By Susan Thompson | Times Vedette
The Panora Garden Club now has 40 street pots scattered throughout the community, which they fill each spring with petunias. This pot was on Main Street last summer, across the street from Panora City Hall.
The event is planned for Wednesday, June 18. Pontoons will begin launching at 6 p.m. at the Boulder Beach docks and leave continuously as passengers check in and pontoons are loaded.
“We will have plenty of pontoons available to handle our reservations,” JoAnn Johnson, who co-chairs the garden club with Paulette Chambers, says. “The number of passengers on each pontoon will be fewer than the stated limit, allowing for comfortable seating. We are expecting another great turnout. We’ve had inquiries from both return passengers and first-timers.”
As was done last year, the pontoon tours will last two hours, with each boat captain making one trip around the Lake.
“A two-hour cruise is a wonderful opportunity to view the beautiful scenery, landscaping and new construction on the lake,” Johnson says. “We hope guests will invite friends and family for this fun, relaxing evening.”
A member of the Panora Garden Club will be on board each pontoon to answer questions and point out highlights. Signs along the tour route will mark the gardens and landscaping of garden club members. Maps showing Lake Panorama’s cove names and garden club member homes will be distributed to each guest.
The Panora Garden Club is a 501(c)3 nonprofit charity, so donations are tax deductible. A minimum donation of $30 is required for each person who reserves a tour spot. Additional donations also are welcome. Tickets must be purchased in advance and will be available for pickup at the event table at Boulder Beach.
Each of the metal “trees” near the Panora gazebo holds 16 pots. This is what the petunia trees looked like in the middle of last summer.
Besides the lake tour, a $30 per person donation will cover a charcuterie box and bottled water. Guests are welcome to bring their own beverages. Raffle tickets for a variety of garden baskets will be available for purchase the day of the tour.
As people make reservations, they will be given a time range for their tour.
To secure tickets, text one of these club members: Paulette Chambers, 712-304-0077; JoAnn Johnson, 515-975-9407; Paula Wachholtz, 402-699-2580; Marcia Roenfeld, 712-249-2142; Paula Hansen, 712-249-0780; Karla Bristle, 515-230-0018; and Jackie Marckres, 515-360-3202.
A rain date of Thursday, June 19, has been set. If weather prevents this event, ticket prices will be considered a donation to the Panora Garden Club. For weather details that day, check the Panora Garden Club Facebook page or visit panoragardenclub.org.