Keyport Welcomes Visitors to Annual GardenWalk June 7-8

 Garden Tourism Thrives in Keyport

Keyport GardenWalk - June 7th and 8th, a free, self-guided walking and biking tour of 35 public and private gardens in Keyport is proving to be a model for garden tourism in the historic bayfront town located in northern Monmouth County.

“Last year, we had approximately 2,000 visitors from the tri-state area during Keyport GardenWalk weekend,” said Event Chairperson Clare Skeen.   

“Everything about Keyport GardenWalk is free – the gardens, garden talks, pedicab rides, en plein air artists painting in various venues and live music.  Visitors are just delighted to come to Keyport and tour the gardens, do a bit of shopping and grab a bite to eat in our restaurants.”  

This year’s garden talks are offered by Diane Guidone of Diane Guidone Design LLC – “Four Seasons of Color in the Garden” (Saturday) and Kim Eierman, Founder of EcoBeneficial! – “Nativelicious: Gardening With Edible and Ornamental Native Plants” (Sunday) beginning at 9:30AM each day in Council Chambers at Keyport Borough Hall, 70 West Front Street.   

The speaker and “Meet and Greet” with complimentary coffee and muffins is at 9:00 a.m.  

The Garden Talks are free but seating is limited.   Registration for the Garden Talks is requested by emailing info@keyportgardenwalk.org.   

“Monmouth County Master Gardeners will be manning a Helpline table” said Skeen.  “Visitors are welcome to stop by their tent at the waterfront park with gardening questions”.

“Keyport GardenWalk is a unique concept - there are no tickets to buy.  Visitors stop by our KGW Headquarters at the Keyport Waterfront pavilion, pick up their Garden Guide and then begin GardenWalk at their own pace and pleasure.  Visitors are welcome to see as many gardens as they like and are free to linger in gardens they find particularly interesting” said Skeen.  Included in the weekend’s festivities are pedicab rides and live music.  Sky Road, Frank and Bill, Dave Reilly, Rose Ann Lloyd as well as The Porch Players at Nora’s are currently scheduled to perform. 

“Keyport GardenWalk is possible because of the generosity of businesses and corporations in our community” according to Skeen. To date, the sponsors are: Event Sponsors – Reedy International, NJ Natural Gas, Sea Grass Design and Landscape LLC, Major Sponsors – Keyport Bayfront Business Cooperative, RE/MAX The Real Estate LEADERS – Team Chris Walsh, Supporters – NY/NJ Baykeeper, Espresso Joe’s, Seasons Matter Inc. Green Peak Imaging Solutions, Contributors – Apollo Plumbing and Sewer, Check Electrical Corporation, Dearborn Market, Santander Bank (Keyport), Calabrese’s Barber Shop, Saker Shop Rites, Inc., Ms. Patti Higgins Piney.

Keyport GardenWalk is June 7th and 8th 11:00AM – 3:00PM.  For more information, visit www.keyportgardenwalk.org, email info@keyportgardenwalk.org or call 732-687-9519.