BIGLER – The Walker Gardens in Bigler offers a spring showing for the public to view thousands of tulips and other flowers in bloom as a display of tulip time in Clearfield County.
With the theme of Tiptoe Through the Tulips, visitors will be welcome on April 25, May 2 and May 9 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Walker Gardens are the creation of Ray Walker of Bigler and he often opens the gates to spring and fall public showings of the masses of flowers growing in secluded settings.
Walker says he wants the pleasure of the gardens to be shared and he also enjoys the contribution the openings make to groups in the community. This spring opening benefits Bigler Area Charities including the Bigler YMCA.
The garden tours began in 1990 as a Boy Scouts fundraiser and draw thousands of spectators during the seasonal events.
The 10 landscaped acres in Bradford Township are planted for spring in tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, primroses and violets surrounded by fountains, waterfalls, statues, ponds and historic displays. White swans glide over the many ponds. Seven white swans presently make their home there.
All these attractions may be viewed from winding paths with benches placed in quiet nooks with places to rest and reflect. The Cherokee Queen remote control riverboat will be cruising on one of the ponds and inspirational signs are within easy view.
As in the past, the Garden of Eve display with apples and Eve will be found on the grounds.
This year some of the tulips in bloom will be on first time display in America. The bulbs came from Holland. They were newly planted last fall.
Free entertainment is slotted for visitors to the gardens to enjoy. On May 2 the West Branch High School Drama Club will perform a skit from the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. On May 9 at 3 p.m., the Clearfield High School Show Choir will be performing.
During the opening volunteers from the Bigler United Methodist Charge will be on hand with lunch foods including homemade bean soup, hot dogs, pie, chocolate chip cookies and other refreshments.
Visitors will have the opportunity to buy potted tulips and hyacinths. A limited number of Walker Gardens t-shirts will also be on sale.
The Walker Gardens are located just off US Route 322 seven miles west of Philipsburg and eight miles east of Clearfield in the village of Bigler. At the traffic light at the Bigler Intersection follow the directional signs through Bigler.
Free parking is available adjacent to the gardens. The BJW Fire Police will be on hand to assist with the parking as will volunteers from the Bigler Boy Scout troops.
