Summary: On Saturday, July 16, the Purple Ribbon Garden Tour will be held by the Friends and Neighbors of Every Womans House. The tour will feature six gardens, each with its own unique and beautiful details. General admission is $15, and community members are encouraged to attend, as proceeds support alleviating domestic violence and sexual assault.
As if raising money for Every Womans House of Wooster wasnt a sweet enough cause, community members will simultaneously have the opportunity to delight in vibrant colors and fresh scents at the Purple Ribbon Garden Tour on Saturday, July 16.
The Purple Ribbon Garden Tour is a bi-annual event that Friends and Neighbors of Every Womans House holds in an effort to provide financial assistance to Every Womans House, as it promotes the healing of individuals and families who experience violence or sexual assault. Friends and Neighbors have been holding this event since 1993, with a wonderful supportive response from the Wayne County communities, explained Lori Christopher, event co-chair, alongside Carolyn Roadruck.
An array of purples, pinks, reds, yellows and greens will greet each attendant at the six participating gardens. Five of those gardens are within walking distance of one another, sweetening the deal even further.
Friends and Neighbors of Every Womans House is a fundraising board, elected in by other board members. Our soul purpose is to raise funds for Every Womans House, to help them financially meet the needs of individuals affected by violence, abuse and sexual abuse. We hold several different events throughout the year, such as a golf outing, hot dog sales at various Buehlers stores, Wayne County fair parking, but are known mostly for our garden tours and holiday house, which are both bi-annual events, continued Christopher.
Held during the epitome of summer, participants will visit the garden of David and Margo Broehl, with a garden described as eclectic by Christopher. Alex Davis and Greg Lubelskis home is on Bever Street, and Christopher said it has a turn of the century garden. Further, John and Adriana Dryers garden has over 100 roses. Mary and Jim Jicha have both a terrace and a tree house. The fifth garden belongs to Bill and Patti Older, and their garden was illustrated as Victorian, complete with marble from Italian shores. Lastly is Secrest Arboretum, and Ken Cochran, director of Wooster ATI, will be speaking at the patron breakfast. Christopher explained that Cochran is proud of the great advances made since the tornado destroyed much of their land in September.
The breakfast is for our patron sponsors, held again this year at Quailcrest Farm on Saturday morning before the tour. There are four levels of patronage to The Purple Ribbon Garden Tour. The first is the Daisy level starting at $30 for 1 ticket to the breakfast and the tour. The next level is the Lily, at $50; the patron will receive two tickets for the breakfast and the tour. The Rose is for patrons who donate $100 to $199, with two tickets for the breakfast and the tour. The Orchid is for patrons who donate $200, also receiving two tickets for the breakfast and the tour. Anyone who would like to become a patron, who is not already on our membership mailing list, may contact us at 330-263-6021, Christopher added.
For guests, the day may feel like stepping into a painting. Surrounded by rich colors and meticulously designed gardens, it would be hard to deny the craft as anything but artwork. As the title of the tour suggests, the purple ribbon represents the cause to both end domestic violence and raise awareness for its victims and survivors.
Tickets can be purchased for $15 at both Buehler's in Wooster, and at the Buehlers in Orrville and Wadsworth. The tour will run from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the rain date is Sunday, July 17.
All proceeds from the Purple Ribbon Garden Tour will go to Every Womans House to continue their efforts of providing hope to Wayne Counties families in need. We hope to see you there, Christopher concluded.
