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7. Make contingency plans for Mother Nature’s 10. Find volunteers who will be in your garden
dirty tricks. Oh, yes, Mother can be difficult! In with you the day of the tour. Give them name tags
2016, just a few days before the MHS tour, we had so the tour guests know they are there to help, and
a hailstorm and suddenly had to find time to trim have them dispersed here and there in the garden.
the badly damaged leaves. As if that wasn’t bad The most important volunteer position is in the
enough, the day of the tour was very hot and very front yard or driveway area where guests will first
humid. The caterer, who supposedly needed no arrive and need to be directed to the best tour
access to my kitchen, suddenly needed to have starting location. You might think that’s where you
air-conditioned counter and table work space as should be, but you should be in the middle of the
well as an empty shelf in the refrigerator and an garden where people can find you before they
indoor air-conditioned place to set their giant leave. Most often your volunteers will be helping
coolers. guests find their way through the garden or they
will be helping a guest find you so the guest can
8. Make your garden a welcoming place where ask a question, but you might also prepare your
your tour guests feel relaxed. You don’t need to volunteers with some basic facts. In my garden the
seat everyone at the same time, but having chairs, most frequently asked question is, “How do you
benches, and small tables scattered here and get your hostas to grow so big?” The second most
there will give them places to rest and really frequent question is, “How many varieties do you
experience the garden. Most people on the tour have?” The third is, “How long have you lived
are avid hosta gardeners, but they may have here?” Your volunteers could be armed with
coerced a friend or family member along for answers, or you might make unobtrusive signs
company, and both will enjoy the experience much that can be posted here and there with these
more if one can explore while the other rests. If interesting facts.
you have a patio or deck with umbrellas, open the
umbrellas to create the feeling of an outdoor room. 11. Food and beverage service: If the tour
You may be able to borrow neighbors’ yard planners want to use your garden as a place to
furniture for the day to create seating in distributed serve a luncheon or group meeting after the tour,
spaces. When we were the 2016 lunch stop, we be sure that you know what is expected of you.
had borrowed enough furniture and tables to seat During the summer of 2022 there were 4 tours of
39 of the 50-plus guests. That allowed some to eat my garden. None were as exhausting as the 2
first and tour later, while others chose to tour first days of the AHS Convention Tour, but each had its
and then have their lunch. Also, if you live in an own unique twists.
area like Minnesota, where we have mosquito and
gnat problems, perhaps your tour sponsor will 12. Remember the special moments, gather your
invest in some insect repelling incense stakes that friends for a “thank you” party, and share the
can be lit and distributed around the garden. moments that stand out. Perhaps the moment I
remember best is when my neighborhood toured
9. Add energy to your garden with color, varied the garden the evening of our local “Night to
plant forms, and whimsy. Hostas can be much Unite.” I was walking up the small hill in the
more exciting when they have pots of colorful backyard when two young sisters came around
annuals, and upright “thriller” plants, as well as the corner of the garage. Both stopped, looked at
colorful heuchera, astilbe, lilies, and other the garden with mouths open in surprise, asked if
“workhorses” as garden companions. Small this was my garden, and said together in hushed
garden statues tucked in here and there also invite tones, “You have a beautiful secret magic garden.”
more intimate investigation by your tour guests. If That is why I continue to open my garden to tours!
you can add a water feature - even just a birdbath
- it makes your garden more restful. Check out
your local thrift stores and garage sales.
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