Gathering Ideas for Next Year’s Garden

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By Melinda Myers

 

Summer is a time when many gardeners begin making plans for new additions to next year’s gardens. You may already be doing ongoing evaluations of your own plantings and may want to include tours of others’ gardens.

A walk around your neighborhood can provide inspiration and a chance to observe plants thriving in the same or similar conditions that exist in your landscape. Local garden tours allow you to take a closer look at both front and backyard gardens filled with plants, garden art and more.  

Whether you tour alone or with a group of friends, it is a great opportunity to meet the gardener, gather ideas, exchange gardening secrets, and get inspired. Many of the garden tours are sponsored by garden clubs, libraries, beautification groups and other similar organizations. The proceeds from the event usually support a worthy cause in the community. You’ll find local garden tours promoted online, in local publications, garden centers, botanical gardens and other similar venues.

The Garden Conservancy’s Open Days program is a one-of-a-kind private garden tour.  Participating gardens are located around the country in small and large lots that feature a variety of styles, plants and features. All you need is a little time and a ticket to participate in the self-guided garden tours. A listing of the Open Days gardens, their location and dates for each garden is listed on their website.

Visit your local or nearby public botanic gardens and arboreta. They feature plants in gardens and natural settings with similar growing conditions to nearby home gardens. They often feature new and unique varieties, traditional favorites and garden designs, providing inspiration to all who visit.

All-America Selections’ (AAS) Display Gardens are another valuable resource for gardeners. AAS is a non-profit organization that trials and evaluates plants for outstanding qualities suitable for the home garden. They have been helping gardeners grow award-winning flowers and vegetables since 1932.

New never-before-sold plant varieties bred for home gardens are planted, observed and evaluated at various trial gardens throughout North America.  Trial gardens are located at public gardens, seed companies, or universities. The potential plant introduction is observed and its performance evaluated throughout the growing season. Volunteer judges rate the plants on improvements in characteristics such as aesthetics, performance and productivity as well as pest and disease tolerance. A plant must have significantly improved qualities to be considered for an AAS award.

Display gardens feature the newest AAS winners in a well-maintained setting where you can view the winners. There are nearly 200 display gardens in the United States and Canada located in public botanic gardens and arboreta, municipality gardens, garden retailers, university gardens and more. Some locations also offer related educational opportunities, open houses or field days during the growing season.

Take some time to enjoy and evaluate your gardens. Then set aside some time to visit local gardens for ideas and inspiration.

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” instant video series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and her website is www.MelindaMyers.com.