I wanted to write a nice, long, tantalizing post about our upcoming garden walk on Sunday. Unfortunately, with the torrential rains we’ve had this weekend, we find that the arrangement of the park for the vendors’ stalls needed to change drastically early Saturday morning – and we couldn’t do much because it was pouring down hard, with at least two more fronts predicted to come in during the day, and more overnight. So, I’ve been working, trying to rearrange vendors, who are used to being under the shade of stately elms and oaks in historic Wilder Park. The park, especially under the trees, is sodden, which can become slippery, dangerous, and which could be damaging to artwork. The plan just had had to be rearranged with no idea what the park will be like on Sunday morning. It’s rather like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, as the adage goes.
All will be, for the garden gods manage to smile down upon us each year, but, just in case they are as tired of the rain as the rest of us, would you mind sending some good thoughts our way. You see, the money we make from the walk goes toward scholarships.
Last year, we award $12,000 in college scholarships as well as donations to local endeavors and we were able to send funds to help replant trees in tornado ravaged Washington, Illinois. Not bad work for a small band of women with dirt under their nails.
The six private gardens are lush and inviting and it would be such a shame for the homeowners to not be able to open their garden gates. I wish you could all see them. Two are historic homes with gardens that reflect their history and the good earth stewardship of their owners. One is a new house, superbly landscaped, with a lived-in feel. A bachelor has a remarkable oasis on a small lot, and, well, I could go on and on, dear reader, but, I hear thunder rumbling in the distance and the wind is kicking up, so, I best be getting back to my list.
Here’s hoping the sun dries up all the rain tomorrow. I’ll try to take some pictures.
If you are in the Chicagoland area, you can still buy tickets and get information at http://www.elmhurstgardenwalk.com
Best of luck tomorrow Penny, I will send all the best vibes I can muster! Your garden club does so much good and you all work so hard that I’m sure the “garden gods” are already at work to help you out for tomorrow. 🙂
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Those mustered “best vibes” were just what we needed, Janet and the garden gods did, indeed, shine down upon us and we had another good day with pretty good weather. Thanks, Janet. Hope all is well with you.
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Penny, what a disappointment to have so much rain when you are planning such a worthwhile event. I hope the sun smiles on you after all. We have had a week of heavy rain and high winds, with flooding and power cuts in the north. The uncertainty must make things hard. Last night at our storytelling, when we made a wish Mira wished for the sun to come back. And today it did. Maybe you should get Kezzie to make a wish for you too! I’m sending you sunny wishes as well.
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Sunday arrived with very good weather, Juliet, and the changes that needed to be made ended up being the ones that we needed anyways. Amazing how these things sometimes happen (though sure tense in the lead-in).
I hope that the rains have abated. Leave it to Mira for making the perfect wish for your area. I’m sure Kezzie was wishing for us here and yours are appreciated. Sunday remained dry, with an overcast sky that opened to sunshine at just the right time. We have been fortunate.
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Wonderful work! Wishing sunshine for your beautiful gardens and day!
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Your gracious wishes came true. Thank you, thank you, thank you. 🙂
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Sending good vibrations your way for a sunny day to guarantee those scholarships!
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Now I will be happily singing “good, good, good, good vibrations”, Marilyn. The ones you sent worked, the weather cleared, the sun came out – and, we will be able to provide some generous scholarships this year. Thank you.
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Oh I do hope the weather has improved for you, Penny and that the garden walk is a great success. The weather in may place seems to be unseasonably wet for summer. It certainly is over much of Europe. 😦
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It did, Perpetua – miraculously so. The walk was successful and the changes we needed to make at the last moment ended up being ones for the best and will carry us over to next summer.
Much like our winter conversation, it seems you weather and ours are similar. We have had a great deal of rain and a cooler summer this year. Weathermen and women are even talking about some this area having a polar vortex,w which basically means colder than normal. Let’s hope we all get our balance back soon.
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The rain that was forecast for here arrived, but then finished quite early this morning, so I’m wishing that’s exactly what happened for you and your long-planned event!
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It IS exactly what happened here as well, Karen. It was overcast much of the morning, which was really rather nice for setting up vendor booths, and then, as if someone decided to just turn down the thermostat, the humidity lifted as the sun came out and the day was pretty perfect. Thanks for those wishes. Let’s hope this weather settles down for everyone.
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Oh I hope the rain didn’t spoil things today. WE used to love garden tours.
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The rain ended and the day was very, very pleasant, Sallie. A few of the gardens had some wet spots, but, the homeowners and the garden visitors alike took it in stride as they enjoyed the lushness of the season. Thank you.
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I’m getting here late. I hope your walk went well. I forgot to check your weather this morning even though I meant to. Sigh, but I love your descriptions. You and your fellow club members work so hard for this and the scholarship money is wonderful.
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We ended up having a perfect day, Janet. Some pretty heavy thunderstorms Saturday night/Sunday morning before sunrise, and a tornado watch, but, everything settled down just when it needed to and the change brought out plenty of garden visitors and fair buyers. Phew! I’m sure we will be able to give out some nice scholarships from this year. Hope your weather has been good.
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This time I’m glad I’m late to read this post, Penny, except I didn’t have the opportunity to send you those good wishes! It sounds like so many did, and that the skies cleared and cooperated with your wonderful event. How fantastic that the fundraising that is connected provides college scholarship money. You and your garden club work so hard and it really would have been a tremendous disappointment if the storms had not cleared. I will look forward to photos of the day if you can post them, but perhaps you were so busy you couldn’t even take many. Your responsibilities have been plentiful, Penny! I hope you were able to enjoy the fruit of all your labor. 🙂
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Me, too, for now you know that the day dawned brightly and that we had a most excellent day for a garden walk. We all had responsibilities, though, and each and every one did their part above and beyond. The real fruits of our labor come when we see the numbers and know what monies we will be able to give – so far, it is looking pretty good. 🙂
Hope to be able to show a few photos. Maybe later today. Thanks for asking, Debra, and for your encouragement.
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