Garden Tourism is Flourishing!

Garden tourism is a type of niche tourism involving visits or travel to botanical gardens and places which are significant in the history of gardening.  Europe has known this for years and has built an extensive million dollar industry around tours to various historical gardens. Surveys show 70% of these visitors are more interested in the gardens than in the homes.

I LOVE to visit gardens when I travel. There is a natural affinity for people who garden. Some think it is a pastime for retirees, but glance around any garden center and you will find young families and single adults gardening. And gardening is a voyeuristic sport - we like to look at other people's gardens!

On my recent vacation to California I jumped at the chance to visit a peony garden, and yes - I bought one to bring home, even though the climate here is different. Some things you just have to take a chance on. The flowers there were unusual and beautiful, the setting was well worth the drive. And new ideas for garden art were around every corner.

Here on the Palouse, garden tourism is alive and well. We are fortunate to have the beautiful Lawson Gardens right here in Pullman. The roses are a special treat in late June. A visit to U of I Arboretum in Moscow is great any time of the year. Bring your old bread crumbs to feed the ducks. If you were lucky enough this spring to stop by Living in The Garden, on Hwy 27 on the way to Palouse, you were sure to get some inspiration. Gorgeous flowers surrounded by relaxing music and a great gift shop. Again, a beautiful setting well worth the drive. Too bad their season is so short. They are only open April to July 1st.  Right now is when Sunshine Flowers & Crafts is just coming into its own. You can "stop and smell the flowers" and fill a bucket with fresh blooms for just $7. They are located off the Old Moscow Highway.

Community gardens offer a different kind of visit. Here you can get ideas for everything from flowers and herbs to vegetables and fruit trees. I was recently at a wedding in Seattle held in a community garden and was stunned by the fabulous bee hive they keep there -- it was really a bee palace! Koppel Farms here in Pullman offers the same chance to see what grows well in our climate. A great help when you are new to the area. Sunnyside Park also offers garden plots.

I am pleased to see plans in the future for WSU's Arboretum and Wildlife Conservation Center. This 100 acre landscape already contains a naturalized forest grove. And when completed it will be a wonderful addition to Pullman.

There is good reason to take garden tourism seriously. A recent study conducted by the National Garden Festival in Buffalo and Western New York shows:

• 19% visited other area attractions while there
• 83% ate at least one meal in a local restaurant
• 30% did some shopping during their visit
• Average expenditure during their visit was $67.82 per day (I spend that easily at every garden center I visit!)

So, even when you are traveling - you can still garden!

Vicki Leeper
Tourism Director

Pullman ArtWalk

This year's Pullman ArtWalk is going REGIONAL! 

An exciting lineup of local artists, family events and customer appreciation sales await you during the 2012 Pullman ArtWalk. Bringing communities together from Rosalia to Colfax, Palouse to Uniontown, art work from local artisans is on display at participating businesses during regular business hours. Use the maps enclosed in this program to explore the variety of locations, mediums and textures on display.

We are very pleased to bring to you this year's collaborative "regional" ArtWalk. Whitman County is ripe with unique artists and the Pullman ArtWalk is a chance for many of our smaller towns to participate in a collaborative event to showcase the towns and people, and to highlight and bring our communities together. 

Hundreds of visitors spent time browsing the shops, viewing the art and speaking with the artists last year all during one night of receptions. This year, by popular demand, we've extended the party to not only reach around Whitman County, but to indulge our whims with receptions and gatherings all week long. 

In keeping with the essence of the long-running history of Pullman's Crazy Days, businesses are eager to show their customer appreciation throughout the week with barbecues, store specials and great discounts. Dissmore's IGA will have its yearly customer appreciation Thursday evening and Pullman Building Supply will have hot dogs and goodies Saturday, July 21. The Pullman Farmers Market will be hosting Palouse Women Artists along with a wine tasting by Wawawai Canyon Winery on Wednesday and many other businesses will have specials and discounts throughout the week. 

The Second Annual Mayor's Award recipient is Richard "Dick" Domey. Domey has made many outstanding contributions to our community through and for the arts. In 2003, Dick was recognized as one of four "community treasures" for their work enhancing the Gladish Community and Cultural Center. He is also a strong advocate for the arts in education. The Mayor's Award is given as a recognition of arts in our community and sponsored by Mayor Glenn Johnson. Last year's recipient was ArtWalk creator and artist, Carrie Vielle. 

It has been a pleasure organizing the 2012 Pullman Regional ArtWalk for you. We thank you for your part in keeping the arts alive in our community and joining us in discovering the unity in our communities.

Ex Dir~Marie Dymkoski