Saskatoon gardeners welcome return of in-person tours

Saskatoon's gardening community is ready to show off two years of growth to their friends and neighbours. 

A dozen planting enthusiasts will showcase their efforts as part of Saturday's Passport Garden Tour, an event organized by the Saskatoon Horticultural Society. Participants can visit six of the city's standout gardens on a self-guided tour, as well as a bonus garden outside of Saskatoon.

This will be the first in-person tour since 2019. The last two events have been held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Horticultural Society board member Megan Larson-Wilkie said it will highlight gardens that have grown and prospered while people spent more time at home.

"We tried to find a real variety of yards. There's one that has a 45-foot-wide espaliered apple tree, which is pretty special. Then we have different water features, lots of architectural design, and both new and established yards, so there's really something for everybody."

Espaliered trees are grown flat against a wall or fence, a technique that horticultural scientists trace back to the Roman era. 

Maxine Panchuk started gardening nine years ago. Her Nutana-area yard, featured in this year's tour, is small but she works every inch of it, planting a variety of perennial flowers, native plants, herbs and vegetables in the front and back yards. She has also expanded over the years to include the boulevard in front of her home, the alley behind it, and even her roof.

"I didn't realize I was going to love gardening so much when I first started," Panchuk said. "I live a pretty busy life and I'm a pretty stressed-out person, so I find that getting a chance to come home at the end of the day or in the morning, just spend a little time in the garden or looking at the plants throughout the summer, I really get a feeling of calmness and relaxation. It helps me to kind of slow down a bit … and we grow lots of healthy food."

Larson-Wilkie is also an avid gardener, now in her fifteenth year. She said it was definitely a source of respite during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It was great to spend lots of time back there. It feeds my soul, and it's great physical exercise. I like the intellectual challenge of gardening, too: it's kind of like a puzzle and there's lots of problem solving — what's going to bloom when and what plants should I put together? And it's just great therapy, getting back to nature," she said.

The Passport Garden Tour takes place from noon to 4 p.m. CST on Saturday, July 23. Passports can be purchased from Early's Farm and Garden Centre for $15.