We are fast approaching the Elmhurst Garden Walk and Faire, which is on July 9th this year. The homeowners are busy as bees weeding, planting, adding flourishes and embellishing with their individual styles. This year has been cool and wet and erratic, a challenge for sure – but each year brings its own trials. I am always amazed at the ingenuity and fortitude of homeowners preparing for hundreds of strangers to walk through their gardens. I am also very grateful for it allows the club to provide very generous scholarships along with community endeavors.
This year, I have the pleasure of writing the garden descriptions, which means I see the gardens as they are emerging and until the crunch is on to go to print. We don’t release the names or addresses until the day of the event, but, dear reader, I CAN tell you that the gardens are as amazing as they are varied. From newer construction to a century old homestead, they reflect the character of the gardeners and their many ways of gardening and there is something of interest for everyone in attendance. The York High School gardens are an added feature this year and they are as inspiring as they are educational. There is also a Faire in Wilder Park with vendors selling garden related products and plants and there will be a butterfly festival as well. More information is here.
While I cannot show you the gardens, I did want to show you this one element I found in one of the gardens, which harkens back to my previous post on nests. The gardeners, a most charming couple, have incorporated nests in several spots of the garden. I found this one quite enchanting coupled with Emily Dickinson’s words.
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
Emily Dickinson
Lifeonthecutoff's Blog 
A lovely poem for a really creative nest! Good luck with the Garden Walk and with your descriptions, which I know will be well done!
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That is sweet of you to say, Janet. Thank you. I agree. Lovely words that fit the “nest”. This garden is filled with creativity using simply materials. Wish you could be here for the Walk.
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It must be so nice to visit the gardens throughout the Spring and early Summer and to chat with all of the charming gardeners, Penny! Your hard work is truly appreciated. Gardeners throughout the city look forward to the inspiration, garden wisdom, and whimsy that the Garden Walk and Faire brings each July. The Butterfly Festival sounds like a very special addition this year! ♡
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It is, Dawn. I am the lucky one. 🙂 The gardens are quite delightful and I am certain visitors will be inspired. It is really interesting what treasures there are behind garden gates. 🙂
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I have come to look forward to this event every year. Thank you for including your readers!
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You are welcome, Marilyn. I feel you are all an extension of my family and friends. I say it every year, but, these gardens are the best! Hope all is well with you.
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You are the perfect person to write the descriptions, Penny!
The poem coupled with the photo is a great combination!
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That is kind of you to say, L. Marie. In all honesty, these garden just about speak for themselves and I enjoy meeting the homeowners. I love when a poem presents itself to me at just the right time. 🙂 Hope you are enjoying this glorious day.
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Dear Penny, lovely photo and use of nest and also wonderful remembrance of exactly what Emily Dickinson poem to use. You never cease to amaze me.
By the way, I don’t know if you are watching the PBS series “Agatha Raisin,” but the episode last Saturday featured a village gardening exhibition. Mayhem resulted! Laughter.
The series is based on M. C. Beaton’s books featuring Agatha. I’ve read them all. The main character in the tv series does not look at all as I imagined–from my reading–Agatha would look like. But she is a fine British actress and so I’m hooked! Peace.
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Thank you so very much, Dee.
Thank you, as well, for telling me about the “Agatha Raisin” series. Sorry-to-say that it is not airing on our PBS stations here, but, I just might buy it for $1 from the cable provider. I am quite familiar with the books, laughing out loud through many of them. I actually had the pleasure of meeting M. C. Beaton quite a few years ago. A friend, who loved Agatha as much as me, and I went to an author event at Borders. Ms. Beaton was the featured author! Border’s has been out of business for at least 10 years. Anyways, Dee, she was exactly as I thought she would be; witty and wordy and wonderful! It sounds like a good series to be hooked into.
Peace to you as well, dear one.
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How sweet this little nest is, Penny, and clever of the homeowners, certainly! I am sure you’re very busy getting ready for the Elmhurst Garden Walk. I wish I could accompany you! But since that’s not possible, I do hope you’ll be able to share more photos after the event, as I am sure the gardens are exceptional. What a big writing project you have on your hands, my friend! I’m glad it offers you the opportunity for private garden exploration, however. 🙂
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I am loving getting to know the homeowners, and the couple who have the nests are a delightful older couple who finish each other’s sentences. I wish you could accompany me, too. I am, thankfully, finished with the descriptions. The guidebook is at the printers! I enjoy doing these, but, this year was a bit of a personal challenge. Still – I made deadline. 🙂 The homeowners make a very big commitment when they agree to have their gardens on the Walk. We all try to show them how much we appreciate it. Each gardener gets a copy of the illustration for their garden, which goes in the book, as well as some “goodies” from local businesses. At any rate, I do enjoy getting to know them and I always learn new things.
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I would like to see the gardens with you Penny and you telling me all about the different plants, it would be fun. I just love the poem .
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That would be something I would enjoy, Gerlinde. I will try to post some photos – or word pictures. 🙂 I love it as well. I’m thinking it would be nice etched on a wall. Thanks, Gerllinde.
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What fun to be writing the garden descriptions Penny. I love that little nest, and the poem you have put with it. Both are very touching.
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Thank you, Juliet. It is such a rewarding experience for me to write the descriptions, though it can be rather hectic with all of us making the deadline to go to print, which I’m sure you understand. The Walk was yesterday with glorious weather and good attendance.
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