Mount Clemens

Going green

By Sarah Cormier
C & G Staff Writer

Crocker House Garden Walk scheduled for June 27

MOUNT CLEMENS — Everyone knows that the fourth weekend in June is going to be a busy one for the city of Mount Clemens, with a festival and fireworks going on.

But before joining in on all of the goings-on downtown, some may want to start their morning off a little bit more peacefully.

On June 27, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the annual Crocker House Garden Walk will take place. Tickets for the Garden Walk are $10 for members of the Macomb County Historical Society or $15 for nonmembers. They can be purchased beforehand, but will be available for sale until noon that day.

According to Kim Parr, director of the Crocker House Museum, those who purchase a ticket for the event will receive a map at the museum that will detail at least six different gardens located in Mount Clemens, as well as in Clinton and Harrison townships.

“They get the map the day of the walk and go to the gardens in whatever order they wish,” she said.

Parr added that the gardens chosen for the walk vary from large to small, but all are interesting and unique.

“They have to be garden worthy,” she said.

Participating in this year’s event is Linda Carson, a resident of Harrison Township. Carson said that she has many plants in her yard, but specializes in creating themed gardens. Theme ideas that Carson has put into practical use include a family memorial garden, a math teacher garden, a sister garden and — perhaps most interesting — a Star Trek-themed garden.

“I’ll take a little area and set it to a particular theme, and all the plants are related to that theme,” she explained.

Clinton Township resident Nancy Kilanowski and her husband’s garden will also be featured in the walk.

Kilanowski said that most visitors comment on the huge vegetable garden they have in their yard.

“We have a very big vegetable garden that we grow everything,” she said. “(We) raise it and can it and eat it all year.”

Gardening has been somewhat of a family affair for the Kilanowskis, whose yard also boasts several different perennial gardens containing plants passed down from generation to generation.

“They are kind of a little bit historic gardens that we kind of added on to,” she said.

Carson and Kilanowski both say that those attending the Garden Walk can learn a lot about the craft.

“I think they gain ideas in different things that they can do in their own yard that maybe they have never thought of,” said Kilanowski.

“It’s usually very relaxing and you’ll see plants that you’ve never seen before, and it might inspire you to do something with your own yard,” said Carson, adding that she has also met a lot of great people through gardening.

“It’s a lot of fun. You meet a lot of different people. It’s education for me; it’s education for them,” she said.

Parr said that those who don’t even know anything about gardening can enjoy the Garden Walk.

“It’s a great opportunity to learn about gardening, to gather ideas,” she said.

Other events taking place the same day of the Garden Walk include:

• A lecture by Jennifer Vasich, author of “The Lavender Gourmet” will take place at 9:30 a.m. During the lecture, a lavender-themed breakfast will be served. Tickets are $5 for members and $8 for non-members. Tickets for this event must be ordered ahead of time.

• Attendees can purchase garden art and supplies at the Miller Street Garden Boutique, located behind a historic home on the street during Garden Walk hours. 

• There will be a container garden contest, in which three winners will be chosen. Those who want to have their container garden submitted in the contest must bring it to the Crocker House by 8:30 a.m. Winners will receive a copy of “The Lavender Gourmet” and garden art jewelry.

• A plant exchange will be held on Lincoln Street during Garden Walk hours.

“It’s an opportunity to get some free plants and try something new in your garden,” said Parr of the exchange.

• The Great Lakes Lace Group will be at the Crocker House Museum during Garden Walk hours demonstrating how lace has been made historically.

• Artists from the Mount Clemens Art Association will be painting pictures sitting in various participating gardens.

“It’s just a very relaxing day, pleasurable day … to see what else is going on in our community,” said Parr.

For more information, or to purchase tickets call (586) 465-2488 or visit www.crockerhousemuseum.com.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Sarah Cormier at scormier@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1095.