Lawn sale, garden tour bring green to Maumee

Nursery, Wolcott to hold yearly events on June 21

The sale at the Wolcott Heritage Center is to be held rain or shine, and organizers say they expect attendance to be high for the free event.

Maumee will be a busy place on June 21, with activities going on at the Wolcott Heritage Center and at a fund-raiser garden tour near Conant Street for the Toledo Day Nursery. Both events are annual affairs.

At the Wolcott Heritage Center, formerly the Wolcott House Museum Complex, vendors specializing in antiques, collectibles, and vintage items will have their merchandise set up on the grounds from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“It’s free and open to the public. Food will be available to purchase,” said Amy Danforth, the heritage center’s special events coordinator.

The Maumee Valley Historical Society, which operates the Wolcott House and its grounds, believes the new name more accurately reflects its mission, which includes the preservation, collection, and study of artifacts relating to the history of the city of Maumee and the Maumee Valley.

The fund-raiser for the Toledo Day Nursery, called “In Another Garden,” runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features a tour of eight Maumee home gardens in the yards of some of Lucas County’s earliest residences. All are within a few of blocks of Conant, in the downtown historic area.

Money raised benefits the Toledo Day Nursery, which has two child-care centers for low-income working parents, most of them single mothers, in Toledo.

“It’s our signature event and raises about $25,000,” said Pat Scheuer, the day nursery’s executive director.

During the Wolcott House sale, the museum itself will be closed, but the log house and school house on the grounds at 1035 River Rd. will be open, Ms. Danforth said. Parking is free.

“This is our 44th year for it. In its heyday, we’d have 100 vendors, and the place would be packed, but we still get an attendance in the hundreds,” she said. “It raises several thousand dollars. It will be held rain or shine.”

The garden tour also will feature musicians and food vendors at the gardens, said Melissa Utterback, a day nursery board member and spokesman. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 the day of the tour. Parking and a shuttle bus pickup will be available at LineDrive Sportz, 2901 Key St., the site of the former Lucas County Recreation Center.

Advance tickets can be purchased at The Andersons, The Andersons Market, Black Diamond Garden Centers, Creque’s Greenhouse, Georgette’s Grounds and Gifts, Hoen’s Greenhouse & Garden Center, Inbloom Flowers and Gifts, Ken’s Flower Shops, Lily’s at Levis, Rhodes’ Garden Fresh, and Schramm’s Flowers.

Ms. Scheuer said the money raised each year makes a big difference to her nonprofit, which also receives financial support from the United Way of Greater Toledo and is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young People.

“It pays for our supplies: art equipment, paper, toys, hamsters, fish, everything,” she said.

Contact Carl Ryan at: carlryan@theblade.com or 419-724-6095.