Above photos by NM staff and volunteer gardeners
2026 was an amazing garden tour and did well with ticket sales. There were 13 gardens spread across the northeast quadrant of Winnipeg, with one of the gardens located near Cook’s Creek. Our community garden was located at the Seven Oaks Arboretum at 430 Partridge Avenue where we also held our annual plant sale.
Prior to the garden tour we had the pre-tours split between Thursday and Friday where each volunteer gardener previews their garden and talks about the plants, design and inspiration derived from their garden.
On the actual day of the garden tour, the weather was warm and sunny. I had my time-honored question once again at the end of the pre-tours and asked the gardeners who ‘stole’ ideas from the gardens they just toured? Everyone put their hands up which makes it all worthwhile. I also had mentioned keeping your eyes peeled for plants never seen before. There is an endless list of plants you would never see in a greenhouse and are passed amongst the gardeners. In turn I lucked out and found 3 such plants which are now happily growing in my own garden.
One week after the garden tour, I invite gardeners, their volunteers, family and friends to my own garden for a potluck, providing a chance to casually chat with each other and make connections. Some gardeners exchanged email addresses and phone numbers to get cuttings, divisions and seeds from each other if they were amenable to sharing. The garden tour is primarily a fundraiser for Nature Manitoba although with the pre-tours and the potluck afterwards, it feels like giving back in a way as we create a wee bit of community amongst the gardeners who end up sharing plants and knowledge.
As always, my thanks go out to Tami, our Nature Manitoba Program Coordinator for everything she does behind the scenes. Also, major kudos to our graphic artist Darius who year after year produces amazing posters and tickets with ever-changing designs. The posters are the closest to Nature Manitoba ‘ART’ we have! I am running out of space in my office to post the new poster each year.
Again, this year participants received a wonderful congratulatory letter from mayor Scott Gillingham who thanked the gardeners for their participation in the tour, enhancing their neighborhoods and creating a sense of community by sharing their beautiful gardens.
Gardeners are special people because they inspire others to create gardens directly or indirectly, help in establishing pride in one’s surroundings which lends to a strong degree of belonging within a neighborhood.
The 2027 garden tour will focus on Crescentwood, Fort Rouge, Corydon, Fort Garry, River Heights, Tuxedo, Linden Woods and surrounding areas. If you or someone you know has an incredible garden, please contact me at 204-295-4442 or email at timevansmassage@gmail.com
Written by Tim Evans, Garden Tour Coordinator (Manitoba Master Gardener, and Chair for The Prairie Garden book).