Beauty and inspiration

WAYNE COUNTY, PA — “If you are a gardener, you are a passionate gardener,” said Martha Wilson, member of the Wayne Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. “And these gardens are beautiful.”
The auxiliary will sponsor a tour of six Wayne County gardens (and one just over the border in Narrowsburg, NY) on Saturday, July 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The rain date is Sunday, July 21.
All proceeds benefit Wayne Memorial Hospital.

This year, the tour offers seven gardens (whose they are is a secret until the day of the event). But Wilson gave a hint. “They’re in Prompton, Honesdale, Equinunk, Rutledgedale and in Narrowsburg, NY,” she said. (Yes, there is more than one garden in some communities.)
“There’s a real variety,” she continued. “A Japanese garden, some with ponds, overflowing with plants. There are pollinator gardens. There’s a waterfall.”
At each garden, the owner/gardener is on hand to talk about the plants and designs, to answer questions and talk about their passion for the work. “Gardeners are so generous. They’re willing to share what they have done,” Wilson said.
In addition, each submitted commentary about their garden for the printed program, so you’ll know a little bit more about the landscape before you step onto it.
“I’m over the moon at their descriptions,” she said.

How the tour works
You can purchase tickets ahead of time, or on the day of the tour. (See box at right.) On the day, you’ll pick up the program at the Chamber of Commerce building, 32 Commercial St. in Honesdale. Visit all the gardens or visit a handful—and enjoy a drive around beautiful Wayne County while you’re at it, she said.
Afraid of getting lost? “The directions to each garden are in the program,” Wilson said.
But there’s more than gardens involved. The event raises money for the hospital, and you can buy raffle tickets. “There’s a quilt to raffle off, a two-seater bench, baskets of flowers, possibly plants,” Wilson said. The drawing will take place the day of the tour, and if you’ve won something, the auxiliary will call you.
Not only do you win a prize, but you have the pleasure of knowing that you’ve helped the hospital, she said. (See sidebar, “What it’s all about,” below.)

Why garden?
“It’s a wonderful form of creativity,” Wilson said. “You’re making something beautiful out of dirt and rocks.”
It’s hard work and can be a challenge, especially when the summer only gives us rain, or only drought; when the wildlife discovers a taste for your produce and develops the skill to get around the fence; when the insects descend.
But when it’s a success, when the flowers and vegetables and leaves spill around you and you can breathe deeply of green-scented air—then it’s all worthwhile. “It’s an art form, working with nature,” Wilson said. “People can be outside, in the fresh air, and can see what this rocky land can give.”

Take the tour

For tickets to the Wayne Memorial Auxiliary’s Garden Tour, taking place on Saturday, July 20, call Margie at 631/432-6364. You can also purchase tickets in person at the Wayne Memorial Hospital Gift Box; FNCB Bank, 1001 Main St., Honesdale; The Dime Bank, 820 Church St., Honesdale; and the Other Shops—1036 Main St., Honesdale, and 310 Main Ave., Hawley.

‘What it’s all about’

HONESDALE, PA — The Wayne Memorial Hospital Auxiliary is 100 years old, and is one of the most active in Pennsylvania, with 200 members, said auxilian Martha Wilson.
The auxiliary runs The Other Shop (in Honesdale) and The Other Shop 2 (in Hawley), both of which sell gently used clothing and small household items. The Gift Box, the hospital gift shop, is another project. “We do vendor sales for the staff and fundraisers,” said Wilson. “We have a spring ball, a concert at Woodloch, and for the last two years, a garden tour.”
The auxiliary members treat their volunteer work as a job and take it very seriously, Wilson said.
All funds raised support Wayne Memorial Hospital.
A few years ago, the auxiliary pledged $600,000 to the hospital’s Second Century Fund—and this year they fulfilled the pledge.
The fund was created to help recruit providers, purchase state-of-the-art medical equipment, implement diagnostic technologies and more. Since the fund was created in 2018, Wayne Memorial has hired new specialists in gynecology, urology, gastroenterology and nephrology.
“To have a hospital like Wayne Memorial that’s in our community and does so much for the community… it’s an important part of the area,” Wilson said. “This is what it’s all about.”
Learn more about the Wayne Memorial Hospital Auxiliary athttps://www.wmh.org.