Gardeners, if we thought we’d have a relaxing summer of puttering in our gardens, think again! There’s so much happening!
The Yorkton In Bloom judging was on this week; congratulations to everyone who entered this year’s competition! If you are eager to see all the winning entries, be aware that this year is a bit different: there won’t be a bus tour, but folks can take a “winning entries self-guided tour” on July 22. Call (306) 786-1776 for complete details on how to do this.
Some of you have been asking about the SHA (Saskatchewan Horticultural Association) 11th Annual Bus Tour July 18-20. This trip is open to all interested gardeners, and I know that those who have been able to go on this trip in the past have really enjoyed it. At this date, I’m not sure if there is still space available, but please call Liz at (306) 782-2830 and she can give you more information on who to call to find out! This is a great get-away for gardeners, and you’ll be sure to see interesting things!
And if you are getting eager for the taste of fresh garden produce, the Yorkton Gardeners’ Market will begin on Saturday, July 22 at the Prairie Harvest Christian Life Centre (corner of Melrose and Simpson Street). Times are from 9:00 a.m. till noon. The poster for this great event says that local gardeners are welcome to register to sell their produce: call Glen at (306) 783-7040 if you would like to be involved.
And just one more thing: circle Tuesday, August 15 on your calendar: that’s the date of the Yorkton and District Horticultural Society Annual Fruit, Flower and Vegetable Display Show from 1:00 p.m. till 5:00 p.m. at St. Gerard’s Parish Complex, 125 Third Avenue North, Yorkton. I’ll tell you more about it as it gets closer, but I just want to be sure you have the date marked down, because it’s a wonderful show and we’d love for you to join us!
I have always been fascinated by Japanese gardens, and by chance I was reading about the Nikka Yuko garden in Lethbridge. If you are going in that direction this summer, you might want to stop in!
The website (www.nikkayuko.com) says that the garden was built in 1967 to “to recognize contributions made by citizens of Japanese ancestry to the multi-cultural community of Lethbridge, Alberta, and as a symbol of international friendship. Its name was created from the Japanese words Ni (from Nihon meaning Japan), ka from Kanada or Canada, and Yuko, which translates as “friendship” to mean “Japan-Canada friendship”.
The site goes on to say that “Nikka Yuko expresses the merging of Japanese and Canadian culture in a garden rich in symbolism. It captures the signature of the southern Alberta landscape while simultaneously integrating traditional Japanese philosophy and symbols… The structural components of Nikka Yuko were handcrafted in Kyoto. The teahouse, bell tower, azumaya shelter, gates and bridges were built of aromatic wood from yellow cypress, dismantled, and shipped across the ocean to Canada.” It sounds like a wonderful place, one that I’m sure would inspire us to new aspects in our own gardens.
I love reading about places like this, because as gardeners we never stop learning, nor should we want to. “Never stop learning because life never stops teaching!” Learning something new and wonderful keeps us going, season to season, and that’s what gardening is all about!
Visit us at www.yorktonhort.ca and have a wonderful week!
