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Stop and smell the flowers during the Rimbey & Area Love My Garden Tour

By Michaela Ludwig
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GardenTour1, Photo by Lorraine Morris: The Rimbey & Area Love My Garden Tour will take place Saturday, July 23, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

By Michaela Ludwig

For the Rimbey Review

What originally began as a way to get people out of their homes during COVID has turned into an annual event that gardeners and plant-lovers of all ages look forward to each year.

The Rimbey & Area Love My Garden Tour is a walk-about tour. Participants don’t need a ticket, they can simply drive to each host garden and walk around, taking in the beautiful sights and smells.

Now in its third year, founder Lorraine Morris said the event has been great. “The interest has just grown and grown and grown,” she said, pun intended. “There’s an emotional and spiritual connection with gardens and gardeners, and I think it’s become a great venue for garden enthusiasts, new gardeners, seniors who maybe can’t garden anymore and for people to gather new ideas.”

This year, the event will take place Saturday, July 23 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., rain or shine. In the past, the event has been held over two days, but this year it’s been changed to one day.

“It’s a lot of upkeep and a lot of work for the host gardeners,” Morris explained, when asked about the decision to go from a two-event down to one day. “The hosts love being able to have people come out and appreciate their work.”

The Saturday before the event is for the hosts – they have the opportunity to get together and tour each other’s gardens before the big day.

The Love My Garden Tour features six host gardeners, three of which are brand new this year, and one of the hosts is Morris and her partner, Kirt Salomons.

“I remember as a very young child growing up in Scotland, my papa had a greenhouse and I used to sit and stare at him while he grew tomatoes and cucumbers in his little greenhouse,” Morris reminisced. “I was sold.”

Today, Morris’ garden is a perennial garden and a true labour of love. “I just take pride in trying to produce colour all summer, so I can enjoy it from May until the frost comes,” she explained.

Going forward, Morris would like to see the Love My Garden Tour expand. “I definitely think it would be lovely to have a lemonade stand, feature a few local artisans,” she said. “I just think we’re all better together when we share our experiences, especially our gardening experiences.”