Coming this weekend, to a garden near me, is one of my most favorite events of the entire year.  I look forward to it all Spring.  Our local county Master Gardener’s group hosts a tour of private gardens of their members.  Every other year the tour alternates in general location.  On year “A” the gardens are all located on the east side of the county then on year “B” the gardens for viewing are all located on the west side of the county.  Usually there are four to five gardens on the tour.  It’s a great plan, since we have such a large county – geographically.  

To me the garden tour is almost like peeking into a wonderland.  One of my favorite stories as a little girl was The Secret Garden, and since I first read that book I’ve been fascinated by gardens.  Green thumb I certainly am not, but oh how I try.  Since I have tried, and many times failed, I sure do appreciate a pretty garden.   I always come away from the day, much to my sweetie’s dismay, with a million ideas.  They generally show some especially great containers, as well as ideas for statuary too.  Each host garden usually provides a map of their garden with details on each and every plant in their yard…Awesome, I know!!  Wait, it gets better, within each garden the plants are all individually labeled – usually by both their common name and botanical name.  Another great feature of this tour is that within each garden there are picturesque vignettes, great garden ‘rooms’, and unique specimen plants to get your creative sparks a-flyin’.  By the time you get home you are ready to DIG IN THE DIRT, and make some pretties! 

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