Garden Walk to highlight creativity of local gardners
There are eight participants in the fourth annual Westminster Park Committee/Presque Isle County Garden Club ?Garden Walk? this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ?We have some people with some fantastic gardens this year,? said committee member Kris Sorgenfrei. ?I think it?s a good way for them to show them off.? The garden walk hasn?t been conducted for two years, but the groups felt the time was right to restart it and the event could be a staple for years to come. Proceeds from this year?s trip around the area will help fund continued improvements at Westminster Park, which is the first stop on this year?s garden walk. People are asked to meet at the steps in the north corner of Westminster Park steps for site number one.
SINCE THE last garden walk, the park committee has developed two garden areas in the park. They are designed to showcase plants that thrive in northern Michigan?s climate. A dry stream bed is a feature in the north garden along with hosta, daylilies, trees, and shrubs. Marigolds form borders in both gardens for summer color. The next stop is around the corner at the Al and Deb Stiller residence on Orchard Street. The Stillers say their garden is a work in progress, but it?s come a long way in two years. There is a whimsical collection of wildflowers, woodland plants and groundcovers providing habitat for many varieties of birds and butterflies.
GARDEN NUMBER three is at the home of Sara Maher, three blocks north of the Stillers? on South First Street. Maher has a collection of perennials, annuals and self-seeding flowers put together with no specific design in mind. Many of the rocks are from the family homestead in St. Clair County. The next garden is a few houses away at the Jene? and Philip Budnik residence, 146 South First Street. The Budniks have a tiered rock garden with Asian accents. There are ornaments and chimes with walkways between the rocks. From the Budniks, the garden tour continues on Forest Avenue across from Seagull Point Park at the Pat and Bob Starnes residence. When the Starnes moved to Rogers City 14 years ago, they found nearly a bare lot. A sedum, an aging rosebush and a few struggling irises were the extent of the garden. With a self-taught gardener?s passion, and a love for all God?s flora, t
THE LAST home in Rogers City is on the corner of West Third and Patricia Street at Yvonne and Neil Brege?s place. It?s been tagged a ?Miracle Grow? garden without the Miracle Grow because all the plants thrive. There are many unique plants, a wishing well, and a wooden bridge. The front and back yard gardens of Aggie and Norbert Woloszyk in Metz are stop number seven on the tour. The Woloszyks? gardens were chosen one of the top 10 favorites by ?County Lines? magazine in 2004. Fish in a pond are always eager for another handful of food, which they?ll take right out of your hand.
THE GARDEN walk then ventures to the Barb and James Szatkowski residence on Leer Road, which features a variety of plants and shrubs, a bridge, and their latest addition — a large dry rock pond. The final garden put together by Jacob and Bonnie Strzelecki is described as a garden of recyclables. Participants will find a LP tank made into a barn silo, an old whiskey barrel made into a bath, a porch railing in an arbor, and old bowling balls made to look like a caterpillar. There are many more things to see and only some of what one will encounter has been revealed. The cost of the garden walk is $10 with signs posted at each house. Tickets for the events are available at the Rogers City Chamber of Commerce and the Calcite Credit Union.