The Lower Columbia Preservation Society is pleased to present:

GARDEN TOUR 2008
"A garden makes the whole world kin"

Saturday, July 12, 2008
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

On the day of the event, the tickets may be purchased at 690 17th Street in Astoria from 9:30 a.m. until 1:00p.m. Admission is $15.00 per person or $10.00 for LCPS members. Individuals who join the Lower Columbia Preservation Society on the day of the tour will receive the LCPS membership tour rate of $10.00.

Raffle tickets for garden themed items will be sold for $1.00 each
or 15 for $10.00. The raffle tickets will be sold on the day of the tour, or may be purchased in advance in the LCPS' booth at the Astoria Sunday Market on July 6th.

The raffle grand prizes are:

- a night's lodging at the Benjamin Young Inn!

- a night's lodging at the Cannery Pier Hotel!

- a night's lodging at Clementine's B&B!

- a night's lodging at the Holiday Inn Express!

- a night's lodging at the Hotel Elliot!

- a night's lodging at the Rose River Inn!

- plus....various garden-themed items donated by area nurseries! Gift certificates to Astoria area restaurants! Garden consultations with professional landscape designers!

A wine and cheese reception will be held in one of the gardens from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The raffle drawing is at 2:30 p.m.; winners are not required to be present to win. For more information about the garden tour, call (503) 325-3981.

Garden descriptions:

(1) Informal, natural, friendly to wildlife and free of slug bait, this organic garden is home to the deer, birds, raccoons, newts, and neighborhood cats. Taking their cues from nature, the plants are allowed to weave their own communities and matrixes. The front garden emphasizes texture and scents. The back garden, which segues into the woods, is personal and contemplative. Old fashioned herbs, large grasses, and Japanese forest grasses play large roles, using a contemporary color palette of chartreuse and magenta.

(2) A small urban garden makes the most of its space. A small Japanese maple provides privacy from the street. A Swiss Stone Pine, with its irregular shape, anchors the SE corner; a tranquil waterfall pond and colorful flowerbeds complete the small front garden. A stairway and landings connect the front garden to its back garden, which features a patio surface of pavers and pebbles. Stop by this garden in the fall to see the colorful Japanese maples, evergreens, ferns and the red bark on the coral bark maple. Tulips and daffodils wake up spring in a blaze of color.

(3) A secluded backyard garden is reached from an east side path of ferns and fringe caps, and features mature Japanese maples, rhododendrons and hydrangeas, and a waterfall pond. An upper garden is reached by a stone pathway that leads to raised vegetable beds and a greenhouse. Note the stone pathway laid in 1930 on the west side of the house. The front garden features a locally famous and mature azalea hedge, along with woody plants and shrubs chosen for their color and texture.

(4) This secluded patio garden, which belongs to a landscaper and a garden designer, features a whimsical collection of containers of unusual conifers, bamboo, Japanese maples, bonsais, succulents, and tropical plants. Before entering the patio garden, stop to view the peaceful, stream-like water feature by the front walk.

(5) A garden redesign is happening here -- a newly expanded patio and a peony garden are among the new features. The garden also includes mature plantings. This is the site for the reception and raffle drawings. Enjoy some wine and cheese at this garden.

(6) Diversity Garden. This four-acre plus plot of ground is intended to be a ten year project. Reflecting the diversity of the landscapers, this garden will become a canvas that features an eclectic mix of plantings. A mature weeping sequoia, Japanese maples, formal pathways, water-features, and arbors all add presence to this garden.

(7) This Northwest-Asian inspired courtyard began as a student project. It features naturalistic plantings surrounding a large scale water feature. The entire project was designed, built, and installed by landscape students. It is a site where families and students come together to celebrate achievement.