MARKET MUSINGS

June 29, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Jan Freedman

One could not have asked for a more beautiful day for the Farmers’ Market than last Saturday.
Under a cloudless sky, we welcomed shoppers who remained in Town, perhaps on their way to the new music festival. Our last two farmers have now joined us and there is enough choice for everyone’s tastes.
Saturday was our annual Strawberry Festival so we had a delicious free strawberry cake, made by Nicolle’s Cakes, as well as toothpicks of strawberries for visitors to enjoy. The Aurora Community Band played great music, including some exciting blockbuster movie themes. It was a wonderful day.
The Aurora Garden Club joins us every spring to publicize their annual Garden Tour. In order to help them do that, we are devoting this column to them and to gardening.
So, how does your garden grow? There are as many personalities in a garden bed as there are persons who create, nurture and tend them.
You can have a peek at some of the most diverse gardens in Aurora by buying a ticket to their annual Garden Tour happening on Sunday, July 10. Every year, the Aurora Garden Club presents a self-guided tour of eight amazing properties, rain or shine, beginning at 12 noon. You are welcome to stroll, pause, get inspired and talk to the garden owners.
An added feature again this year is “Artists in the Gardens.”
Four artists from Kingscrafts Studio will be painting in the gardens during the afternoons, along with displays of their completed works. You are invited to socialize and talk gardening while sipping lemonade in two of the gardens.
Over time, the Aurora Garden Tour has showcased gardens that serve a wide variety of purposes. Yard spaces large or small can accommodate multiple needs for today’s busy families. Enjoy and learn from what others have been inspired to create.
After planting your flowers, shrubs and vegetables, think about adding some art. Colourful garden art to hang on fences or shepherd’s hooks make a garden come to life and give it personality.
No garden? Then get creative with a planter box on your patio or deck. You could add a trellis for some height, some garden art and voila, you have your own garden to enjoy.
Whether you desire a place to relax, entertain or putter, you can create a garden space to suit your desires—simple or exotic, low maintenance or low water consumption designs. You can focus on flowers, shrubs, vines and veggies, or a tiny market garden to enjoy eating fresh “from earth to table.”
The Aurora Farmers’ Market is an enthusiastic supporter of the Garden Club. We both encourage you to get outdoors and enjoy the fruits of your own labour or those of our local farmers. Don’t be afraid to dig in and get your hands dirty.
It will feel good and be very rewarding.
Tickets for the Garden Tour, including detailed maps, are $15 each. So, drop by the Aurora Garden Club’s booth in the park at the Farmers’ Market to purchase them on Saturday July 2 or July 9. Visit their website for complete details www.gardenaurora.com.
Unsure if you have a “green thumb?” Simply give it a try and learn as you grow! Get inspired—take the Tour or attend one of their meetings. The Aurora Garden Club has monthly meetings with an array of interesting speakers to help with all things in our natural world. Their website will tell you who is speaking next.
The next Special Event at the Aurora Farmers’ Market will be our Family Day on July 23.
This has become a favourite for families and children of all ages so pencil it onto your calendars so you won’t forget. We’re already working on our plans so it will be an exciting day to remember for our visitors to the Market.