Goodrich-Village resident Kathy Adair says there is no such thing as an ugly garden’she invites you to see what she’s talking about.
The Goodrich Garden Club is hosting its sixth annual Garden Tour, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. on July 15.
Adair, Garden Club secretary, says the tour was designed to show visitors five diverse local gardens, which she says are all beautiful in unique ways.
‘One of the gardeners on the tour likes native plant species, things that attract wildlife,? explained Adair. ‘Another one is a woodland steward and likes the natural flow of nature and building around that. There’s one that’s on a lake; it’s kind of a wonderful place to escape. Another one had big rocks, a waterfall and boulder walls.?
‘They’re all so different. That’s what we really try to strive for.?
Celia Rykers, whose garden is included on the tour this year, said she aims to make her garden transition smoothly into the landscape.
‘The garden has been evolving for decades,? said Rykers. ‘There’s been a farm here for over 200 years and I’ve tried to stick with that old farm feel.?
Rykers, a resident of Ortonville, said she turned to gardening when she was no longer physically able to ride horses.
‘I think the advantage of gardening is it’s physical, outdoor work that has a payoff,? said Rykers, 56.
‘I garden for the ‘that looks better moment?,? Rykers laughs. For her, that’s the moment when she steps back to admire her handy work and can say ‘hey, that looks better?, Rykers explained.
Though the Garden Tour is the club’s big event each year, they do not fade from view the other 11 months of the year.
Adair said Garden Club members maintain the area around welcome signs at both ends of the village as well as doing some work in the gardens at Hospice, located at 7282 S. State Road in Goodrich.
‘We put in a garden at the hospice for people who can’t garden anymore but want that feeling (of having a garden),? said Rykers. ‘There’s a little bit of that going on that makes you feel like you’re doing something beyond yourself.?
The club, said Adair, always welcomes new members.
Meetings take place the second Tuesday of each month and members pay $20 annually to belong. Currently, the club has 17 active members, said Adair.
‘One of the benefits (of membership) is you can get together and exchange ideas and talk about problems you might be having,? said Rykers.
According to the club’s website (www.goodrichgardenclub.org), the club’s purpose is ‘to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening, encourage home and community beautification, promote better horticultural practices, develop an artistic use of flowers, aid in the conservation of soil, native trees, flowers and birds, and promote a helpful spirit of community fellowship.?
The annual tour, said Adair, typically brings in anywhere from 150-175 guests to tour the local gardens. Adair added the same garden has never been repeated in a tour since it’s inception in 1999.
The tour is ‘more about exposure than anything else,? explains Adair.’Even though we’re a small, little community ,we still have some wonderful gardeners.?
Rykers has a slightly different take on tour.
‘The reason I go to a garden tour is to swipe ideas,? Rykers says with a laugh. ‘It’s a great way to get ideas for your own garden.
And if it rains on the day of the tour? ‘We get wet,? said Rykers. ‘Gardeners are used to that.?
Adair says the biggest challenge facing local gardeners is the make-up of the local soil.
‘Goodrich has clay,? explains Adair, who says the substance is difficult to plant in. Adair recommends ‘amending the soil? or, changing it to be more compatible with the plants you’re using.
‘A master gardener once told me, ‘you can buy $100 plant and plant it in bad soil with not very good results. You can buy a $1 plant and spend that extra money on the soil, and end up with a wonderful plant.??
Another determining factor, said Adair, to the overall success of any plant is how much care it is given.
‘Love what you’re doing; give it some attention.?
And if all else fails, there’s always the garden tours to serve as inspiration for next year’s garden.
‘This is a lovely, lovely day,? said Adair. ‘It’s a very inexpensive way to spend the day. Even if you’re not a gardener per-say, just take time to come out and smell the roses.?