Scott Hayes | [email protected]
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
One of Jasper’s great local traditions is set to make its triumphant post-COVID return next week.
The Secret Garden Tour is a town favourite where several homeowners open up their gates for the sake of supporting the Jasper Municipal Library. It also goes a long way to support the community and families, explained Dale Karpluk.
“It doesn't make us a ton of money, but we don't care. It's just a good thing to do in Jasper,” said the board member of the Jasper Friends of the Library Society.
“It's a great tradition. I love tradition. It's like the museum festival or the Christmas trees.”
The Secret Garden Tour takes place from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 22. Tickets are $20 each or $30 for a family. Registrants can purchase their tickets and pick up their programs for the self-guided tour at the library.
On the afternoon of the event, attendees will have six gardens to choose from. People can go to whichever gardens or how many gardens or whatever order of gardens they want. The event runs rain or shine, so people are encouraged to be prepared.
There may be some gardens that are familiar to past attendees, but all gardens have a different flair and all also have new features.
All the gardens are all secret and different, with some being flower gardens, others vegetable gardens or deck gardens. There’s a hydroponic garden among the six to pique participants’ interests even further.
“They're all lovely,” Karpluk said, adding that gardens are like people’s own personal oases that offer a place of peace that’s good for the soul.
“The gardeners are in their gardens, so if you see a plant and you don't know what it is, they're there to answer questions so you get to learn something, or you just get to go round and enjoy the day.”
On top of all that, the viewings should be mostly pest-free as the mosquitoes aren't too bad this year either, she added.
Encouraging parents to bring their children is also a way of building strong families while getting everyone out to enjoy and appreciate the environment.
“Kids learn a lot from nature,” Karpluk added. “Gardens are for families.”
All of the funds go to support the Jasper Municipal Library.
