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Shippensburg's in bloom for 30th garden tour


SHIPPENSBURG - The 30th Annual Garden Tour sponsored by Christ United Methodist Church of Shippensburg is scheduled for 1-6 p.m. Sunday, June 12th, and will feature six wonderfully different gardens.

Every year there is something unique about  some of the gardens to  inspire  those who attend to get ideas for their own gardens, and this year's  tour is no exception.

The first garden features landscaped tiers that transformed the openness of the backyard into a unique beautiful setting which gives the owners not only the beauty of the plantings but also privacy for entertaining and spending a quiet evening with family and friends. The 133 Park Place home belongs to Vincent and Angie Facchine and will be the location of the popular plant  sale sponsored by the garden committee.

The second garden at 130 Park place, owned and planned by Rick and Georgena Ruth, has been planted in sections referred to as "rooms."

Garden 3, 8750 Roxbury Road behind Lurgan Elementary School, encompasses 26 acres and was a part of a working farm.  Bob and Diane Boyd have created an amazing garden with a number of different "showcase" areas, 2 large Koi ponds and waterfalls. Every garden around the house has different themes and shows off antiques which the Boyds enjoy looking for and sharing as highlights in their gardens. Their log house was selected and built by them.

Garden 4, 10165 Muddy Run Road, Orrstown, displays a person's love of wildflowers combined with other perennials.  Gardener Ellie Clugh also sells bouquets of fresh flowers at the entrance to their home, every day.  Her husband helps, but Ellie is the artist. She also creates handmade bird feeders and waterers made from large leaves.  A waterfall and pond add interest to this garden.

At Garden 5, 179 Stoney Point Ave., Shippensburg, Randy and Cathy Parson enjoy sharing the Pergola, along with their newly installed pool, with neighbors and friends. Cathy is a well known soloist at many churches in the area, and she has installed microphones in their back yard. They are both intrigued by dead tree stumps which they use as highlights around their yard.

Garden 6, Dillner's Blythstead, 217 Means Hollow Road, Shippensburg, an antique home on the national register, is the location for the refreshments this year. Guests are invited to spend time looking at the areas around this large setting which features espalier fruit trees, an English Knot Garden and an unusual approach to raised beds.

Tickets for the tour will be available at Plasterer's in Chambersburg, $10. adults, $5. school age, East Meets West, Crider's and Christ  U.M. Church in Shippensburg, and at each garden on the day of the tou, for $10 for adults and $5 for school-age children.  For additional information or tickets in advance, call the church, 717-532-6850 or Rose Dillner, 717-532-8155 .