ONE HECK OF AN IDEA
Local gardens on full display at annual tour
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » More than 700 people experienced 11 different gardens throughout Saratoga Springs on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon in the Secret Gardens Tour.
The tour’s presented by Soroptimist International of Saratoga County, which raised more $20,000 in ticket sales and sponsorships.
“A couple of Soroptimist members came up with the idea for the Secret Gardens Tour with three goals in mind: provide an enjoyable and memorable day, increase awareness about the club, and raise money to support its mission of improving the lives of women and girls,” said Barbara Lombardo, cochair of the Secret Gardens Tour Committee. “Now in its 23rd year, I’d say they had a heck of an idea.”
The tour featured stops along North Broadway, homes in Gansevoort and the city’s East Side.
“It is so gratifying to be able to make a measurable difference, locally and around the world,” said Lombardo. “The tour has become an annual tradition for
a lot of participants. Our committee works hard to pull together an interesting and diverse mix of gardens each year. We’re already scouting for gardens for 2018, and we welcome suggestions.”
It takes home owners to show off their hidden gardens.
“The key to the tour’s success is the willingness of people to open their amazing gardens to hundreds of visitors,” said Lombardo. “I can’t thank them enough.”
Connie Stone has lived in Saratoga Springs for three summers, but her backyard on Fifth Avenue was part of its first garden tour.
“I think it’s been fun and it’s put me two years ahead in my garden planning,” said Stone.
Stone and her husband Martin used to live in Arizona, where gardening used to be different.
“It’s a huge adjustment. Particularly here because we don’t get a lot of sun at all in this yard,” said Stone. “And I’m used to a bigger space and a lot of sun light. This is different.”
Stone’s favorite part of her garden is her cottage.
Scot Trifilo learned about gardening at age two from his grandfather. He now lives in a house on Nelson Avenue Extension.
Not only does Trifilo’s backyard feature woody hydrangeas, a kitchen vegetable garden and a collection of rare fig trees collected from all over the world, he has Ameraucana chicken that lay blue eggs.
Trifilo, who purchased his property in 2016, was thrilled about the garden tour.
“I think it’s a great event. Get people out and learn about gardening,” said Trifilo. “Teach people about gardening, so yeah it’s a great event.”
Soroptimists is an international women’s service organization. The Saratoga club began 37 years ago. People interested in joining or learning more are encouraged to visit www.soroptimistsaratoga.org
The club assists women who are heads of household continuing their education in the face of adversity, and provides funds to dozens of local organizations in keeping with its mission. Additionally, the club supports global projects initiated by club members or others in Saratoga County, such as birthing kits for an African village, funds to repair obstetric fistulas in Tanzania, education for girls in Kenya and Lesotho, and a business that will sew and sell school uniforms in Zimbabwe.
Soroptimist is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization.