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Club enjoys a busy summer of gardening

The Lake Bloomer’s Garden Club has had a busy summer, if you can call it a summer.
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Member Joan Henn inspects flowers during Rinda Munslow’s September 6 garden tour

The Lake Bloomer’s Garden Club has had a busy summer, if you can call it a summer.

We had a cool, slow start to the growing season, but it did warm up in August and September, during which time most of our gardens flourished.

Several members car-pooled to the Cowichan Valley Garden Tour, June 5, and the weather actually co-operated with some sun and cloud.

Every year the organizers list different gardens, and the ones we have seen over the years have been exceptional.

Money raised from the tour goes to help the local community living organization.

On a mild July day, a few members car-pooled to Milner Gardens between Parksville and Qualicum for a wonderful walk through woodland gardens.

Milner Gardens is a beautifully landscaped 28 hectare property on a bluff overlooking the Straight of Georgia. They serve a traditional English tea and had a showing of several local artists on the day our members attended.

Our annual barbecue was held August 17 at the home of Edith Strocen and was well attended. Members enjoyed many rather unusual recipes such as mock apple pie made with zucchini along with general barbecue favourites.

We had a lovely time networking and checking out Edith’s garden.

Many were sent home with fragrant stalks of summer savoury; an aromatic complement to all types of bean dishes and soups.

A warm summer evening found us at the home of Rinda Munslow, September 6, and her lovely private garden filled with a tremendous variety of vegetables, fruits, flowers and shrubs. Rinda and the Poppy team provided delicious treats; some from their gardens.

We also visited Jeanette and Emmitt’s welcoming garden on Neva Road. Jeannette grows all her annuals from seed that she collects herself.

Over the last year, Emmitt has brought in and placed hundreds of pounds of various stones from a local quarry to edge their beautiful gardens.

Our next meeting will be Tuesday, October 11, at 7 p.m. at the Catholic Church on Lake Cowichan’s Fern Road.

It is our Harvest Meeting, with an auction of items donated by members.

Some items are new and some gently used or re-gifted along with seeds, plants, and products from our gardens.

The Snowdrop team headed by Sylvia Roach will be hosting.

Everyone is welcome.

Memberships are $10.00 per year.

For more information, e-mail cgaustin@shaw.ca or phone 250-749-6772.