Recent Features:
Archive:
About the Author
Laura is a garden writer and photographer. She writes online content for gardening websites, writes for gardening publications and blogs for three gardening blogs. Her interests are local food, organic gardening, backyard homesteading and native plants. She assists gardening related clients with social media. And occasionally, she'll offer a solicited opinion as a garden coach.
Lancaster Gardens Inspire
by Laura Mathews · May 16, 2010
So you’ve seen those garden photos in magazines. Everything is pristine and blooming. But how does it look in 3-D? How does the plant foliage look after the bloom period has passed? Does the sound of wind rustling the grass add something to the experience of the garden? How does different stone actually look in real life? You know… installed.
You have a chance to find out. Tour a selection of the best gardens in Lancaster County next weekend. You’ll see sunken gardens, woodland paths, non-traditional hedges AND outdoor living spaces that will beckon to your love of entertaining and have you making guest lists WAY before the fire pit is installed. Hey, and pond-less waterfalls will get you thinking…. if only.
We were lucky enough to get a sneak peek and we will be sharing glimpses of the gardens on the tour each day over the next week in our journal section.
Next weekend, you have the chance to slip into the backyards of folks you don’t know and peer at their gardens. These gardens should be shown-off.
But the best thing is that everything you see in the show gardens, will work in your yard. Plants that are thriving in the tour gardens, will thrive at your home. Each garden offers ideas that you can take home and implement.
The Lancaster Garden Tour, named, “Secret Gardens,” this year, is organized by several accomplished area landscaping companies and benefits Daniel’s Den Playground.
Daniel’s Den is a stunning play area accessible to all children and dedicated to building a sense of community. The park is located near Mountville, PA and open to everyone from dusk to dawn.
Drive through scenic Lancaster County and explore bits of it off the beaten path. Winding up a long , wooded hillside near Lititz, you’ll think you’re on your way to a secluded camp ground but you’ll end up at a garden filled with a myriad of great part sun or shade plants. See a fabulous outdoor fireplace just south of the city. Smell the peonies, the late blooming lilacs, the catmint. Dream of the pool parties you’d throw.
Personally, I was really jazzed to see how great pine straw looked as a mulch. Join us on a tour this week. Then see it for yourself May 22nd and 23rd. www.lancastergardentour.com