With winter in the past and summer just around the corner, SCAMP supporters are already looking to June.
Those familiar with the summer camp program for impaired children and young adults know the organization hosts home tours as a major fund-raiser every year. This year marks the 24th annual home tour which takes place June 3-4. The event features four homes within the village, two mini-mansions outside the village and for the first time, a garden.
Instead of opening their home to visitors, Tom and Tami Lowrie of Lowrie’s Landscaping are revamping their home garden for an outdoor tour.
‘We’re very excited about it,? said Donna Clancy, executive director of Clarkston SCAMP. ‘We think it will be a nice stop off.?
Though the event is more than a month away, Tom Lowrie is already hard at work preparing his garden. Being in the landscaping business, Lowrie said he knows his garden has to look really good and that means getting started early.
Reiterating the old adage that April showers bring May flowers, Lowrie stressed that the season is right for flower beds to bloom. In order to give them the room to do so, Lowrie said the first thing needed is clearing away growth from the previous year.
‘We have removed any of the leftover perennials from last year,? Lowrie said . The next step is allowing new plants time to grow.
‘It’s not imperative to get started now, but you probably always heard of planting perennials around Mother’s day,? Lowrie said, adding that he is pretty busy between now and the time of the home tours, so he wanted to make sure he allowed himself plenty of time to accomplish his goals.
Lowrie said he expects drastic changes over the next month and is hoping people will turn out to see the finished project.
Tours on June 3 begin at 5:30 p.m. and conclude with an elegant Patrons? Showcase Night featuring live and silent auctions and hors d’oeurvres. The tours on June 4 start at noon and include discount coupons for dining at one of several excellent Clarkston restaurants.
Proceeds from the home tours are used to defray the cost of hosting over 350 ‘special needs? children and young adults who each year attend the five week day camp. Local students serve as counselors to assist the ‘SCAMPers? as they participate in a wide range of otherwise unavailable activities.
Clancy is looking forward to next year already as well and is hoping to mark the 25th anniversary of home tours by including all homes located on Main Street in downtown Clarkston.
‘I think our downtown is one of Michigan’s jewels.,? Clancy said. ‘I just think it will be beautiful way to celebrate.?