The first Kingsville Garden Tour and High Tea event held on the June 21-22 weekend was a hit with residents and visitors alike.
The event was a collaboration between the Kingsville Horticultural Society and the Arts Society of Kingsville.
With stops at 10 private gardens across Kingsville, the sold-out event wowed over 200 patrons who attended the local backyards and the high tea event at the Carnegie Arts and Visitor Centre.
Each stop along the way had a resident artist present, including the Carnegie, where artist Julie Bell displayed her mixed media collage art inside the centre. She had been the featured artist at the Carnegie for the month of May and was just wrapping up her show.
Outside the Carnegie Centre, the Heart of Essex Sweet Adelines Chorus entertained those in attendance as they sat for the tea and goodies as part of the High Tea event. The Kingsville Historical Society was also on-hand with a booth of their own.
In the gardens, it was busy as patrons made their way around to each home and viewed their backyard oasis.
One of those stops was at the home of Annette Cooper, the President of the Horticultural Society, who hosted with her husband Warwick.
The Coopers bought their home at the corner of Summerset Avenue and Harold Cull Drive in the summer of 2020. At that time it was an average lawn with no landscaping. In the five years since, they’ve turned it into an oasis of lavender, roses, fruit trees and ponds that would be the envy of any horticultural enthusiast.
“We had a blank canvas to work with,” says Annette. “We brought about 98 per cent of these plants with us from Toronto when we moved.”
And the hosts are quite welcoming as well. Annette and Warwick welcome the public into their back yard at any time to sit and relax amid the plant life. All they ask is that you close the gate behind you.
Their yard was highlighted by a 20-foot tall inflatable monarch butterfly which caught the attention of many passers-by. Annette says that next year’s event is already in the works as they gather and pack away all of the tea cups and supplies.
“As a guest from England said, it’s been a smashing sucess,” says Annette.
They’d like to hear feedback at kingsvillegardentour2025@gmail.com.
Artist Julie Bell poses with her artwork inside the Carnegie Arts and Visitor Centre on Saturday, June 21.
SUN photo by Mark Ribble
Alan Batke, left, was enjoying a cup of tea with artist in residence Roy James in the Cooper backyard on Saturday, June 21.
SUN photo by Mark Ribble
Annette and Warwick Cooper in their backyard on Saturday, June 21.
SUN photo by Mark Ribble
