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Take the Secret Gardens Tour this Sunday with OHS by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver 13 | Friday, June 24, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Some of Oakville's best-kept secret gardens will be revealed Sunday (June 26), thanks to the Oakville Horticultural Society (OHS). The local horticultural group is hosting its annual Secret Gardens of Oakville Tour from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. People can take the self-guided tour of nine gardens located throughout town, including a plot adjoined to a home built in 1857. Every year, the OHS unveils the flower beds to the public for the "pleasure of walking through a beautiful garden," whether it's for aesthetic or educational purposes, says Paula Clayton, OHS garden tour committee chair. "There is a long history of garden tours in Oakville. People look forward to them," said Clayton. "When I agreed to chair the committee, people brought me tickets from previous years, from as far back as 2004." When people buy tickets from any of the six outlets in Oakville, they can choose which gardens to see, whether just one or all nine. Addresses and a map of the gardens are printed on the ticket. While it's a self-guided tour, a few of the plots are within walking distance, Clayton said, but most locations are only accessible by car or bike. "Some people may want to spend more time at some places, but generally, with that kind of time frame, they will get to all of them," said Clayton. "We have volunteers in the garden, including master gardeners, if there are any questions, but it's not a matter of getting on a bus and getting taken from one spot to another." The OHS tries to feature different gardens on its tour every year to give people a sample of what Oakville has to offer, she said. "When we're looking at gardens for any given year, we want to The Welcome to 2130 Blyth Cres. garden that is among nearly a dozen featured in this year's Oakville Horticultural Society's (OHS) Secret Gardens of Oakville tour. | photo courtesy Oakville Horticultural Society have a variety. People are going to these, in part, to see some rare, unique plants, some combinations of plant material that have long-lasting colour," said Clayton. Sunday's tour will feature the Greenbilt, Ferdon-Sparling, MacDougall, Kitchen, Donald Campbell, Trenholm, Flowers', Patient Gardener and Welcome to 2130 Blyth Cres. gardens, all located south of the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW). "We have gardens that have an awful lot of shrubbery, flowering trees and perennials, whereas other gardens might appeal to people, who are wanting to conserve water," said Clayton. "We try to keep an open mind about the variety of people who will be interested in a garden tour, so we have gardens that will reflect that." Of particular interest is the Trenholm pollinator garden, Clayton noted, which boasts an insect hotel and hibernaculum. Certified by the North American Butterfly Association, it features a shallow water and mud puddle to attract butterflies, wild bees and other pollinators. "It would appeal to people who are wondering what to do about the bees disappearing or butterflies that don't have a habitat," said Clayton. Another noteworthy garden, according to Clayton, is Donald Campbell, situated on a property with a home built in 1857 and occupied by the family for almost 115 years. "It's very enjoyable," she said. "People will see gardens where an effort has been made to conserve water and they will see gardens (that have been) established for many years and continue to thrive." Tickets cost $15 each or two for $25 and can be bought (cash only) at one of the following outlets in Oakville: · Agram Garden Centre, 2018 Dundas St. E.; Ann's Flower Boutique, 1500 Upper Middle Rd. W., unit 5A; Bulow Garden Centre, 370 South Service Rd. W.; Cudmore's Garden Centre, 3171 Lakeshore Rd. W.; Heaven Scent Flowers, 2501 Third Line (Fox Creek Plaza); and Sage Gardening, 148 Kerr St. Tickets may also be purchased at each garden on the tour. For more information on the tour or to become an OHS member, visit www.oakvillehort.org or email info.ohs@oakvillehort.org. DIRECTBUY MEMBERSHIP OFFERS SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST INCREDIBLE SAVINGS! See us at the Oakville Rib Fest. Ask for your FREE 30-day membership. We combine unbeatable product knowledge, design know-how and customer support, product-savvy specialists, trusted designers and shopping consultants to deliver the right styles for the right price - Guaranteed! DirectBuy is a savings club that provides members a tremendous opportunity to save on merchandise they purchase through us. We now offer the DirectBuy Savings Guarantee! What are you waiting for? MISSISSAUGA Visit mississauga.directbuy.com Call (905) 608 9244 COME IN TODAY TO LEARN ABOUT OUR NEW MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS!