San Saba’s First Annual Garden Tour was so successful that……wait for it……..there’s going to be a Second Annual Garden Tour next year!

The event was everything the Garden Club hoped for. The day was perfect as the hot, windy heat gave way to soft clouds and moderate temperatures. The gardens on the tour were absolutely gorgeous. The tour hosts were generous in sharing their gardening secrets. The refreshments were delightful. The town enthusiastically supported it. And, it was a financial success.

Lots of appreciation is due. First, to the people who offered their gardens for the tour—Martha Leigh and Bob Whitten; Suzanne and Junior Hernandez; Gail and Lester Bruner; Donna and Larry Baker; Kathleen and Ray Hawkins; and Jimma and John Byrd. Next, to the San Saba News & Star, KBAL and all the merchants who displayed flyers to help publicize the event; then, to all the Garden Club members (everyone knows who you are!) who organized the event, made cookies, sold raffle tickets and sent e-mail announcements to the community. Special thanks go to Anna Wilson who painted a beautiful watercolor for the raffle.

Finally, we want to recognize the community for their enthusiastic participation and for purchasing all those raffle tickets to support yet another worthy cause.

Revenues from the event totaled more than $1100. Funds came from admission tickets, raffle tickets and unsolicited donations (including a collection of commemorative rocks from Kim and Regan Kirk). Farrell Whitley won Anna Wilson’s painting and he and his wife, Sheila, said it would go perfectly in their home.

Sometimes, in the midst of an awful drought or a depressing economic environment, something happens that lifts our spirits and gives us hope that everything will be all right. Do you think the garden tour might have been a gentle reminder that one day it will rain and there really is hope for the future?