Barrington Country Garden and Antique Faire Returns

A fixture of Barrington summers will open its garden gates this weekend offering attendees, beautiful gardens tours, interesting outdoor-related merchandise and how-tos to take home. The 11th Annual Barrington Country Garden and Antique Faire will welcome one and all to two days of beauty in the sun. 

Whether the sun cooperates or not, the gardens of three homes will be opened, each with a garden well worth seeing and activities to suit most everyone. 

"There are three Barrington Hills Estates that are featured each year,”  Sandy Bollenbacher, a chair of the event said.  The central home is that of Vicky Wauterlek, Founder, and President of Hands of Hope, which features the Avant Garden Shop.

The items available at The Avant Garden sale are the result of a yearlong charity drive.  “They come from anywhere and everywhere,” Bollenbacher said.  “We’ve got donations from individuals and corporations and furniture stores.  They include jewelry, there are two mink coats there, crystal, and art work, out door patio furniture.”

With the purchase of an Early Buy Ticket, attendees will have access to the Avant garden area on Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., before the general public.  “They can come in before the Faire opens officially to get first dibs at the Avant Garden sale,” Bollenbacher said. 

“We have quite a variety of items that we’ve gained a reputation for having an upscale free market,” Bollenbacher added.  “It’s essentially an extra $35 to get a jump on the day.”

Also on the Wauterlek Estate is the French Market, which consists of about 20 artisans who will sell a variety of items. 

Despite all of the activities available, touring the gardens is the highlight for most visitors.  “One of our homeowners, she and her husband have been working on their gardens for 20 years,” Bollenbacher said.

The garden has been approved by the Garden Club of America for submission to the Archives of American Gardens, housed in the Smithsonian Institution’s Horticultural Services. 

The Garden Club of America Collection includes over 40,000 photographic images and related written materials documenting more than 3,000 notable gardens nationwide dating from the 1920s to the present, according to Bollenbacker.

The other stop on the tour is an equestrian estate with formal English gardens and unique sculptures gracing the grounds.  Planted floral displays include English roses, annuals, and Chamaecyparis specimens.

The grounds include a garden of perennials and herbs, alongside a crushed bluestone path.

Also included in the afternoon activities are two workshops.  The Brickman Group of Long Grove, one of the nation's largest landscape design, builders and horticultural services company, will be offering a tutorial called: Repurposing Garden Accents.  “They are going to take old bird baths, old planters, things that you might own and repurpose them in the garden,” Bollenbacher said.

Author, chef, and owner of Organizing Dinner, Kelly Donlea will demonstrate the art of salad making by combining fresh garden flavors.

Musical performers will be in attendance, including

Stacy Bravos, a recent graduate of Barrington High School.  Bravos is scheduled to perform songs from the opera, Carmen.

Lunch will be provided by Egg Harbor of Barrington at the same location.  Ambrosia will provide desserts and coffee products.

All proceeds will go to by Hands of Hope, a non-profit charity dedicated to women and children in crisis.  This year’s focus will be on Africa where contributions will help fight poverty and spread of HIV/Aids on the continent by promoting educational programs, economic opportunities, training for women and services that address the needs of orphans.

 If you go:

What: 11th Annual Barrington Country Garden & Antique Faire

When: Friday & Saturday
June 17 & 18, 2011
 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
 Early Buy, Friday Only, beginning 8:30 a.m.

Where: Free Parking & Shuttle Departing Every 15 Minutes Friday: Barrington High School, 1616 W. Main Street and across the street from the high school at 800 Hart Road
Saturday: 800 Hart Road only. 

Cost: Tickets are $50 June 13 and after. 
Tickets may be purchased online through June 15. Tickets will be held at the door.

$75 Early Buy Ticket: Shop the French Market and Avant Garden before the Garden Faire opens!
Special shuttle and entrance to the main Faire grounds on Friday morning only, between 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Call 847-381 7367 for more information.