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The Canadian Champion, Frîday, June 21, 2002-19 Plenty of horticultural ideas to be found during garden tour Sunday -- Wl V 1,1 v à171ýe11 Erinn Walsh picks strswber- ries at Springridge Farm, where - along with Andrews' Scenic Acres - the bernies are finally ready. File photo by GRAHAM PAINE Strawberries finally ripe - and ready By FANNIE SUNSHINE The Champion Local strawberry fariners are getting ready for what promises 10 be a busy week- end, as the luscious fruit is ripe and ready for picking. "This year we're starting strawberry sea- son a littIe late," said Laura Hughes, co- owner of Springridge Farmn on Bell School Line. "Usually it starts between June 10 and 15 but because of the cool spring we had to start lae." Between strawberry and raspberry pick- îng. the former is by far the more popular of the Iwo. she coninued. "People hind strawberries are casier Io pick and îhey can fi11 their basket up tasier becaiisc the berry is larger.- Ms Hughes saîd shes expecting bun- dreds of piekers to wander their way tbrough the 15 acres of srawberries over the next three weeks. "Some will use the bernies 10 make jani, a lot will freeze them, some will eat theni fresh or make daiquiris. "You can freeze strawberries ail year. Thcy are great to go on cereal or to eat as snacks because they are full of fiber and Vitamin C." Earier tiis week, Ms Hughes was busy setting up scales and preserving supplies in anticipation of the busy weekend. "We're anxious to get gomng." Visitons can pick up recipes outlining ways to use tihe juicy benry un everyday cooking. "Vie have recipes for strawberry custard pie and tiis year we have a new recipe for strawberry cobbler. Nothing compares to the flavour of Ontario straw- berries," he said. Athough Andrews' Sccnic Acres owner Bert Andrews saîd he's looking forward to the start of thse season, is No. 10 Sideroad farm's entire 35 acres of strawberries won't be ready for picking this weekend. "There was a lot of frost damage over the past few weeks. We had a bot spel li May and then il went cool again and that really darnaged the cropa. Our crops are down quite a bit but we stili have enough for picking." Along with fresh strawbernies, Andrews' Scenic Acres alto sels strawbeny wine, strawberry lemnonade, strawberiy-rhubarb pie and strawberry yogurt and ice creans. Miltonians wilI be able to pick up new gardenmng ideas during the Milton Horticultural Society 's garden tour Sunday. "Some years we've had a competition mnstead of a tour but for the past two or three years we've done the tour," said Kay Bounsail, president of the horticultural society. "We try to get new homesas part of the tour cach year." When people purchase tickets they will receive a map of the 10 homes featured on the tour, she continued. Miss Canada Preston Lilac Reg. $31.99 .. i 5" Snowbelle Mockorange Reg. $19.99 ...... Terese Bugnet Rose Reg. $17.99............. Peking Cotoneaster Reg. $16.99 .......... B Autumn Maglo Chokeberry Rteg. $23.99 .. 11.99 Climbing Hydrangea Reg. $41.99 ........'20». Norway Spruce Reg. $65,9 .............$29. Nest Spruce Reg. $4399 ............'..... 21 ? Golden Leaf Dogwood Reg. $19999.........$.». Ail Concrete MrLters 30/0 Off CIL Weed 'n Feed 7kg 40oOff OnIy $20 Receive 10-20%/ Off ail regular pnoed gtems see store for Mis Smnartcote Flower & Hanging Basket Fefillizer S350g and 1 kg 300/o Off & Ai Trells - Ai Cokxrs, Shapes & Sizes' 300o off e. __ ____Tel (905) 689-4631 Fax (905) 689-3554 "You tollow the route on your own. Some people won't go to every home because they are looking for something particular. A description of the gardens accompany the map." The homeowners will give the tour of their front and backyard gardens, Ms Bounsail said, addmng the tour will take place between noon and 5 p.m. "It's (tour) kind of neat. People ask what plant is good for what and where it was bought. People are always looking for new ideas and what others have." Last year about 70 people bought tickets for the tour, she said, adding the tour will take place rain or shine. "We hope people ini the new subdivision will cone out. The tour is a lot of fun. There are some really wonderful ideas out there, flot just for flowers, but for structures and water features." Tickets for the tour cost $7 per person or $ 10 per couple and can be purchased from Joleen's on Main Street or by calling (905) 878-6904, (905) 8784460 or (905) 878- 5244. Wipeotit Ready to Use W 2 Litre Weiedott 3 SîzeSto dcho o se ffrom 30/oOff wjww. connon.ca Winter GoId Juniper Reg. $33.99 .........S1 6'ý Buds Yellow Twig Dogwood Reg. $21.99..Si 0?. Miss Kim Light Pink Lilac Reg. $24.99 .... 121 Kyushu Lacy White H-ydrangea Reg. $16.99.. Madonna Variegated Eldeberry Reg. $23.99...' '-1 1 Virginal Mockorange Reg. $24.99 .......$1 2-4.9 Nugget Ninebark Reg. $19.99 ...S........... 99 Blue Star Juniper Reg. $33.99 ...........'16" *-H- Y m CONNONc NURSERIES INîD~I WATEOWN Mon-Fn! 8-9, Saturdays 8-5 Hiahwav 5, Just east of Waterdown Closed Sunday