Editor, The Spotlight:
Last Wednesday – on a beautiful day amidst the almost constant rainy days – the 17th annual Bethlehem Garden Tour delighted those who came to see some lovely private garden in our town. Good show, Bethlehem!
And thank you to the generous garden owners who shared their gardens for the enjoyment of over 360 visitors. The Bethlehem Garden Club and all who went on the tour are grateful for them: Ferne Horn, M. Gesche, Donna Stiglmeier, Nancy and Bill Oberheim, Donna and Peter Meixner, Brian and Sue Ellen Walsh.
Any event of this size has a large group of supporters, many of them behind-the-scenes, who make the experience a positive one. We would like to thank: the Bethlehem Library for being on the tour as a celebration of their 100th anniversary and providing refreshments to tour-goers; the Bethlehem police and Highway Department for advising on routing directions and providing traffic cones to help with parking; Delmar Presbyterian Church for allowing us the use of their facilities; Windsor Development Group for enabling ticket sales; John Guastella of Our Towne Bethlehem and the Times Union for printing advance information; the Elk Sign Shop for printing our advertising and directional signs; and especially the women of the Bethlehem Garden Club (and their families) who put in long hours before, during, and after the actual event.
The Plant Sale, held at the Delmar Presbyterian Church, provided outstanding perennial plants to enhance local gardens plus advice from Garden Club members on their care and nurturing.
Louise Kavanaugh, club president, drew the Fine Gardening Raffle winners. Ellen Tanner was the winner of two hours of fine gardening by at least six members of the club. Ronnie D’Alauro won the gardener’s gift basket, and Gloria Schiavolino won a $50 gift certificate to Price Greenleaf.
Many locally-owned restaurants gave a 15 percent or 10 percent discount to tour-goers who presented their ticket booklet on the night of the tour. Our thanks to Four Corners Luncheonette, Teahouse Asian Bistro, Milestone, Shalimar, Manama Grille, 333 Café, Mercato’s, Hidden Café, Blue Spice, Mangia’s, Bellini’s, Sake Café, and Shogun Sushi and Sake Bar for allowing tour goers to continue their delightful evening at local eateries.
The funds raised from the Garden Tour and the Fine Gardening Raffle are returned to the community through public gardens, benches, and trees around the town. The Plant Sale profits are given to Bethlehem schools through an educational grant.
What a beautiful evening with something for all: gardens to view, plants to purchase, a chance to be a raffle winner, and local dining at a discount. See you next year on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 for another fine evening.
Marcy Corneil, Chair: Garden Tour
Carie Hennessey and Peggy Mull, Chairs: Plant Sale
Jan Messina, Chair: Fine Gardening Raffle