I've stepped back from that ledge, thanks to spending a quick $150 on new plants and overhauling two areas, plus another $40 on fresh mulch which really does cure all garden sins. But I still have a pretty long list of things I'd like to fix or improve. For example, it drives me crazy when weed cloth pokes up from under the mulch. And there are some spots when old stonework would really benefit from being restacked and tidied up. But there are also some bigger issues that just are what they are - not every part of the garden looks perfect.

So, for those of you who have been on a garden tour, how do you prioritize your prep work? Any tips for accepting things as they are and not making yourself crazy? And for those of you who attend garden tours, what sort of things do you really enjoy? And what makes you turn up your nose a bit?

Your insights, as always, are appreciated!

My moods about the gardens were up and down and all over the place. I waited until my mood was middle to up and walked around with what I thought was a much more forgiving and less critical eye and took an assessment of what really needed to be done, and what could reasonably be done, and what should/could not even be attempted.

Once I got going, I made sure to pepper my priority list with things that I knew I would really ENJOY doing. Not that I don't enjoy gardening, but there are some things that I really, really LOVE to do. I used those things as rewards after I finished doing the things that I didn't like quite as much.

I had a plant list that I spruced up and put in a binder. We often had 40+ visitors walking through the gardens at one time so it was often very difficult to answer everyone's questions about specific plants. Being able to have the volunteers refer visitors to the binder really helped. Otherwise, I just tried to make myself as available as possible and tried to answer the most commonly asked questions loud enough so that others in the vicinity could hear.

When visiting other people's gardens on a tour, I really enjoy seeing examples of how someone really seems to love their gardens. It's often not about how much money they spend (and some people really spend a lot!), but more about a well-tended garden and thoughtful plant combinations (foliage and texture more so than flower color).

I don't think I'm a snob about weeds, but when up to half of the plants in a garden are actually weeds then I have to wonder why the garden was on the tour. On the oppositve end of the spectrum, some gardens are so perfectly neat and coiffed that they don't quite feel welcoming. Some gardens just seem to me to have a welcoming quality about them. Of course, a lot of this is subjective, but I think you know what I mean.

Most importantly, I think people really appreciate it when you express just how much you love certain plants and why. It's always fun/interesting for people to see you enjoying yourself in the way you create beautiful and inspiring garden spaces. And yours ARE.

Best of luck, Karin! Remember, no one is going to be half as critical about your garden as you are. From what we've all seen in the pics, your gardens are going to be a beautiful inspiration! Wish we could all see them in person.

Cheers!

However....

You could consider a handing out a beverage to everyone before the tour - maybe laced with some "happy concoction" just to help set the right mood. Just a thought...

I applaud your courage. Seriously I do.

Kevin

There were about 700 visitors that day - but 90% of visitors are just out for a nice day and are not really knowledgeable about gardens, so aren't very critical or ask many questions. The 10% who are gardeners are the fun ones and, since they are gardeners, they understand that a few weeds here and there are par for the course! The gardeners are interested in things like unusual (to them) plants and their growing requirements, seeing interesting plant combinations, seeing interesting garden structures etc. Your rock walls alone will WOW both types of visitors so you have nothing to worry about! :-) As a garden visitor I like gardens that are easy to walk around - in addition to interesting things to see...! I like to chat with the garden owners so am always disappointed when the owners are not there - that happens surprisingly often! The tours here have a preview on the day before the public tour - that day the hosts can visit each others' gardens. I was most worried about those visitors because I was afraid our garden might not measure up! I actually didn't plan to go see the others - we had never gone as a visitor on the local tour up to that point so I had no idea what was usual in the host gardens. One of the other hosts talked us into going to see their garden and then we went on to visit the rest.

It was a fun experience and I'm sure you'll enjoy your day too!

you want me to make it simple...

JUST GIVE UP ....

set a date.. and chuck it in ... in lets say .... 7 days...

after that... mow and vacuum the lawn... deadhead as you can .... and declare it PRIME ...

go zen on it ... ooohhhmmmmm... it really is a mind frame ....

and get focused on simply enjoying it... it will all be over way too soon ... and you will be depressed and angry .. lol ..

listen to me.. no one will see a problem with the wall... FOCUS WOMAN ... many will come and tell you how great the wall is.. no one will suggest.. that if only you tuck-pointed it.. they would have been happier ... and if they do.. point at the ground.. until they bend over to look closer.. and whomp them in the butt ... lol .... and tell them to get out ....

lets start unwinding yourself ... so you can have fun.. i dont want to hear.. that your head exploded.. and your aneurysm.. caused you to miss you own garden tour.. crikey ...

my mantra.. for the last week is along the lines of:

IT IS WHAT IT IS.. AND GO MATE WITH YOURSELF.. IF YOU DONT LIKE IT.. lol..

sorry .. i am not sure i know you well enough to talk like that.. but.. i hope you get the drift ...

JUST ENJOY THE HECK OUT OF THE DAY ... and just dont worry about the nattering naybobs of pessimism....

and please refer to the link ... to put you in the proper frame of mind for guests.. you should easily tell .. which were my offerings.. based on typing style.. or lack thereof ....

enjoy yourself.. have a good friend snap pix.. do not waste your time doing such.. and post us a bunch of pix on the whole thing.. inquiring minds want to know....

ken

I do love the binder idea, Whenever I'm at a garden, large or small, I always have a plant or two that I want to know more about.

Karin, I've seen your amazing photos. If I was you, I wouldn't worry about a thing. Just do what seems reasonable to you that will make you proud when you show others, and don't knock yourself out. You'll probably have the most beautiful garden on the tour!

I am only popping in briefly between watering and rock-stacking. But I want to pause and say thank you for all the kind words of wisdom and advice!

More later!

You know I'm a huge fan of those photos you posted and I can tell by the photos that you are a gardener that takes great care in what you do and have a wonderful knack when it comes to hardscape, combos, etc....people are going to swoon over your gardens. They will be very impressed with the care you took to lay the garden areas out in relation to one another and you'll get lots of questions about if you used a landscape designer. The walls will make them green with envy. Everyone on the tour will really enjoy wandering through your garden and you have plenty of places for people to sit if they just want to enjoy the views and ponder how they can incorporate ideas from your garden into theirs. There is a lot to take away from your garden for ideas.

I've visited a lot of gardens near and far and when you posted your first couple photos (not even of your walls) I wanted to hop on a plane for a tour!! LOL!!! Don't under estimate just how beautiful your garden is.

Have a great time!!!

==>>> yeah.. gin a tonic for sure....

or might that be grin and tonic....

just enjoy it ... it will be over all too soon ...

ken

1. the owner is present
I always have questions to ask and enjoy hearing people talk enthusiastically about their gardens. Heads up! I'm betting all the weeds in MY garden that many, many people will have questions about your plant combinations or that magnificent stonework.

2. plants are identified somehow

3. the gardens feel "loved" and the personality of the owner is present
I HATE gardens that look like they've been created & maintained by a designer--- you know, the ones where every blade of grass leans in the same direction and where you'd swear a weed has never landed.

4. the garden fits in perfectly with its environment

LOVE gardens that work with the landforms and structures in the yard --- HATE gardens that have no relationship to their environment or climate.

Your suggestions and encouragement are spot on - you all are a wonderful bunch of people. Thank you!

Last night I had another great garden session. Although I had a moment of self-doubt last weekend, I am feeling pretty great about it now. You all are so right. As long as the place is basically cleaned up and deadheaded, which it will be, then the hardscape and plants will shine through. Yes, there are plenty of not-finished spots, but Ninamarie correctly points out that no garden is ever finished, at least not one that is actually created by the owner.

The thing I've been spending time on is primping up the areas that are prominent, where people tend to linger and where your eye really settles in for a long look. Naturally, I have already been putting lots of attention into those spots over the years but now I've given many of them an extra boost of some new plants, or strict removal of brown seedheads (that I might normally leave there), or a coating of fresh mulch.

I do have some little stakes I can use to make signs or labels in various spots. I did that the last time we were on the tour and I saved the stakes. I have an Excel spreadsheet that is X pages long (too long, trust me, I don't even want to know) that I could print out if people really want to get into the nitty gritty.

I am also pondering the idea of printing out some before/after photos of the remodel of our house and the corresponding re-design of the front gardens. To me, this is interesting because the style of the house changed and suddenly the old garden style did not work even though it was a lovely design. Of course, the new beds are not totally done, especially several dozen annuals that I planted just for the tour and they look dreadful.

But overall I am having a great time with the preparation, I swear! You know how you have those areas that are just incomplete and unkempt and every time you walk past them you think, "some day I'm gonna fix up that dang spot..." Well I am fixing them up! I won't get to all of them, but I gotta say it's very rewarding work. In many cases it's easy work, but it's just stuff I never got around to. So all that is great. In fact, I should be on the garden tour more often so that I don't let things languish for so long!

I'm taking next week off so I can frolic all week in the gardens. Oooh, I am excited about that. It should give me plenty of time to align my bark mulch and comb the grass so it all faces the same direction (hadn't even considered that one, thanks Molie!).

:)

I will certainly post pictures and other updates. Now that things are looking sharp you betcha I will be documenting all of that!

Thanks again to all of you virtual garden friends!

==>>> grrrrrrr!!! ... kevin who???

KEN <<<+++++======

have a great time.. i think we cracked thru the paranoia ....

ps: the best garden guest.. is the one who gets so wrapped up in your garden.. they simply start bending over to pull weeds.. lol .. and you say.. you know.. you dont have to do that .. and then they say.. i am having such a great time... i didnt even realize i did it ... lol ...

oh.. and if you have anything you want to get rid of... like a hundred odd seedlings.. just have them on a tarp in shade... and little sign that says free gifts... they will disappear fast.. but nail down the trap.. as that might also ... lol ... i almost had an old lady chick fight over some weed hosta clumps .. until i pointed out.. we could cut it into as many parts as they wanted.. lol ...

Umm, Ken? Yes I know your name. There are other people on this forum, some of whom are named Kevin. See post #3 on this thread for Kevin's brilliant suggestion of a "happy concoction" which I clearly need right now!

T2D - yes exactly! I have been thinking this is like having houseguests come over, forcing you to finally move the snow shovels from the guest room (who puts snow shovels in the guest room anyway? certainly not me!).

OK I need a drink! I'm going to take care of that...

pippi.. contact your local extension office... or a great garden... they will know the clubs...

in MD... i should think you are not all that far from longwood gardens... see if you can find their person in charge of garden tours... and ask them for a contact in silver springs ... etc ...

or try doing something like at the link ....

karin ... all kidding aside.. it is rare to have a topic on garden tours.. i am very excited for you .. and trying.. probably in vane.. to lighten up .. the run up for you ... but it seems i am irritating you.. so i will stop ....

good luck

ken

It's a beautiful morning here and I cut some sweet peas and plugged some holes in the kitchen garden with extra basil plants. I have a few photos to share.

Last weekend, this pic was snapped mid-primping. Note the stash of rocks that I was using to tidy up the wall. The little rose on the left is 'Madison' and the clematis in the background is 'Perle d'Azur.'

New roses planted in wall, capstones neatly re-stacked. Ahhhhh!

Another spot I've been working on. This area is only recently shady. Shade is a commodity up here, so I am happy to have a place for hostas and bleeding heart, aside from where they are clinging to the north side of the house. This pic shows kitty Inga drinking from the leaves of Sum and Substance. How cute!

This is the sweet pea 'habitat.' We call it that because they are in a cage like the monkeys at the zoo. Unlike the monkeys, the sweet peas are not likely to flee, so in this case the cage is to keep deer from getting in.

Sweet pea 'Valerie Herrod'

Kitty 'Pearl' with sweet pea 'Windsor'

Today's sweet pea haul

A view down the main path in the back garden.

Same path, facing the other direction

Hail stone from yesterday. We are incredibly lucky that we didn't get trashed!

OK, that is today's virtual Garden Tour! :)

Seeing your sweet peas makes me think that maybe I should be growing some.

How big is your property? It looks like you have a lot of gardening space.

Thank goodness you weren't trashed by that hail. I would have been swearing like a truck driver and pacing all over if that were happening a week before a tour, especially after all your work. Glad the garden (and your nerves) survived.

A2Z, we live on one acre. It's about half lawn and half garden space. Our lawn is awful, so we tried to minimize it. Yes you should try sweet peas! I think they do well in NJ and will bloom in spring or early summer.

T2D, there are 2 clematis (clemati?) on that trellis. It is an arch and serves as the main entrance to the back gardens. There is one clematis on each side of the arch and yes, they appear to be on steroids! I don't do anything special for them. We have alkaline soil, I don't feed them and maybe once a year I water them. I think they get plenty of water from the lawn sprinklers and my watering of plants in the wall on either side.

I do have one more 'secret' clematis that I love, 'Sir Trevor Lawrence,' which makes deep pink tulip-shaped flowers. It is secret because it's small and subtle and it winds its way quietly through an amur maple shrub. I just love it! I keep trying to get proper pics of it, but it's so secret that it's hard to photograph well.

The blue plant spilling into the path is catmint. I think it's 'Walker's Low,' but it was a hand-me-down so I'm not sure. The spruce are 'Blue Globe,' they paved the way for a whole new design of that area so I am especially appreciate of them!

Some comments from an experienced garden tour visitor to consider:

If it is a very large tour most people will walk through the gardens and not ask questions. Some will want to visit about your garden and ask questions. Others will realize that there is not enough time for everyone's questions and maybe listen in to answers or move on to the next garden on the list. A list of plants or book of photos is nice for the few that will have the time to look through them.

Re: serving water or other refreshments. With the large tours I have been on it is impractical. Hundreds of people coming through during an afternoon always finds the hosts running out leaving many people disappointed. During our city garden tour in our usually extremely hot July I bring my own beverage which I drink in my car before or after each stop. If you have an idea of the number of people coming and can plan for that many and extras it is a thoughtful and appreciated gesture.

Smaller garden tours with a limited number of people allow for interaction between gardeners and visitors. It is fun to learn what the gardener has experienced in making the garden and how the garden will continue to evolve.

Two things help to make a good tour for me:
signs, especially by plants that are unusual for the area. If I know the plant's botanical name I can look info up online when I am not able to ask the gardener. And please include the variety, if known.

A place to sit. I don't need but a minute to knock that rock out of my sandle/shoe or to catch my breath. Others may need more time as many of us are getting older and may have had a knee/hip replacement or illness and recovered enough to join the tour but still tire easily.

A few weeds and spent flowers here and there are no concern.

I think your visitors are going to love your garden and that you are going to have a fun day.

What do I turn my nose up at? Those gardens laid out and maintained by professionals where all the host does is appreciate the garden and pick a blossom or two. They have a place on a special professional gardens tour.

I want to see a garden where the hosts' ideas and hard work have made it one to enjoy and maybe take home an idea that I can use in my own garden.

You've already done the things I would prioritize. Remove any clutter, deadhead, weed, refresh mulch, add seating and signage. I am of the age where one forgets things so would make myself a short list of plant names to carry in my pocket and jog my memory if needed.

Well I was way wrong about that. At the appointed hour about 30 people showed up. Not just the other homeowners but all sorts of volunteers and board members, plus journalists and photographers who in no time were snapping photos of the un-weed-whacked walls and photos of me having just gotten out of the shower! Nooo! Neither me nor the garden were expecting prime-time quite yet!

So that threw me for a loop. Plus I was loopy already after spending all day finishing up a section of stone work - I think I got a little too hot by the end of the day.

Our house was the first on the tour, and with 6 houses to visit I was sure we were on a tight schedule so I just marched people through without ceremony. Then we were off to the next house... which was completely amazing. Hands down the nicest private garden I have ever seen. Stone walls, outdoor fireplace, swimming pool, and endless beds in perfect, and I do mean perfect condition. By the time we passed the 5th or 6th seating area outfitted in impressive teak furnishings I was convinced that their furniture budget surpassed our entire garden budget. Wow, the house was amazing and a pleasure to tour, but would leave any mere DIYer feeling a little sheepish. Sigh.

Unfortunately it did not get better from there in terms of my spirits. I know it's not a contest or anything, but everyone else's yards looked so tidy and lush, whereas our place is much more lean and, well, it's DIY all the way. Here I am all proud of myself because I bought a power tool this week so I can cut stone for the walls. Meanwhile, the other houses had walls built from huge blocks that clearly required entire crews to construct. Plus, everyone else's potatoes looked a lot better than ours. Ours are an eyesore at this point. And don't get me started on the lawn. Our lawn is just mowed weeds because we just can't live with the idea of an overwatered Chemlawn. But, in comparison it looks pretty ratty.

Etc, etc, I think you get the idea. I was not expecting to be feeling this way at this point! I have been working so hard out there for the past week. The place looks amazing - it's never looked better and I'm totally proud of it. But at the same time, I couldn't help but feel let down.

Well, I'm sure I'll feel better tomorrow. If in doubt I will stack a few more rocks because that always cures what ails me!

My garden is totally DIY also - and I'm proud of it. I have never owned any other yard power tool except for a cranky old lawn mower (however, I have recently considered buying an electric weed whacker).

Personally I'm not interested in seeing gardens that were designed by professionals and require workers and lots of inputs (water, fossil fuels, fertilizers, pesticides) to maintain. Not only is this not sustainable but it is damaging to the Earth, which is antithetical to what I think a garden should be - in harmony with nature.

As a matter of fact, if you think about it, the fact that all these other gardens have the carpet lawns and the immaculate beds, not a rain barrel in sight, I would imagine, distinguishes your garden as the 'real thing'.

Your ditch garden along your wall out by the street is breathtaking and shows a natural talent for design along with an intimate knowledge of your property and your plants.

And think about your rock wall, that you installed yourself from scratch with no training! That is something to feel very good about. I would wager that many of your visitors from the public will find your garden a real inspiration for what they can actually do in their own gardens, than the other gardens. I hope you have a wonderful day with lots of interesting gardeners visiting. Is it today or on the weekend?

I live in a gated community and are limited what I can do and they blow the leaves and mow the lawns with those big honking mowers that the men stand up and ride on. They are not interested in quality mowing, it's all about getting it done fast as this is a large community..They don't maintain like we did when we owned our former home but we didn't have 650 acres either to mow.

I have never seen sweet peas grown so beautifully except on seed packages. Yours fits that picture of excellence! Wished I could see a close up picture of your clematis that everybody is saying is on steroids. I have one established Dr. Ruppel variety and have recently planted one H.F. Young variety and another volunteer popped up and I have no idea what variety it is and if it will make it next year. We'll just wait and see. It only has had maybe 2 or 3 blooms this summer and it's a small flower that is light pink.

Let us know how the garden tour goes. I'm sure you'll have lots of satisfied admirers that will appreciate all that you have accompished. We'll be thinking about you. Good Luck!

I have also been in gardens like the ones you described--- gardens created to impress. When I visit those types of "estate" gardens, I take nothing home that I could/would use. Now, don't get me wrong ---- there are many, many people who are designers with wonderfully creative "eyes", gardening knowledge, and talents ---- people like you! We all marvel at their gardens on this thread and on others. However, I do believe that there is a big difference between a garden that's been created by a designer who loves to garden and a garden that's been created by a designer for a homeowner who doesn't garden.

Your garden speaks of the person who created it. It looks loved and cared for and welcoming. Plant colors, forms and textures complement each other as well as the natural elements, and a viewer who looks at photos of your gardens --- or is lucky enough to walk through them --- feels at home. I think everyone who visits yours will feel that way.

I actually enjoy seeing professionally designed and installed gardens, but at the same time, I don't come away thinking that there's anything there I could hope to replicate.

I find your beautiful gardens and stonework inspirational otoh.

Well, we've got the sprinklers running this morning in hopes to at least get the lawn a little greener. But you are right - a green lawn in August a semi-arid climate isn't really much to be proud of. I suppose everyone's gardens reflect their priorities and even when I see enviable gardens I have to remember the philosophy behind ours. And as David points out, in the end it's for me (us) and not anyone else.

The other gardens on the tour were owner-designed, but not owner-executed. Well, some parts were, but not the hardscape. I guess it is unusual to do every single element DIY. And yeah, I assume that everyone gardens organically but that's not true either. OK, OK, I will hold my head a little higher. :)

Pictures are coming soon. The clematis arch was a major attractant, as were the sweet peas and a sculpture DH built.

One more day of tidying to go - the tour is Friday afternoon/evening and all day Saturday. I am looking forward to it, and to having less on an en masse visit and more time to just chat with folks. I'm also going to make some signs and labels that point out some of the more interesting features - these are the little things that spawn ideas for others, so that will be fun.

I might just have to dig up some of the potatoes rather than have them looking so yellow!

THANKS again everyone! :)

My lawn is a mass of green weeds also, If there was an award for healthiest creeping charlie, I'd definitely be in the running.

Those other gardens may be pristine, but most "normal", "average" gardeners simply can't afford all those extra luxuries nor do they have spacious gardens where they can have an allee of pleached limes, or a 4-tier water fountain, or 600 yards of clipped boxwood surrounding a gazillion roses! You know I'm just giving examples of some of the things that are seen in some estate gardens, or where money is no object, but there is not a whole lot to take home from that type of garden other than the oooh, aaah factor that wears off quickly after leaving.

I truly believe your garden will be one of the most memorable on the tour for most people who garden because it is more relatable and very well executed to boot.

Congrats on the power tool purchase! My DH says I'm a garden whimp because I don't use any power tools.

Maybe with the potatoes you could dig some up and have them in a basket next to the remaining yellowed plants? I know if I were visiting your garden and interested in vegetable gardening, it would be good to see the stages the potato plant goes through, and you might get questions about how to plant them, when to harvest, etc.......

What?!? You've been holding out on a picture of DHs sculpture!! LOL!!! We need to see that! Can't wait!

Have a great time. You'll have so much fun chatting with people and wait until they find out YOU did all the work, hardscape and everything. They will be very impressed indeed.

The basket of newly dug potatoes is a great idea. That will show that your yellowed potatoes are ahead of the others and ready for harvesting..

My lawn does not get much in the way of attention as agree it is a waste of resources. That said I have a twinge of envy when I walk past a neighbor's thick, weed free, perfectly mowed lawn. Just a tiny, tiny twinge which is quickly pushed away. If I had the money it still wouldn't be a perfect lawn. It would be stacked stone fences that I helped build and stone pathways that I helped lay.

I LOVE a nice thick, weed free, perfect lawn. lol If I had the time and energy, I would pay a little more attention to it. Maybe some overseeding and hand pulling some of the weeds, or organic fertilizer once a year, but it probably wouldn't work out well any way. If I went to that trouble to try to make it look better, then I wouldn't want to let it go when it didn't rain and I would be watering it more and I think it would just suck me in to more than I would want to do.

I'm happy this year it is very green, without a sprinkler. In August!

What a difference 24 hours makes. First off, by the time I read Kato's advice, it was far too late to abide by it and not wear myself out. I am exhausted this morning. But happy.

I took all of your kind words and advice to heart yesterday and was fueled by more energy that I actually had. A garden friend (and champion sweet pea grower) came over to help prep and an external perspective always helps. We cleaned up the last of the rocks where I had been working on the walls, nipped and tucked small weeds, and she gave me a good assessment of what still needed fresh mulch. Off we went to the nursery where I bought 7 more bags of bark chips (I am a cheapskate when it comes to mulch; I hate buying it).

There was also a prominent spot in a recently overhauled garden that looked really pathetic. It's at the end of a path, so your eye goes down the path to be greeted by wilty pansies and mis-shapen zinnias. Not exactly inspiring. But I was really trying to keep myself from buying things for the tour that I didn't otherwise want or need. So I had been searching for some annuals to put in that spot but couldn't find anything that wouldn't just look like I plopped it in the ground 5 minutes ago.

But I am lucky to live 2 miles from a top-notch nursery and even in the heat of August, they still get in new plants weekly. When we strolled by a flat of Japanese Forest Grass 'Aureola' I knew that was the perfect solution. This garden is meant to be sleek and contemporary and this was the ideal plant. They could have cost $50 each and I still probably would have bought them!

We came home with the station wagon weighed down from all the mulch, but I was excited to have a plan. I took a break from the heat, then drank a Coke (which I rarely do) and had an unbelievable 4 hour spree of inspired work. One recently planted area got a new soaker hose followed by mulch. Fresh mulch cures all, does it not?

The new grasses are perfect at the end of the path, and new mulch in that area transformed it from looking meh to looking purposeful and sleek. As luck would have it, the neighbors to the forest grass are Zinna 'Envy' which shares the same chartreuse color. Don't you love it when you are smarter than you really are?

Fueled by that success and a rapidly elevating mood, I embarked on further tidying and sprucing up. At this point I was getting things done that I never thought I'd get to, and each of those improvements had a big effect. Wow! Soaker hoses were re-buried underneath mulch, two odd gaps in rock borders were filled my magical rocks that fit exactly on the first try, a pile of dirt next to my wall-in-progress was raked smooth, and a section of weeds that had somehow escaped my critical eye were eliminated. Meanwhile soaker hoses were running in front and back gardens and a spot sprinkler was attending to some crunchy areas in the lawn.

At some point DH walked by and I happily announced that I was over the hump and was now working on things that didn't really need to be done. The garden is ready. He looked at the place on his wrist where a watch would be had he been wearing a watch. "It's 8:00 and the tour starts tomorrow," he said, "you had better be over the hump!"

Ah yeah, good point DH. He is always smarter than me. (Well, usually anyway.)

As for the potatoes. $%#@ the potatoes! Potatoes turn yellow at the end of their life cycle. It's not a reflection of poor gardening or anything else. If someone walks down a 100-foot path of immaculately-maintained garden and gets miffed by potatoes doing what they naturally do, well then I can't help them.

OK, I just wrote a novel. If you're still with me, congratulations. Sorry! This has been a rollercoaster and you have all been dragged along for the ride!

Pictures today, for sure!

I don't really see a difference between your garden and a big money landscape. I think you can look at either and see things you might want to try maybe on a smaller scale in your own yard, and I don't think either will be easy to replicate. Yours is a well designed, well planted and tended garden and it might actually be easier to get a second job and pay someone to do it than it would be to develop the skill, talent and motivation to do it yourself!

I hope that came across like it was intended, for me just taking the pictures and posting would have been enough work for the afternoon! Hope it's going well, yellow potatoes and all.
Oh and the dried lawn is a statement in itself which I'm sure people will pick up on

And it was fun! The tour started at 4pm so that meant that the first clutch of ladies showed up at 3:50, just as I was hoping to grab a quick sandwich before the madness began. No such luck. There was one short lull but otherwise it was full-tilt until 8:30 (the tour ended at 8).

There is too much to describe, but I will relay a few highlights:

- Several people asked what is wrong with my potatoes!
- Several people had never even seen a potato growing before and appreciated seeing what they look like. (I will dig a few today to show the process)
- Two people commented that they really appreciated our non-green, weedy lawn, "These are our kind of people," said one.
- I saw many instances of wives elbowing husbands and saying, "I want this" while motioning at the raised beds.
- The kinetic sculpture had a steady stream of people queued up to give it a whirl.
- "OOH, rain barrels! Honey, we need rain barrels!"
- We have three compost tumblers and got lots of questions about them. People asked if they could try tumbling them. (Yes, by all means, go for it.)
- The side yard has a partially built wall, which people really liked. You can see exactly how it's being built. A major hit with the men.
- Perhaps the most asked-about plant is a viburnum shrub that I never even give a second thought. But at the moment it's covered in blushing-red berries and it looks very attractive. Who knew?

A major highlight was a visit by a bee specialist who, within 5 minutes of being here, identified 4 different species of native bumblebee. She applauded how the gardens were ideal for native bees. I didn't know this - although I am well aware of all the busy bees here. But that made me very happy. She gave me some tips for helping the bees overwinter. DH was particularly interested in that.

Probably about 70 or so people came yesterday. The tour organizers expect 300-400 total. Today we go all day.

It's been fun. Now that all the work is done, it really is nice to spend the day entertaining people here. You all certainly are very right about that!

Photos coming up in next post

New porch gardens

Brand new garden, finished on Thursday.

This year I did a total overhaul of the front gardens to match the newly remodeled house - we went from full-on cottage garden to something more sleek and clean.

DH's sculpture. You turn the handle, which drives a bicycle chain, which scoops up a metal ball and carries it to the top of the track and deposits it. There is a series of tracks that the balls can roll down. There are switches, levers and spirals that the balls travel through.The balls activate switches that makes them take different routes. If you spin the handle quickly you can get several balls going at once, which is delightfully chaotic.

OK, gotta go. More later!

Is DH taking pictures with the people in the garden while you're chatting with them? I love that you have hands-on activities with kinetic sculpture and compost tumblers!!

I look forward to the next chapter of "The House Tour Diaries"….. :)

Love your house! Don't don't how it looked before the remodel, but it's lovely.

The best thing - your husband's sculpture! It is fantastic. Is he a sculptor by trade? I would love to own one, I mean it.

It reminds me of one of my favorite hidden gems in NYC - the kinetic ball sculpture tucked away in the Port Authority. Here's a video (which doesn't do it any justice, unfortunately): sculpture

The tour wrapped up - it was a long day and it took a couple of adult beverages and an hour of quiet to feel a little more normal. There were hundreds of people here - just crazy! The garden held up great but I felt a little brown around the edges by the afternoon. I think the hardest part was to be so social all day. After everyone left, I changed back into my ugly gardening clothes and re-installed the deer netting, the kitties came out from under the bed and joined me outside, and I felt my usual energy resurfacing. It helped me realize that this is an intrinsic effort: the joy is not from the final product nor from onlooker's praise, but from the simple act of tending the garden every day. I am relieved to have my little haven back to myself again!

After all the conversations and comments the thing I am most proud of is how 'natural' the garden is and how it serves as a respite for birds, bees and yes, even deer. People's mouths fell open when I explained my deer management strategy is to plant enough for them and us. (OK, admittedly not true when it comes to tulips!) But the theme of restrained water use, no chemicals, consideration for animal residents, and a geologic connection to our natural setting resonated with many visitors.

Lesley, I appreciate your comment because I can so easily imagine a garden tour gone wrong. Luckily I did not overhear any negative comments because I would have been hurt by that after turning myself inside out with the preparations. Gardens are very personal, and this week underscored that sentiment.

OK, some more pictures!

The arbor, as requested:

Curious visitors took turns with the kinetic sculpture.
A2Z, I dig the bells on the Port Authority one! Sculptures like this are great for airports and public spaces because they really engage people. I was amazed by the constant train of people stepping up and playing with it. DH is a sculptor of sorts. He makes exquisite handmade bicycles. He thrives at the intersection of mechanical design and artistic cleverness.

I only got a few photos of people out and about. Generally I was too busy to step away.

I made a few signs to explain various parts of the garden:

A shot of the shady side of Dave's garden

An explanation of the remodel and before/after pics (Another day I'll post some before/during/after pics. It's been so interesting!)

A little sign at the entrance to the roadside garden. It was the first thing people saw and I was in the backyard so I was not around to answer questions about it. People liked the idea of a "rugged meadow" with no diva plants allowed!

Roadside garden

Greenhouse with sign professing our unadulterated love for it.

OK, I know this was unwise, but I spent two full-tilt days rebuilding a section of the wall here. It's a stone bench and I love it. But it was crumbling and it would have killed me to watch people walk by it in such a state. Now it is so tidy!

Can I just say: Thank God for echinacea! They have never been better. They are exquisite. And they have made generous clumps which repeat down the entire main axis of the garden. Yay!

"I am not coming down until all these people get out of my garden!"

Ahhhh, so neat and clean! That nice big slab of stone under the hose? I'd been meaning to do that for like 5 years. And literally it took 5 minutes to do.

Well, I think that sums up this chapter in the Garden Tour Diaries. It made this whole week a lot easier and more fun to have you all along for the ride (and that includes you too Ken, if you're still here!). So thank you all, very much, for playing along with me.

I am so looking forward to a normal, calm day tomorrow -- in my clean, clean garden!

I agree that being alone in the garden can be energizing and the doing can bring great joy and satisfaction.

Thanks for including us in the many aspects of your garden tour.

Custom bicyles is both cool and impressive. There are quite a few artists in my family but sadly, they all work on paper so no garden art for me.

I love your roadside garden! It's a great idea. If you have time, I'd appreciate a plant list.

I hope my clematis looks as impressive as yours someday. What a gorgeous arbor.

Very well said 'karin'.

If I can expand just slightly on this...I have a couple of locations on our property that only I can access...very much out of the way in lots of shade. And yet I still enjoy choosing and putting plants in the ground in these areas even though it is only I that know what is there. Of course I enjoy "showing off" our garden to friends family and strangers but I would for sure still do it if even I was the only audience.

Love your photos....clematis arbor, very pretty entrance to your garden. Love the raised beds, the rock walls, and especially your roadside garden. Actually there is nothing about your garden I don't love. lol

I agree, that the most pleasure I get from the garden, is the actual day to day working in the garden, in whatever weather is out there, with the fresh air and the smells, the changing light, the birds singing and the constant fascination of plants growing. And the satisfaction of having an idea, and getting to see it develop and take shape. Someone else enjoying looking at the garden, is just frosting on the cake.

This has been a very pleasant and interesting thread, thanks for sharing, Karin.

So glad to hear that all went well with the tour, that your gardens and its features were engaging for people and most of all - that people related to the environmentally conscious, wildlife friendly, life supporting aspects of your property!

Now, when did you say you could get down here? ;)

Cynthia

When you said a kinetic sculpture I was thinking fancy whirligig or something....OMG!! Has your DH ever though of making those if someone would commission him to? There are lots of wealthy people out there (you know, the ones with the estate gardens) that would love something as intricate as that. If I ever win the lottery I'm calling him! LOL!!!

Love the cat up the tree. The expression is priceless in that photo.

Let's talk about that most awesome arbor, because I think I need 2 of these.
Looks metal? Did you make it, or purchase it? About 6' wide? Those are the happiest clematis I've seen!

How long is the main axis of the garden. It is so nice to have such a long view in a garden.

Can I live above your garage? What a nice view you must have from that porch.

I am so glad the tour went well and you had lots of fun talking to other gardeners. Did you learn anything from them during your chats? Did they have any ideas or bring up anything about what they've done in their gardens?

Great job. Your garden is awesome.

Add me to the long list of those who enjoyed all the photos of your beautiful property. I absolutely love the stone bench you created in the corner of your wall and the stone slab that serves as a hose holder.

A2Z, the key roadside plants are 'Nearly Wild' rose, penstemon, shasta daisies, catmint, thyme, salvia, scabiosa, catanache (Cupid's Dart), 'Pawnee Buttes' sand cherry, and echinacea. There are also some oriental poppies and Siberian irises. I am adding more shrubs such as a groundcover honeysuckle, dogwoods, 'Summerwine' ninebark and 'Drift' roses. Next year I will also try some rugosa roses or something along those lines. The garden really is a mishmash collection that allows survival of the fittest. I am certainly not attached to any particular plant out there, and the whole thing just evolves over time. I would like it to be more shrubs and fewer perennials though, because deadheading it and cutting it back are daunting tasks. Next year I will sink some time into adding shrubs. (There are more photos of this garden in the first 'combination pics' thread from June).

The clematis on the arch are 'Perle d'Azur' (2005) and 'Comtesse de Bouchard' (2007). I selected them for their later bloom so that things would be interesting in late summer. The arch is metal and was from one of those junky-type antique stores. Yes, I think it's 5' wide. Some day relatively soon it's going to collapse. You should see it sway in the wind. I have to cut back the clematises in order to preserve the opening in the archway. Otherwise they would join hands and seal the whole thing off! It's very pretty in the winter too - I cut about 2/3 of the clematis vines off but leave enough for some winter interest. We put sunflower heads on it so the birds have an easy place to eat (away from the cats).

Mollie, the tour was organized by a local arts center. We were on the tour in 2007 and they had been asking me again for a few years now. I hope they don't ask again anytime soon. I need a enough years to pass so that I can forget about how stressful this was! I think I'd rather help out by being on the selection committee or contributing in some other way.

I did learn things! The coolest thing I learned was all the types of native bees that live here. That was the highlight. I also learned that I need to use my compost, particularly in the greenhouse which is ailing this year. So yesterday I put down a 4" layer of compost throughout the whole greenhouse. Another visitor suggested I use straw as mulch in the raised beds, and I'm definitely going to do that. I hate spending money on mulch so straw is perfect and cheap. Oh, and back to the bees, I learned to use sunflower stalks as wintering habitat for them.

DH did once consider making the sculptures as a profession. But the idea didn't resonate with him, I think because the sculptures don't have a function. The bicycles are a much better fit for him and use all the same skills. But thank you for the vote of confidence!

Thanks again for being by my side (virtually) through the whole thing. I am still looking forward to regaining all my energy and it's great to have an 'empty' to-do list!