Every gardener on this year’s tour is passionate about their landscape. How they choose to express it is individual-nothing surprising there. My lot and one half garden is multi-levels, much to the delight of my corgis. I have carved openings in the boxwood for them, and installed bark racetracks; the garden is friendly to them. My landscape is orderly; my pots are anything but-this is how I like it. So serene, with my favorite plants-and some unexpected surprises and punctuation marks. The day of the tour, Fred and Jean are my docents. English born and bred, educated in England in horticulture despite the second World War, they guide guests with their Shitz Tzu’s Oscar and Beckett in tow-just meeting the two of them is a treat. I plan this year to open my shell grotto/reliquary enclosed porch by popular demand-.
Another garden of size is organized around some large sculptural elements carved into the earth. one comtemplative space features old evergreens, beautifully pruned. A wild flower slope, a rose garden-there is so much to see.
One small urban garden reveals a modernist taste and crisp green and white plant palette. Their old tudor home takes to this surprisingly well. Every inch is thoughtfully tended to. A driveway lined with tomatoes and herbs is a happy surprise. This small property is jam packed with good moves. 
Another garden is as colorful and engaging as its owner in the private spaces, and coolly formal in its public spaces. This gardener tells me she likes to feel like she’s on vacation when walks in her rear yard-you will see why. I have every reason to stay home now-she tells me.
Every garden has water in one form or another-fountains, a pool; two properties are on lakes. Water-what a great thing in a garden..
One garden on the tour I have a special relationship with. These two committed gardeners design and plant on their own. My involvement in their garden has to do with pots, and sculpture, and miscellaneous advice-but the two of them have put it all together in their own very distinctive and lively way. It will enchant you. 
Their taste is eclectic, atypical-but it all works, with its own language and style. Their gestures are big and warm. I so admire their confidence and their range. They make it easy to understand the process of taking your voice in hand, and making something of it that is beautiful. 
Each gardener’s love for the garden and all that represents, extends to a respect for the work of the Greening of Detroit, and my request that they put their garden on tour. They are all busy planning for company July 19. I am amazed, and so pleased how seriously they all take the prospect of like minded visitors. By Wednesday next, our web site, www.thegardencruise.org, should have the descriptions of all the gardens posted for those of you would might want to check out a more thorough description of those gardens on this year’s tour. We all hope you can make it.
