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Orleans County Garden Tour features gardens in Albion and Medina

Six gardens will be featured as part of the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners 2016 Garden Path Tour, Saturday, July 16.

Tickets are $10 and available at the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, 12690 State Route 31 in Knowlesville.

Master Gardener Eileen Sorochty is a member of the committee working to organize the event and says the “Garden Stars” – private gardens, which make up the tour – are located mainly in Albion and Medina.

Brandi Zavitz’s English gardens on Center Street in Medina feature perennials and a pond. Ruth Shewan’s country garden is located on West Shelby Road in Medina and includes 12 perennial gardens and a greenhouse. Additionally, the landscape features a memorial garden in honor of the Native American relics, which are said to be buried there, and mirror gardens.

Ann and Stephen Bunch’s English garden on Howell Parkway in Medina is casual and bird-friendly with trees and a pagoda garden.

Jeanette Riley has an eclectic garden on Braley Street in Albion, which features repurposed materials such as glass/metal/gates/doors and knobs. The garden includes focal points and areas for reflection and a mini guest house with patio.

Eileen Sorochty’s garden and that of her neighbor, Sharon Sugar, on East Avenue in Albion, are also featured on the tour.

Sharon Sugar’s garden is child and family friendly with areas for play, outdoor dining and seating. The garden includes a mix of perennials and flowering shrubs and is illuminated at night. Sugar also has a rose garden and a pond garden.

A mini fairy garden is located in a former birdbath in Eileen Sorochty’s Albion garden. K. Gabalski photo
A mini fairy garden is located in a former birdbath in Eileen Sorochty’s Albion garden. K. Gabalski photo

Sorochty gardens outside the home in which she grew up and some of her mother’s flowers continue to bloom and grow in the relaxed border gardens and beds that feature perennials, flowering shrubs, herbs and vegetables.

Sorochty welcomes pollinators into her yard with a butterfly garden and a “bee house.” She says she is moving towards, “all organic gardening practices,” and is setting up a new composting system.

Sorochty says those taking the tour can start at any one of the six locations. “We will have a map of the gardens for you,” she notes.

The Garden Path Tour runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. rain or shine. In addition to pre-sale, tickets will be available the day of the event at any of the featured gardens.  Sorochty requests that you bring correct change if you plan on purchasing a ticket the day of the event.

Each participant will receive a hand stamp to show that they have paid. Participants will also have their names entered into a drawing for a gift certificate from Sara’s Garden Center in Brockport.

For more information, call 798-4265.

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