Where would you like to go?

I love to collect ideas from other places and people. Some ideas are new and some ideas are hundreds (yes, I said hundreds!!) of years old. Have you ever seen a garden that has plants that were planted more than 75 years ago? Where will you travel this year that you could share in the preserved art of gardening? This great hobby of gardening has a community that stretches across the globe. Perhaps you can use a design idea or piece of plant material in your yard that you'll learn about somewhere else. Come and explore with us this year...share with us what you've learned and seen. Perhaps you will come up with places and tours we don't know about!

So grab your digital camera and let's see what we can find!!

At Home

Cincinnatti Botanical Garden

This is the Cincinnatti Zoo and Botanical Gardens. The wonderful thing about this location is that, as soon as you enter the zoo, you are in the gardens. They have made a conscious effort to weave both experiences into one.

Cleveland Botanical Garden

The Cleveland gardens feature childrens gardens, Japanese gardens, Sustainable gardens, Water gardens, etc. Something for everyone to see, feel and experience.

Columbus Botanical Garden

This is a very new preservation of space. This gardens conception began in 1998 and so the actual plantings are very new. They do have some asian influence and the beginnings of a xeriscape garden. We will be looking to see what they do with their spaces in the future.

The Columbus area has a plethora of areas to visit including German Village, Dublin, the Topiary Gardens and more. German Village offers two tours this summer at the end of June. The one is cocktails and dinner served by one of the several residents whose home and garden are on the tour. This is an exclusive look at some of the wonderful small gardens that are maintained in this bustling urban space. The Topiary Gardens make a painting come to life even in the winter months. This is an idea that could even be done here where the deer and the rabbits eat!

Franklin Park Conservatory

This conservatory is just 2 miles east of Columbus and has a wonderful array of plant material from basic butterfly plants to Tahitian rain forests. Franklin Park Conservatory is honored to be the only botanical garden in the world to own a permanent signature collection from internationally acclaimed glass artist Dale Chihuly.


Toledo Botanical Garden

Something for everyone. Go and plan to spend the day. Take a picnic lunch and enjoy the sights and sounds. They host several artist venues throughout the season including painters, sculpters, musicians, etc. There are childrens gardens, walking trails, water gardens, rose gardens, hosta gardens and so much more. They have an extensive calendar of events and knowledgeable staff to answer any questions you may have.

Where are you traveling this year?

April 19-27 Historic Garden Week in Virginia. This is a tour close to home to fire the passion of gardening! There are many homes opened in the vibrancy of spring for the public's viewing pleasure. Not only are you experiencing the grandeur of old Virginia's gardens, but you get to taste the architectural flavors of the area as well. As you will see in this link, there are more than 250 homes on the tour this year and it is their 75th anniversary of this celebration. You will find Southern hospitality, stick to your ribs cuisine and titillating combinations of color, form, structure and lifestyle!

May 3-4 Glorious Garden Tour, Birmingham, AL This tour is delivered by the Birmingham Botanical Garden and promises to be an excellent tour. They are still compliling nominations for this tour at this time. If you are in the Birmingham area, the Botanical Garden is definitely worth the trip and since this year is the Alabama Year of the Garden, I'm sure it will be worth the trip!

June 4-12 Jeff Sainsbury Tours This is a group tour overseas and some beautiful places will be visited. This tour in particular is the Great Edwardian Garden Tour. Jeff hosts tours for the APLD (Association of Professional Landscape Designers) and other professional groups as well as for the hobbiest. His wife is a landscape architect and he is a designer so together they make for excellent hosts. Talk about established and well preserved gardens! If you have a chance to go, Jeff Sainsbury tours have an excellent reputation.

June 10 Garden Tours in Brownville, NE This promises to be a fun day with a "Best Birdhouse" competition and a look at some interesting theme gardens. For example, a moon garden, zen garden and some historic gardens around the govenors mansion.

We'll be adding more as we come across them. If you have any suggestions, email me at dawn@ferdas.com. Thanks!