How to Have a Garden Walk

Gardening is a way of showing that you believe in tomorrow.

- Doug Tallamy

Garden walks are a great way to see other gardeners' great works of art. Many are organized and sponsored by non-profits with the goal of raising funds. Garden clubs and American Association of University Women, for example, allow the proceeds to benefit educational scholarships for recipients in their community. 

The dates are appropriately selected when the gardens are in full-bloom and offering a kaleidoscope of plant colors. I have two walks coming up--one on June 23, and the other on July 14th. Both of these walks have advance tickets that are a few dollars cheaper than if you purchase them the actual day of the walk. They range from $12.00 to $18.00 per person. For that price you get a small paper-bound booklet.  The front page has the sponsor organization's name with date and times open for viewing--9 a.m. to 3 p.m. works well.

Inside the ticket booklet are the addresses of the homes with a description of what you'll see.   Here are some examples: This garden has always been and will continue to be completely organic, which attracts hummingbirds and butterflies alike.  The informal cottage style garden evolved over the past 25 years, starting out very small, and inch by inch, becoming larger and changing shape.  

The homeowners credit the mature white and burr oaks existing on the property for giving their home a special stature and serenity plus a wealth of colors that come and go throughout the season. 

One booklet added sample colored pictures taken of individual homeowners' garden areas. In the back of the booklet are advertisements from local merchants. A map is handy to include with each garden location/address noted by a star or a flower symbol.

Advertise: Chicago Trib offers to list your garden walk info. Local papers will as well. Distribute printed posters around town. Use Craigslist. Ask a few garden retail stores to have available and sell your tickets for the walk. It's great publicity for both. And best of all--word-of-mouth marketing!

Additional ideas: Host a garden boutique at one of the homes on the walk. Approach a few local vendors to set up their wares.  In exchange for the business visibility and sales they receive, negotiate a percentage of the goods that they sell to come back to the organization. Say 20% or so. 

In the back of one organization's ticket booklet, it added ten to thirty percent coupons off at local greenhouses, which actually pays for the cost of the ticket. What gardener isn't going to use those?

And lastly, don't forget the refreshments. Cookies and lemonade!

Tip: One way to attend "free" garden walks is to hit the plant sale route. Many gardeners thin out their garden material/plants by selling divided specimens in the spring. While you are there, ask if you can mosey around her yard. Buy a plant or three too!  Here is one of my favorite plant sale/garden walks. It's on Ramm Road, Elburn, IL More later.