Of gardens and gifts | Coeur d’Alene Press

Every summer for the past 24 years, community members have enjoyed traipsing through fragrant, vibrant and eclectic gardens on the Coeur d’Alene Garden Club’s Garden Tour.

Proceeds from this event support different local causes, from dual-enrollment scholarships at North Idaho College to helping senior citizens through ElderHelp of North Idaho.

This year’s event brought nearly 900 guests to six area gardens, raising more than $12,000 that was distributed to 11 recipients during a club meeting Tuesday in Dalton Gardens.

“We’re very grateful and appreciative,” One More Time Northwest founder Tiffinay Walker said.

One More Time Northwest is a nonprofit that makes dreams come true, similar to the Make a Wish Foundation, but for adults with life-limiting conditions or ailments. A first time Garden Tour funds recipient, Walker said the money will be used to continue the organization’s mission to fulfill bucket list items and create legacy videos for families to cherish.

“I do the interviews, the videos are edited, pictures and music are added,” Walker said. “It’s people talking about their lives in their own voice.”

Garden Tour co-chair Bonnie Warwick said the 2022 Garden Tour was “very successful and very lovely.”

“And those things happen because we have such a wonderful crew of volunteers and those that help make it happen,” Warwick said.

She gave a shoutout to Tina Hood, past club president, for her work on the tour. Club member Jill Marfice will take the baton and chair the 2023 event, which is also the Garden Tour’s milestone 25th year.

“It’s such a fun event — a great way to meet your neighbors and meet new people who probably share your love of plants,” Marfice said. “In addition to seeing beautiful garden design and flowers, and supporting these charities, it’s just a great way to build community.”

The Garden Club is seeking gardens in Coeur d’Alene, Hayden and Post Falls to be featured on next year’s tour, planned for July 9. Email [email protected] or visit www.cdagardenclub.com to nominate a local garden.

“Your garden does not have to be perfect or ‘done,'” Marfice said. “We’re looking for all types of gardeners’ gardens that our guests can learn from and enjoy.”

Other 2022 Coeur d’Alene Garden Club Tour funds recipients:

• Children’s Village

• ElderHelp of North Idaho

• NIC Dual Enrollment

• Relatives as Parents

• Safe Passage Violence Prevention Cnter

• Safety Net Inland Northwest

• Second Chance Pet Rescue

• Companions Animal Center (formerly Kootenai Humane Society)

• Silver Angels for the Elderly

• Turkeys and More