Garden and Art Tour adds colourful fun in Williams Lake

The weather held up in Williams Lake on Saturday, July 11 for a self-guided garden tour of local landscapes throughout the area complete with live music and local artwork. A [...]

Garden and Art Tour adds colourful fun in Williams Lake Published 12:33 pm Sunday, July 12, 2026 The weather held up in Williams Lake on Saturday, July 11 for a self-guided garden tour of local landscapes throughout the area complete with live music and local artwork. A total of 11 properties were available to explore in this year’s bi-annual Garden and Art Tour by the Williams Lake Garden Club with donations supporting Scout Island.

Among the properties was a stunning acreage north of Williams Lake by Sandi and Dave Jacobson featuring expansive vistas and a small chapel surrounded by a well-manicured garden. Music was provided by Cariboo Connection. Southwest of Williams Lake on Anderson Drive was another acreage that has been owned for more than 20 years by Karen and Kim Sepkowski who have lived in Williams Lake since 1985.

Their property has evolved over the years with a lot of initial work that included additional fencing, deer and bear proofing, tree removal and the installation of irrigation and outbuildings. “It just takes time, but every year we have another project,” Kim said. Last year they had built a woodshed, and this year a picnic table complete with large log seats with saddles that were featured in the Williams Lake Stampede parade.

“Through the winter we’ll probably dream up another project,” Kim added. “It keeps you busy.” Included at their property on Saturday, July 11 was music by LeRae Haynes and Friends, and chainsaw carvings by Derek Hill who moved to Williams Lake with his wife and children nine years ago from Smith Falls, Ont.

Out front was a tomato house in a replicated covered chuckwagon and in the back were friendly goats, donkeys and horses. Nearby was a vegetable garden with a drip-watering system planted by their daughter who lives in town and doesn’t have access to lots of ground, in addition to what has been described as the biggest patch hill in Williams Lake. Kim and Karen started planting pumpkins several years ago utilizing composted manure from their horses, and in the last couple of years have annually produced 1,000 pounds of the cultivated winter squash.

“Right now it doesn’t look that impressive. The plants haven’t matured to anything yet, but by the end of August, September, we usually give them all away,” Karen said, noting they have lots of friends with children and include a hot dog roast. Karen and Kim have been married for 52 years and have always had yards and gardens at every place they stayed at over the years as Kim’s work at Save-On-Foods took them to different communities across B.C.

“All of it,” Kim exclaimed on what they enjoy most about gardening. The couple have raised and processed their own beef and after growing food have it canned, dehydrated and stored for the winter. Karen said for years they did commercial sleigh and wagon rides with their teams of horses, and added a campfire area and outhouse to their property.

“I’d love to encourage more people to grow their own fresh fruits and vegetables,” she said, noting cattle mineral containers can be placed anywhere to grow all kinds of vegetables. Kim agreed. “It’s not that hard once you have it all set up,” he said.

Before the Garden and Art Tour, the Sepkowskis visited the gardens of other featured property owners on Friday. “There’s some really remarkable places,” Karen said, adding Kim and her had a lot of fun participating in the event and showcasing their property to the public. In Williams Lake on Pigeon Avenue was the backyard garden of Bob and Debra McNie that included colourful perennials, a greenhouse and a variety of vegetables.

There was also a once buckling shed that was fixed and painted by their daughter. They have called their property home since 1998 and admitted they weren’t gardeners at first but over time added bit by bit each year. “I don’t even remember half the names but they’re beautiful,” Bob said, drawing laughter from Debra.

Both have grown to love gardening, an activity that draws them doing things together and provides a multitude of vibrant colours. “With little yards you can do nice little things,” Bob said.