I look forward to the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days program each year. Do you know about this country wide garden tour program? Well, in case you haven’t heard, the Garden Conservancy operates this wonderful Open Days program annually. This program allows access via self guided tour to some of America’s loveliest gardens. This year nearly 300 private gardens in 18 states will offer you the chance to explore first hand examples of outstanding American design & horticulture. Some of the gardens are quite grand and some more humble in scale & plantings. All will inspire & delight.
This year the Open Days program kicks off on March 16th and continues until early November. My area is blessed with two days. Pasadena California is on April 28th & Los Angeles on May 5th. Each year the Pasadena Open Day is even more special to me as I share it with my very dear garden loving friend. We go together in celebration of her Spring birthday. It has become a welcome tradition for both of us. A day touring through leafy paths, brambles of roses, exotic blooms and more, all while talking & laughing. Heaven!
The Garden Conservancy’s mission is to preserve and sustain America’s gardens for the education & enjoyment of the public. In furtherance of this mission, the Open Days program was started in 1995 to spread the garden preservation message by providing access to some of America’s most distinguished private gardens.
It is easy to take part in this outstanding program. Simply visit the Garden Conservancy’s site to check for dates in your area. Hopefully, there is an Open Day close to you. If so, you can buy tickets in advance or on the appointed day at the first garden on the tour. That is what we do…pick up your tickets, a map and off you go. Some years we were even able to walk from one garden to the next. However, generally the gardens are a short drive from one another. A friendly caravan of kindly souls travel merrily from garden to garden all on their own time & pace. Sounds delightful right?….so mark your calendar for the Open Day near you!
For a preview of the 2013 gardens check out this month’s Traditional Home magazine. From a looksee at the gardens featured there, my favorite is photo #19 “a bird’s eye view of Mrs. Whaley’s storybook garden”, Charleston South Carolina. Which one strike’s your fancy the most?
Whether you can experience an Open Day tour this year or not, I leave you with these words on gardening…
Everything that slows us down & forces patience,
Everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature is a help.
Gardening is an instrument of grace.
On a tour or digging in the dirt gardening feeds the soul. Plant a seed & watch it grow this spring!
** Kelly **
This sounds like such a delightful tradition you and your friend enjoy each year, Kelly. What a beautiful program to take advantage of!!
Mary Alice
Oh it is Mary Alice! Wish there was one by you. Hope it is ok, I just added Chateau Chic to my “kindred spirits” page…my blog roll.
Kelly
I wish I could go! This looks so wonderful. I didn’t know there was something like this there. It’s a great idea!
Maybe you will get some new ideas for your garden?
Oh I always do!
What a beautiful garden!
xo Jennifer
http://seekingstyleblog.wordpress.com
Hey Jennifer! Thanks for stopping by…check out your blog. I love Zooey too! Great blog you have.
I love gardens and this is a great idea.
See you in my blog, maybe.
xxx
Nina
http://trendsurvivor.com/
Hi Nina,
Thanks ever so much for stopping by a new venture My Soulful Home. I checked out your blog & I am now following you through Bloglovin. I believe you were sent to me as I need some updating….It is Spring time here & you know what that means…some new outfits/updated pieces are in order. I know your blog will help me sort the wheat from the chaff in the fashion world. You are in Greece, am I right? I am in LA.
Enjoy the day!
Kelly
Kelly, thank you for spreading the word about the Open Days program and the Garden Conservancy! Hope you enjoy the LA and Pasadena Open Days.
My pleasure to do so and I KNOW I will thoroughly enjoy the area’s Open Days!
Great post, Kelly! Can’t wait for Spring!
Susan
simplymodernhome.com
Thanks so much Susan…I bet you can’t. I went to B.C., so I know it may be a bit cold still. Hang in there Spring IS coming!
Kelly,
I’m adding my thanks too for sharing the Open Days info with your readers. I’m the regional rep for Los Angeles and we have some amazing gardens lined up for the visitors this year.
Come and see us on April 28th in Pasadena and May 5th in Los Feliz and Hollywood!
Keep checking the Garden Conservancy website for info:
http://www.gardenconservancy.org/opendays/open-days-schedule
In the meantime, here’s a little preview of what we have in store:
The Pasadena Open Day Lead Garden will for the first time be Arlington Garden, a community supported water-wise Mediterranean garden complete with orange orchard, bocce ball court and riparian meadow. Pasadena gardens include a revisit to a 1930 Landmarked Japanese garden with a recently restored teahouse, a small sophisticated garden with a re-purposed barn as a “Gentleman’s retreat” and a classic Mediterranean garden. Further afield, the tour includes a San Marino rosarian’s 170 rose collection, an 1890 Victorian farmhouse and garden in Sierra Madre and an extensive park-like plantswoman’s garden in Arcadia.
The Los Angeles Open Day will feature gardens in Los Feliz and Hollywood. This is new territory for us and we’re excited to share these gardens with you. We’ll visit a new garden built around a Paul Williams house, directly across the street from the garden of Lloyd Wright’s Taggart House. We’ll also see an Italianate garden with a pool unlike any you’ve ever seen, built for an Oscar winning composer in the 1930’s. We round out the tour with modern takes on a Hollywoodland cottage, and Craftsman and Spanish Revival gardens. Come and enjoy these fresh gardens and inspiring courtyards showcasing the very best of Southern California design.
Thank you so very much for taking the time to read my blog & share your comment with my readers. As you can tell, I am very excited about the up coming Open Days tours. The details you have shared have certainly further sparked my excitement. I hope to visit both Pasadena & LA. I encourage anyone reading this to check the Garden Conservancy site & if there is a tour near you to take advantage of this wonderful experience.
Thanks again for stopping by My Soulful Home,
Kelly
Stopping in to snoop around after your introduction by Ms. Thistle in the HomeTalk group.
Bliss
Welcome! So happy you stopped by and thrilled “Ms. Thistle” sent you! Hope you liked what you saw & will visit again.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Kellly