The Lewes Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau sponsors its 22nd annual Lewes Garden Tour featuring delightfully unique and private gardens that can only be fully appreciated by stepping inside the gates that enclose them. Twenty-two years ago the late Mary Vessels, her brother Jack and sister-in-law Mickey conceived the idea to share some of the marvelous “hidden gardens” of Lewes with neighbors and visitors. Originally named the Zwaanendael Heritage Garden Tour, it took place on June 23, 1990. Twelve years ago, the event was honored with a Governor’s Tourism Award for Outstanding One Day Event.
The nine private gardens on this year’s tour were selected by the tour’s Chairperson Carolyn Marshall and they are places that represent a variety of styles and types of gardens. This year’s gardens are all located in or near the historic district and many of them are walking distance from the Zwaanendael Park where the Garden Market and the chamber’s visitor center are located. As you view these beautiful gardens, members of the Lewes-based Cape Artists will be in some of the tour gardens painting between 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. They are: Daphne Blaker, Jean Bowers, Geri Gaskill, Faye Kempton, Janet March, and Ellen Serafini..
In Zwaanendael Park, the Garden Market will host more than 40 vendors and non-profit organizations selling garden related items between 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There is a gardening-related lecture by Mary Ann La Torre entitled “Using Flower Essence of Life’s Stresses-The Power of Flowers.” She is a registered nurse with a private psychotherapy practice and a member of the Sussex Gardeners. The lecture takes place in Zwaanendael Park beginning at 1:00 p.m. Tour goers can enjoy beverages and lunch in the Refreshment Tent in Zwaanendael Park with coffee service beginning at 8 a.m. During the hours of the tour, free shuttle service is available for ticket holders.
Tickets for the tour are $15 in advance and $20 on the day of the tour. They will go on sale Memorial Day weekend at the Lewes Chamber of Commerce visitor center in the Fisher-Martin House located in Zwaanendael Park next to the Zwaanendael Museum.
For more information on the tour or to order the tickets in advance, call 302-645-8073.