To the editor:

On June 26 we had a “hoke ’em smoke ’em, Mammy Yokum”* Whidbey Island event.

The 15th annual Whidbey Island Garden Tour earned more than $16,000, and nearly a thousand people visited five of our island’s most beautiful gardens.

Thank you, Molly Brewer, Michael Cooks and Debbie Chastain, Cherie Beckman and Judith Lewis, Sharon and Craig Reide, and Karen and Steve Jordan for creating such beauty and allowing us to share your love of gardening, of creating soothing space, and of joyous bounty. Your gardens are inspiring.

And thank you to the hundred-plus volunteers who made this such a successful event. We couldn’t do it without you. Thirteen island groups benefited from the largess of those of you who attended the tour. The beneficiaries will be able to continue to do the work of educating all of us in “the preservation and thoughtful use of our shared physical environment” (the words stated in the purpose of the Whidbey Island Garden Tour).

Thank you, garden visitors. And a grand thank you to our generous patrons and friends. Together, we contribute to the ambience of this very special place. This is a beautiful, positive event on our “garden” island.

With your continued generosity next year’s tour on Saturday, June 25, 2011 will be equally successful. The Whidbey Island Garden Tour Board sincerely thanks all of you for your support.

(*A Li’l Abner quote: Sorry that many of you are too young to have lived in Dogpatch.)

Nancy Andrews, Sarah Birger, Kate Lebaron, Jo Mccloskey, Terry Rose, Fran Seemann (President), Monica Shull, Pat Smith, Mary Tauscher And Suzanne Dobrin (Secretary)

Whidbey Island Garden Tour Board