It鈥檚 hard to believe that we are already in the middle of August. But there is still plenty of summer to enjoy! 聽
If you are going away on vacation, maybe your travels will take you to one of the top ten gardens in North America!聽 I found an interesting article about the 鈥淭op 10 North American Gardens Worth Travelling For鈥� as listed by the Canadian Garden Tourism Council.聽 The article was in the Banderas News, a website about Puerto Vallarta.聽 Here is what it said about one of this year鈥檚 winners:聽 鈥淔or the second consecutive occasion, the Vallarta Botanical Garden has been distinguished as one of the 鈥淭op 10 North American Gardens Worth Travelling For鈥� by the Canadian Garden Tourism Council. The award was presented to Vallarta Botanical Garden鈥檚 Operation鈥檚 Director, Jes煤s Reyes on March 17th during the North American Garden Tourism Conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.聽 Upon receiving the award, Jes煤s gave a heartfelt response, 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great privilege for the Vallarta Botanical Garden to hold this award once again. As a Mexican citizen from the Vallarta area, I hope this sends more Mexican nationals, especially local Vallartenses, to visit us. Sometimes we take for granted what is most important to us and this includes our local forests and the great diversity of amazing plants that they harbor. When we allow nature to inspire us we become its stewards and caretakers.鈥澛� Celebrated every other year, the Garden Tourism Awards highlight North America鈥檚 most dynamic garden experiences and Garden Tourism鈥檚 limitless potential.鈥�
And who were the other winners?聽 Here are the 鈥�10 North American Gardens Worth Travelling For鈥�, in alphabetical order:聽聽 Butchart Gardens - Brentwood Bay, British Columbia; Chanticleer Garden - Wayne, Pennsylvania; Denver Botanic Gardens - Denver, Colorado; Desert Botanical Garden - Phoenix, Arizona; Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden - Miami, Florida; Huntington Botanical Gardens - San Marino, California;聽 Jardin Botanico de Culiacan - Culiacan, Mexico;聽 Longwood Gardens - Kennett Square, Pennsylvania;聽 Montr茅al Botanical Garden - Montr茅al, Qu茅bec;聽 Vallarta Botanical Gardens - Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.聽 Keep the list handy, especially if you are a snowbird heading to warmer climes this winter!
But right here at home, I鈥檇 like to tell you about the SHA (Saskatchewan Horticultural Association) Annual Meeting that our Yorkton Hort group will be hosting in October.聽 This event is open to the public, and will feature a variety of interesting speakers. There will also be a banquet with entertainment provided by the effervescent Jackie Guy.聽 If you would like to attend any of these events, you are most welcome!聽 Just log on to www.yorktonhort.ca for full details about the SHA meeting and other Yorkton Hort Society events.
Beautiful gardens aren鈥檛 always far away; if you are able to, take a walk through your neighborhood.聽 Being on foot slows you down and gives you a chance to see things you鈥檇 never see while driving by.聽 You might see a new tree or shrub; an interesting choice of plants in a planter; or a unique ornamental feature.聽 All these can inspire us, and prompt conversation with another gardener!聽 Seeing new things keeps us interested, and interesting!
One more little tidbit of news: the Yorkton Gardeners鈥� Market is your chance to buy or sell local fresh produce.聽 It will be every Saturday, from 10am till noon, until September 19 at the north parking lot of Prairie Harvest CLC (Melrose and Simpson Street). If you would like to register as a seller, please call Stacey at 306-641-4239.
Have a good week, and be sure to wear a hat!聽 Visit us at www.yorktonhort.ca
