call Fernando FREE ESTIMATES 905-844-5518 1-888-944-5518 Commanding a boardroom takes confidence. That's why at daily assembly our students from preschool to grade eight take turns performing in front of their peers. Learning to express themselves with confidence, courage and ease. Shaking off nerves, unleashing potential. Book your tour today. fernhillschool.com www.concretetrimmings.com www