Durham-Middlefield Garden Tours on Sunday

The Coginchaug Area Transition presents "A Garden Tour" on Sunday, June 30th, 1-4 p.m.

Enjoy an afternoon with the area's organic gardeners. Tour the following locations at your convenience:

Eleanor Poole - 218 Jackson Hill Road, Middlefield

Eleanor’s been gardening in the same location for 60 years. Hay, leaf & chip mulch, and compost make her garden exceptionally fertile. Because if its low location, it only needs watering when transplanting. She uses a rain barrel, and an electric fence, which is in the process of being restored. Eleanor is looking for a special someone to live there in exchange for 10 hours of work per week.

Tina Gossner - 29 Maple Avenue, Durham

A master gardener in our community, Tina is a font of organic gardening knowledge. Her grounds feature numerous mixed perennial beds, a rain garden, and a woodland garden, as well as a variety of vegetables, berries, and fruit. Compost bins and rain barrels complete the picture.

Susan Cummings - 5 Mauro Drive, Durham

One can’t peruse the exhibits of vegetables, flowers, arrangements, and artwork at the Durham Fair without encountering dozens of blue ribbons with Susan’s name. Her boundless energy and creativity have transformed her yard into a bountiful paradise. 

Phyllis Naples - 167 Bear Rock Road, Durham

Phyllis is a pillar of wisdom and a beacon of knowledge in organic gardening and canning. She has chaired the canning exhibit at the Durham Fair since 1982. Visit her extensive family farm, on which her family has lived and farmed since 1923.

Oksana Sigleski - 480 Higganum Road, Durham

Oksana’s property features rambling, informal gardens tucked into a natural rocky and wooded setting, with mountain laurel, wild azalea, ferns, summer sweet, and lots of self-sowing perennials and natives. There are benches and seating areas to take a break and enjoy!

Matthew & Jen Huddleston - 2 High Street, Middlefield

Jen and Matthew have converted a horse riding ring into a rich organic vegetable garden, built on 10 years of composting with chickens and sheep, and mulched with leaves and grass clippings. Hardneck garlic is the main feature. Varieties of fruit trees and berries abound!

Feel free to ask questions and share knowledge and inspiration!