July 4 Column: Coeur D’Alene Garden Tour
Who loves going on garden tours? I sure do! And I’ve been missing them terribly. Fortunately, the Coeur d’Alene Garden Tour is scheduled for next Sunday, July 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can read my preview of the tour in today’s edition of The Spokesman-Review: Coeur d’Alene Garden Tour features six gardens on July 11. (or you can read the text of my column lower in this post)
This year’s tour features four gardens in Coeur d’Alene and two in Hayden, Idaho. The Coeur d’Alene Garden Club is once again hosting the tour that so many folks eagerly anticipate each summer. At the end of my column below, you’ll find information on purchasing tickets, where the gardens are located, etc.
Each year, I have the pleasure of profiling one of the gardens on the Coeur d’Alene Garden Tour. As well as the gardeners behind them, of course! I was very impressed with the garden rooms and beautiful water features at one garden. There are so many things to see at the garden and lovely spots to sit and enjoy the surroundings.
This week’s video details:
For this week’s video, I did something a little different. Our dreadful heat wave kept me out of the garden. So I decided to put together a video slideshow of the birds in our garden instead. We have a Browning game camera, which we parked next to two of our birdbaths over the course of a couple of weeks. It is always so much fun seeing the visitors we get, although I guess most of them are residents within our surrounding landscape. I hope you’ll enjoy watching it. And, of course, I had to insert a few comments about some of the birds’ antics!
A lot of folks ask me where we got the beautiful birdbath above. I bought it two years ago at Appleway Florist here in Spokane, but it was designed by Studio M Outdoors. They have a fun website that you can check out.
Coeur d’Alene Garden Tour garden column:
Do you look for inspiration in other people’s gardens? You’ll find plenty of it and more during next Sunday’s [July 11] eagerly-anticipated Coeur d’Alene Garden Tour. It will feature six diverse gardens in Coeur d’Alene and Hayden, Idaho. Tour details are located in the information box.
Coeur d’Alene Garden tour feature: The Harvey/Dolezal/Samad garden:
One delightful garden in Coeur d’Alene is nestled into a hillside and features a lovely view of the lake. The garden’s unique charm is the result of a collaboration between Vern Harvey, Dan Dolezal and Abdul Samad.
“I’m the labor guy who does the hard labor and shapes the beds to get things ready,” Harvey explained. “Dan likes putting the baskets together and enjoys growing unusual things that are hard to find from seed. Abdul helps out by watering and mowing the lawn, but he wants to create his own garden next year.”
The garden had its humble beginnings in 1996. It has changed dramatically over the years, according to Harvey who is an art teacher at Hayden Meadows Elementary School. This garden has appeared on the tour previously but it is always evolving.
“Every year, we’ve done something different so there are always new surprises for visitors to discover. This year, we have the (elementary school) kids’ art in the garden as well,” Harvey added.
The gentlemen have put in all of the water features which include a creek, fountains, ponds and a small lake. Among the towering pines, there are decks and serene sitting areas and colorful containers. Wine grapes, fruit trees and berries, and two separate areas for growing vegetables are appealing. Lush shade plants enhance this peaceful setting.
“The design of the garden rooms has been organic and has been dictated by the lay of the land,” Dolezal said. “The funny thing is, I hated gardening when I was growing up but I’ve been enjoying creating a ‘wow’ factor here.”
Harvey, Dolezal and Samad are looking forward to welcoming tour-goers. They will enjoy providing them with the opportunity to explore their garden and perhaps take home some innovative ideas.
Coeur d’Alene Garden Tour garden locations:
- Vern Harvey, Dan Dolezal and Abdul Samad, 4405 S. Vista Loop, Coeur d’Alene
- Larry Running and Terry Pratt, 718 N. 8th St., Coeur d’Alene
- Nikki Betts, 812 E. Pennsylvania Ave., Coeur d’Alene
- Bethann and Joel Hersey, 1815 E. Davis Ave., Coeur d’Alene
- Susan Lovelace, 11391 N. Riata Rd., Hayden, Idaho
- Marilyn and Joe Harris, 2468 E. Hudlow Rd., Hayden, Idaho
The Coeur d’Alene Garden Club is hosting this tour. All proceeds will benefit local charities and North Idaho College scholarships.
Coeur d’Alene Garden Tour details:
23rd Annual Coeur d’Alene Garden Tour
When: Sunday, July 11, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Details: Six gardens located in Coeur d’Alene and Hayden, Idaho. There will be musicians and artisans at the gardens. Tour tickets will provide detailed directions to each location and complete descriptions of the gardens.
Tickets: $15 when purchased in advance at the locations below or online from brownpapertickets.com/event/5109891. On the day of the tour, tickets cost $20 and can be purchased at all of the gardens or from Vanhoff’s Garden Center or the Coeur d’Alene 4th St. Ace Hardware.
Ticket locations:
- Aspen Nursery, 6075 E. Commerce Loop, Post Falls (208) 667-7511
- Coeur d’Alene 4th St. Ace Hardware, 4th and Harrison, Coeur d’Alene (208) 667-9466
- Greenacres Nursery, 18605 E. Appleway Ave., Greenacres, Wash. (509) 928-1922
- Mix It Up Gifts, 513 Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene (208) 667-8603
- New Leaf Nursery, 12655 N. Government Way, Hayden (208) 762-4825
- Northland Nursery, 8093 W. Prairie Ave., Post Falls (208) 773-3247
- Northwest Seed & Pet, 2422 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane (509) 534-0694
- Northwest Seed & Pet, 7302 N. Division, Spokane (509) 484-7387
- Petal Pushers Nursery, 201 E. 6th Ave., Post Falls (208) 763-4355
- Vanhoff’s Garden Center, 1844 N. Government Way, Coeur d’Alene (208) 930-4424
- Westwood Gardens Nursery, 15825 N. Westwood Dr., Rathdrum (208) 687-5952
For more information, go to cdagardenclub.com or call (208) 641-9534. On the day of the tour, call (208) 661-0773.