DALLAS — The Back Mountain Bloomers have announced a series of workshops and demonstrations will accompany visits to seven gardens during the organization’s 2017 “Tour of Back Mountain Gardens” scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 24.
The tour includes seven gardens, all located within a five-mile radius of the borough. The event will be held in memory of the late Nancy S. Brown, of Dallas, a passionate gardener, long-time member of the Bloomers organization and former Garden Tour chair, who passed away in September 2016.
A full slate of garden, nature, container and landscaping presentations by a variety of presenters is planned. The presenting organizations include Anthracite Scenic Trails Association, Brown Hill Tree Company, Edward’s Garden Center, Greater Wyoming Valley Audubon Society, Master Gardeners of Penn State Extension, NEPA Bonsai Society, Perennial Point Garden Center, Roberta Troy (Master Gardener), Spinner’s Web, Twig, Leaf, Flower (organic vegan aromatherapy company), Wild Birds Unlimited.
In addition, members of the Wyoming Valley Art League will paint “En Plein Air” at each garden throughout the day. Their collective works will go on display at a date to be announced later in the year. The garden tour also will include a display of handmade quilts and a presentation of horticultural table designs.
Sponsors for the 2017 event include Peoples Security Bank & Trust, 435 Wyoming Ave., Kingston; Brown Hill Tree Company, Meshoppen; and Edwards Garden Center, 525 River St., Forty Fort.
The featured gardens offer diverse flowerbeds, water features and statuary and include a variety of themes, including a garden featuring perennials that can be used to dye yarn and a historic structure renovated into living space with surrounding gardens. The Bloomers also will host a Horticulture Do It Yourself (DIY) display including hypertufa and kokedama.
There will also be a Design Exhibit with a Downton Abbey theme. The exhibit will feature floral entries in teacup, teapot, hat, purse and shoe designs and a display of period clothing provided by The Eclectic Contessa, a vintage consignment shop located at 1841 Wyoming Avenue, Exeter.
All proceeds from the “Tour of Back Mountain Gardens” will benefit the Anthracite Scenic Trails Association, an organization which develops and maintains the Back Mountain Trail. The trail is a 14-mile former railroad bed under development and being transformed into a hiking and biking trail from Luzerne Borough to Ricketts Glen State Park. Current development is focused in Dallas Township on a new section named “Mile Seven.”
Tickets for the “Tour of Back Mountain Gardens” are $20 per person if purchased on or before June 17, and $25 after June 17.
They are available for sale at the Back Mountain Memorial Library, 96 Huntsville Road, Dallas; Wild Birds Unlimited in the Dallas Shopping Center, Dallas; and at Perennial Point Garden Center, 1158 River Road, Plains, through June 22 or by contacting Angela Vitkoski by email at avitkoski@pecpa.org, or by phone at 570-718-6507.
They will also be on sale during the time of check in for the garden tour at the Back Mountain Regional EMA Center at 3593 State Route 118 in Dallas Township, from 2 to 6 p.m. Friday, June 23 and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday June 24. Free garden tour tote bags will be given to early participants at check-in.
Tour information and a brochure are available online at www.backmountainbloomers.org. The completed registration form and payment should be mailed to Anthracite Scenic Trails Association, P.O. Box 212, Dallas, PA 18612.
