Fox Valley garden walk in full bloom a little early this year
The American Association of University Women usually holds its Fox Valley garden walk in July.
But the walk, which raises money for local and national college scholarships for women, is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at eight different Elgin locations.
The reason?
So people can literally smell the roses at the garden at Pat and Dan Miller's 1875 high style Italianate home at 155 Gifford St.
"This is the earliest we've ever done it," said Mary Navin, co-chair of the walk. "That was Pat Miller's hope that roses would be in their prime in the middle of June."
The AAUW has held the walk in 2005, 2006, 2008 and this year.
The 2008 event, which spotlighted large rural gardens on the city's far west side, raised $4,000 as more than 300 people attended.
This walk centers on eight urban gardens on the city's east side and can be viewed in any order.
They include:
• 73 N. Liberty St., of Holly and John Weidmeyer, which is described as having an eclectic sense of order and farmhouse rhythm and was inspired by the Golden Pheasant Restaurant in Elmhurst. Also, Suzanne Poursine Massion, an impressionist oil painter from Hampshire, will be painting at the garden during the afternoon.
• 564 Division St., of Beth Hudson and Jeff Morello., which is set in the style of English gardener Gertrude Jekyll.
• 384 Division St., of John and Carol Anderson, which contains rock and flagstone terraces and a small pond with a waterfall.
• 353 N. Liberty St., of Mich and Mary Ellen Barbezat, which is a pesticide-free garden around a 1908 American Foursquare.
• 132 N. Channing St., of Barb Counterman and Tony Sanchez, which features hand-created terraces and patios around a carriage house.
• 426 Prairie St., of Craig Dresang and Joseph Drozd, which is a series of vistas and contain stones from the first cemetery in Elgin.
• 225 Grand Blvd., the Teaching Gardens at the Elgin Public Museum in Lords Park. At least nine artists will have their work on exhibit and for sale there.
Tickets are available at Elgin Jewel-Osco stores at 1040 Summit St. and 1660 Larkin Ave.; Al's Cafe and Creamery, 43 DuPage Court in downtown Elgin; Elgin Public Museum, 225 Grand Blvd. in Lords Park; Heinz Brothers Greenhouse Garden Center, 2010 E. Main St. in St. Charles; and Countryside Garden Center, 5301 E. Terra Cotta Ave. in Crystal Lake.
Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at any of the gardens on the day of the walk.
For details, call (847) 888-1844 or e-mail joann armenta@att.net or visit aauwelginarea.org.