Behind fences, gates and bushes, Jasper鈥檚 green thumbs hide the fruits of their labours, and once a year, those gates are thrown open, allowing the public a sneak peek at some of the town鈥檚 hidden green spaces.
This year was no exception, as the Friends of the Jasper Library put together a tour of 10 gardens Saturday, July 13, for the 10th annual Secret Garden Tour.
On the map this year were gardens with everything from a pond to a stream to a miniature railway.
The pond was located at Rita Hindle鈥檚 home鈥攖he Gingerbread House on Patricia Street. The stream was at Dan and Janet Freschette鈥檚 home on Lodgepole Street, and the 鈥淛asper Northern Railway鈥� was in Patti and Mark Clark鈥檚 perennial rock garden on Geikie Street.
The Clarks started their railway themed garden 10 years ago, but Patti said it鈥檚 still a work-in-progress, with small changes taking place each year.
Painter Alan Butler was in the Clarks yard painting a railway scene based on their garden. He was one of a half dozen artists from the Jasper Artist Guild who set up shop in the gardens, taking inspiration from their beautiful surroundings.
Greg Deagle was in Annelies Laggner鈥檚 garden, which is listed as a bonus garden each year.
Laggner spends seven hours a day in her garden. She starts by plucking the deadheads from her plants and then she weeds, waters, rearranges and gets everything just-so. She said she likes to set up her garden so that no matter where you stand there鈥檚 a spectacular view鈥攖here鈥檚 no doubt she鈥檚 succeeded.
Walking with maps in hand, each tour-goer said the same thing after wandering through the gardens, 鈥淲ho knew this was here?鈥濃�攑roving the tour鈥檚 name to be especially apt.
Nicole Veerman
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