This coming Sunday is our 4th annual garden cruise. Detroit Garden Works sponsors this event, so that all of the proceeds from the sale of the tickets goes to benefit The Greening of Detroit. This organization has been planting trees, and sponsoring urban farms and educational programs in the city of Detroit for the past 21 years. I sit on their board, but I do not go to the meetings. They do not need my help figuring out what needs reforesting, or what skills need to be taught. The best way for me to help is to try and raise some money for them.
I have a relationship to every garden on tour. I may have designed the landscape, planted the containers, consulted on this issue or that. This year one of the gardens belongs to my landscape superintendent. His hand is evident in every square inch of his garden. The pergola, the fence, the fountain, and the concrete tiled terrace-all hand made .
Another landscape is quite contemporary in design; I designed and installed it 16 years ago. Yet another is traditionally formal in a modern way; this landscape I designed and installed last year. This is all by way of saying that the 7 gardens represent widely divergent styles and age. All of them are handsomely maintained. This year’s group of gardens is an especially good one-you’ll see.
I admire the work they do. They persist in planting and teaching. I am all for beautiful green spaces and tree lawns in cities. They make what I am all for a reality. Thery sponsor 700 urban farms throughout the city. They have a balanced budget; all of their programs are paid for through grants, and donations.
Like many other people, I think it is important to give back to the greater community that has enabled me to have a business. So we aim to make the day’s outing all the much more fun with a reception at the shop at the close of the tour. Rob makes his signature gin and tonics, Christine tends the wine bar, and we have food for all. We pick up the bill for this, so that all the proceeds from the sale of the tickets goes right to the Greening.
My garden is one of the 7. I so enjoy spending the day at home, answering questions, and hearing what people have to say. Other pairs of eyes are good for a garden. Every year I hear something that never occurred to me.
This landscape belongs to one of the gardeners whose house in on tour-but this is his previous house. The new house and landscape is well worth the visit.
This garden that I designed was on the national tour some years ago, sponsored by the Garden Conservancy. We no longer have a branch of this tour in our area-what a shame. Visiting gardens is one way to learn more about what you like and don’t like. It is a great way to see new plants. Best of all, it is an excellent way to see that a great landscape and garden is within any gardener’s reach.
The landscapes are different enough that I suspect everyone will find something that intrigues them.
You may be wondering if any of the gardens on the tour are pictured in this post. Though I designed all of these landscapes, only one photograph is from a 2011 cruise garden. You’ll just have to come and check them out for yourself. For more information: www.thegardencruise.org
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