Most event organizers wither when the weather forecast calls for rain.
But any kind of weather works for Erikson芒鈧劉s Daylily Gardens annual open house. The 13th annual is this weekend.
芒鈧揥e have a dedicated following,芒鈧� said garden owner Pam Erikson. 芒鈧揥e have a bus tour that even comes down from Kelowna.芒鈧�
One year the heat and sun didn芒鈧劉t come soon enough and there were no famous Erikson daylily blooms.
芒鈧揚eople still had a blast,芒鈧� Erikson said.
She noted that the area typically gets frost until the end of May but this year the gardens have had perfect weather and are at peak bloom.
Gardeners are the ultimate optimists.
芒鈧揟his year we had a massive tree come down in February,芒鈧� Erikson explained.
That meant a lot of clean up work but ended up in the creation of a new bed.
芒鈧揂 garden is always changing,芒鈧� she said.
The open house started with the spotlight on daylilies but people芒鈧劉s interest has grown in all the plants Erikson grows. The gardens will be at peak bloom with over 3,200 daylilies, lilies, hostas, unusual perennials, and specimen trees.
Erikson wears several different (gardening) hats: president of the 91原创 Garden Club, the Aldergrove Daylily Society and the Washington-Oregon Daylily Society, as well as vice-president of the 91原创 Sustainable Agriculture Foundation and the Canadian Daylily Society.
Still, her first love is still being out in the garden, a love instilled by her grandmother who is about to turn 104.
芒鈧揌ybridizing is what keeps me interested,芒鈧� she said. 芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s like when parents have children. You never know what they芒鈧劉re going to be like.芒鈧�
People can meet the thousands of members of Erikson芒鈧劉s clan at the open house. Once each year the gardens are open to the public and this year芒鈧劉s opportunity is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 12 and 13.
Erikson noted that people will want to take 248th Street to 50th Avenue to get onto 246th Street. The gardens are tucked away at 24642 51st Ave. The East 91原创 water line is being constructed in the area and she recommends people avoid 52nd Avenue.
These are private gardens, and are not wheelchair and walker accessible.
The open house will again have harp music 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. courtesy of Judy Henry, and exhibitors Big Bear Tools, Clayburn Comforts, Buds N Petals and more.
VanDusen master gardeners will be on hand to answer any questions.
The Aldergrove Daylily Society is on site with its club tent and raffle with donations from JD Turkey Farm, Krause Berry Farm and Winery, Chaberton Estate Winery, Otter Co-op, Bonetti Meats, Select Roses, VanDusen Botanical Garden and others contributors.
Admission is by donation and the event raises money for BC Children芒鈧劉s Hospital. More information about the gardens is at www.eriksonsdaylilygardens.com and on Facebook (at Erikson芒鈧劉s Daylily Gardens).
