A week from today, this year’s first group of garden visitors arrives to tour Glen Villa. The following week, two more groups arrive. And not long after that, I have the first ever Open Garden Day.
A $20 admission fee will go to the Massawippi Foundation to support public trails that are now being built. About 10 kms of trails will open to the public in 2017. This wonderful initiative is our community foundation’s way of celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday.
I am about to panic. After far too long with no rain and unusually hot days, and despite constant watering, many plants are drooping — including the weigela just planted by the cascade. The astilbes that add such a punch of colour by the front steps are on the verge of blooming. Will they have gone past their best by next week or will they still be approaching it? And what about the wildflowers at the Skating Pond? Last year they were in full bloom by now; this year, they barely have started.
These wildflowers covered the berm last July, almost turning the whole hillside purpley blue. I didn’t plant the flowers, I simply scattered the seeds. Nature did the rest.
I always worry before a group visits the garden. I tell myself to relax. People will react as they react, and nothing I do will change that. But this year there are some special challenges. The Big Lawn to Meadow experiment-in-progress is progressing. It looks wonderful to my eyes, but how will more traditionally focused eyes respond? Will they call it a triumph or a disaster?
I took this photo of the Big Lawn/Meadow on July 2. I love the way it looks. But how will it look in a few weeks? How will it look in a month when the Open Garden Day is held?
The project I was hoping to have finished before the first group arrives hasn’t even started. Even if it begins tomorrow, the work will take a minimum of two weeks and the final part of the project won’t be ready until September at the earliest. So I can only hope that people enjoy seeing a work in progress. (More about this project called The Upper Room in the weeks to come…)
This area was formerly called The Egg. Newly named The Upper Room, it will be a tribute to my mother and to Virginia where I grew up. This photo from April this year shows a roughed out version of the project.
But the thing that has me worried the most is the Open Garden Day. I’m thrilled to be opening the garden to the public for the first time and I hope that the number of visitors exceeds my wildest dreams. But how many will that be? I have no idea, and no way of judging numbers in advance. There are dozens of details to work out. Where will people park? Will people be content to wander or will they want to follow a clearly marked route? Will a map of the garden be guide enough or do I need to find volunteers to point the way? Will I be able to find enough volunteers who are comfortable speaking French and English? Enough who are willing to work for a few hours on a day that could be punishingly hot or cold, sunny or pouring with rain?
And what about porto-potties and refreshments? Making a sizeable contribution to the Massawippi Foundation and to its new trail building initiative played a big part in deciding to open the garden to the public. Having cool drinks and something to eat would provide an additional source of revenue. But do I have the time and energy to find a supplier who will donate the items or who will at least provide them at cost?
I need helpers and I need advice. If you have opened your garden to the public, how have you managed these things? If you have visited open gardens, how would you answer the questions I’ve raised? Best of all, if you plan to attend the Open Garden Day on August 4, please let me know in advance, either by commenting on the blog or by email at [email protected]
I would really appreciate hearing from you. Whether you are able to come or not, please share your experiences and advice. I’ll be holding my breath until you do — or at least until the Open Garden Day is over. Then I can start planning for the Open Garden Day in 2017!
I am looking forward to viewing your gardens. I have been to some garden tours and I am quite happy to just wander around. That was many years ago. I am experienced gardener so will know most plants, however I always like to know the variety/cultivar. Will the plants be marked? No need for refreshments, I say. May I ask who the first groups coming are?
The plants will definitely not be marked but I hope to station volunteers in different parts of the garden with that information. The groups coming are from different parts of Canada.
O, you do need a loo – did I take reference to porto-potties to suggest you have to get some?
Hard to know how to respond,much as I want to, because you’re over there which will be different from over here. And your anxieties are a bit vague? Don’t point people around – a plan should do. Give them peace to explore and enjoy…
If you have no idea of numbers it’s going to be hard to sort out any catering.
And you’re not likely to discover what people think or feel unless they are v different from Brits, who just say ‘lovely garden’ and ask for the names of plants. Can be disappointing and a little paranoia inducing….
Hope it’s a great success, that you and your visitors have a great time, and I wish I could be there (if it didn’t involve travel…!). Best of British! Xxxxx
Yes, loos are essential, and I don’t relish having swarms of people coming into the house, so porto potties are now on the ‘to do’ list. I’ve shelved the idea of having food for sale, for this year at least. Thankfully, offers of help have been coming in and I think the day will go well. Or am I just being Pollyanna?
Don’t you belong to any local garden clubs that can help you out the day of as guides or money collectors? If selling refreshments will help the Massawippi Foundation they should help sell the drinks and look for a donor. Most of the open gardens run by the Garden Conservancy I have been to did not have refreshments, but on a really hot day, you could make a killing. When I went to North Hill, the charity that was benefiting from the open day sold the refreshments. The owners of the garden stopped by to ask how things were going, but otherwise were not involved. If you do sell refreshments, be prepared to find disposable cups in the oddest places. Pat, it sounds like you need to ask for help. Tap into your community, whoever they are!
I will be reaching out to a local garden club and other community organizations. I’m going to put the idea of selling refreshments on hold for this year — too many other things to deal with first. But next year I think I’ll give it a try, with help from others.
Okay, I put up the event and uploaded a Glen Villa Map PDF that I took off the site that you had made on Massawippi Muse. Take a look and I can add to it and fix it up, not a problem! This can be downloaded to phones and iPads etc.,
Good idea, Robert. I don’t know that our wifi reception is good enough for that but it’s an approach worth investigating. Thanks for suggesting it.
Pat, I have never had an open garden day, but I have visited many gardens. I agree with those who just want some kind of guide and to be able to explore on their own. I also think that true gardeners understand that gardens are always in process, not finished products, and will be inspired by your on-going projects.
Pat — I’ve visited many gardens and hosted tours from a dozen to a recent evening event with about 150 people. Most of the folks who’ve visited have been gardeners to varying degrees. But that means they know what it takes to create a garden, though most of us can only imagine doing it on your scale. Every summer the Wisconsin Hardy Plant Society pairs with the Master Gardeners to have a number of summer evening tours with a group of three or four gardens in an area open for tours. Time is 4 pm till dusk. At most gardens you are on your own. There may be a map or description and a jug of lemonade, but potty stops are at gas stations or McDonald’s etc.
Since this is a day long event, the big thing will be for you not to exhaust yourself. Stay calm, tell people to snap a pix with their phone if they have a question. They can show it to you or email it. You could have a friend to share duties with but ideally they need to be able to answer the big questions. Unless people can get hurt or seriously lost I would not worry abut signs or leading tours.
We had a big section of our garden that was formerly a moss garden and is now a mulch garden waiting for me to redesign and replant it. Everyone has unfinished bits and work areas and I think these are among the most interesting to see a work in progress.
I did not read other comments so I hope I’m not repeating too much. Also, you might contact Margaret Roach as she is someone who has these daylong tours and she might be able to answer some of your specific question.
Linda, your advice is good and I’m planning to follow it. I’ve chosen a place to sit and will pretend that all I ever do in the garden is sit around! I’ve arranged to have about a dozen volunteers stationed around the garden with information and a friend is making some signs pointing out a suggested route. The Upper Room may be finished but even if it is a work in progress, I think it will be interesting to see. Best of all, with all the help and publicity the open day is getting, I’ve upped my estimate to 500 or more. That will mean a healthy contribution to the conservation trust, which makes me very happy.
We have never done anything on this scale. All I can say is, use your best judgement. I’m positive it will be a big success! Wish we could be there. Perhaps one of these summers we’ll be able to visit again and see the Big Meadow and all the other changes.
I’m hoping for success and am preparing in every way I can to ensure it. Now, if only I could control the weather…