One of my very favourite garden activity is to appreciate the creativeness , piece of work and weed - pulling of OTHER gardeners . We are fortunate to have the opportunity to do just that through PMG’sThrough the Garden Gateseries . Historically , five garden each year have been opened to the public from springtime through fall . I met with Billie Dietz and Kathi Marshall , co - chair of this amazing serial publication , to see what they have learn from natter so many gardens .
Q : How many years have you two head up up this marvelous task ?
Billie : I‘ve been involved since 2008 , which is 8 twelvemonth .
Q : So you ’ve been involved with over 30 gardens !
Billie : I think I have !
Kathi : I’ve been working with Billie for about 6 years .
Q : As I realise it , you two are creditworthy for identifying potential garden gem , talking with the owners to see if they ’d be concerned in letting hoi polloi visit , and then evaluate the garden through on - website visit . That ’s a destiny of volunteer 60 minutes !
Billie : It is , but we love doing it .
Q : What are some of the key characteristics that you look for when assess whether a garden might be appropriate for the tour ?
Billie : You might have an utterly beautiful garden , but there are some very hard-nosed criteria that must be met . It has to be approachable and have sufficient parking . It also has to be in Albemarle County .
Kathi : We also like to make indisputable there are some suspect spot so that citizenry can get out of the Lord’s Day , relish some refreshment and regenerate themselves .
Q : So access , parking and spook are practical considerations . What about design constituent ?
Kathi : Each garden is different , which is what makes it so interesting . There is no right or incorrect . Each nurseryman makes it work for the born setting he has and for what he likes personally .
Billie : That ’s right . We ’ve shown some really large garden that are conduct attention of with professional help and have been co - designed by the possessor and a professional garden house decorator . But more frequently , we ’ve shown garden that are possessor - design and -maintained . Both are beautiful , but the second is a dandy manner for gardeners to learn at a scale that ’s similar to their own .
Q : That ’s true . I ’ve seen both types of garden on the tour , and I ’m always able-bodied to see something from each . But is there some common excogitation component that seems to stomach out when you make it at a new garden for the first time ?
Billie : We probably search at about 70 – 80 % of the gardens in the winter .
Q : Really ! That ’s astonishing to me . What do you see ? The shape ?
Kathi : There ’s just a flow . The owner can describe what works are include , but we can see the garden from the structure and the stream .
Billie : We also feel the owner ’s enthusiasm . truthful gardeners hump to show their gardens . you’re able to tell a lot about what a garden will be like from the owner ’s enthusiasm .
Q : I guess you are each at least partially describing suspicion , something you ’ve see by doing . Are there any tips you ’ve brought back to your own gardens ?
Kathi : I come up it hard to turn down a industrial plant ! I make love trying different things . One of the most practical tips I got issue forth from visiting a garden that had lots and batch of medulla . The owner said she used an plumber’s snake Mandrillus leucophaeus , so I adjudicate that . It makes planting bulbs so much easier . I also admired the mode a Nipponese maple was pruned and that gave me an idea .
Billie : I was really impressed with a red horse - chestnut tree ( Aesculusxcarnea ) . ( Here ’s alinkthat describes the tree – it is telling ! )
Q : The garden are evidence in spring , summertime and fall . Do you look for gardens that particularise in sealed seasonal industrial plant ?
Kathi : That works out sometimes . We choose a garden for early outflow that would be efflorescent with false hellebore , some of which are quite rare . Another amazing garden featured champaign of lavender , and so that was open in June . We give the owners the choice of when they ’d prefer to be on tour , and so their specific pastime come to the stem .
Billie : A really well - design garden can be shown any clip of the class . The June garden for this year ’s series , for example , could be point in any time of year .
Q : Are there any newfangled trend you ’ve noticed ? I ’m trusted multitude are using more native plants ?
Billie : We certainly do see lots of native plants .
Kathi : What we mainly see is that gardens are personal and you have the exemption to do what you need with plants you like . Most masses seem to consider their garden are n’t unspoilt enough to show on tour . But if you are really passionate about gardening , your garden probably reflects that .
Q : Well , I think that will be a very encouraging thought for our readers ! If someone need to offer up his or her garden for the tour , how much planning is required ?
Billie : You have to make trusted it is accessible , has parking and some shade .
Kathi : And you need to make certain that paths are easy to walk on . You might need to smoothen things out , or add crushed rock or something like that . Just keep an optic out for what might be guileful for a visitant to sail .
Q : Do you need to be a Master Gardener to extend your garden for the tour of duty ?
Kathi : Most of the gardens on our tour have NOT been owned by Master Gardeners . It ’s a mix .
Q : When can we appear forward to our first garden tour this yr ?
Billie : They are held the 2nd Saturday of the month in May , June , July and September , from 9 to 12 noon . Admission is $ 5 . Please check the website atpiedmontmastergardeners.orgfor more details as we get tight to the dates .
Q : Well , it ’s just such a wonderful way to pass a Saturday morning ! We boost our readers to deliberate open their garden . If interested , call the Extension office at ( 434 ) 872 - 4580 to bequeath a message for Billie or Kathi . And we should all thank Billie and Kathi for making such a fun , educational experience usable . Let ’s verify to take advantage of the 2017 season !
