There is much to be learned from a garden walk
By Author
Insights
Published Aug. 6, 2008

In setting a date for a community garden walk, there is always the fear that the weather will not cooperate. Fortunately, this was not the case for the recent Westlake Gracious Gardens Tour. It would not have been any fun if the heavens had opened with one of the cloudbursts that we have become familiar with this summer.

It was not only a good day weatherwise, but also an interesting experience for members of the Westlake Garden Club, serving as hostesses at the various locations.

A big thank you must be extended to all the homeowners who so willingly offered their gardens to be included in this tour. Every one of the properties offered its own unique image. Visitors could experience the vision the owners have for their own gardens.

There were some questions asked that I would like to answer in this column. The most asked query was: Who selected the properties? Westlake Garden Club had a committee of three: Lu Walter, Shirley McClimon and myself. As this was a city-sponsored event, Lynn Brady from the Westlake Development Department met with the three of us to plan the garden tour. Lynn is the person who has ably spearheaded the Westlake in Bloom contest since its inception. 

The first criterion was that all the gardens selected had to be past winners of the Westlake in Bloom contest. The fact that some of the homeowners had entered the competition this year had no bearing on the selection. We only picked past winners. This year’s awards ceremony was held two days before the garden walk. It was impossible to select this year’s winners and organize the whole event in two days.

The second criterion was that the homeowners had to agree to have their gardens open to the public. This placed great responsibilities on those willing. Every one of the gardens was in perfect shape and nary a weed to be seen. The commitment made resulted in backbreaking hours to have the property show worthy.

The third criterion was not met in two of the eight gardens on tour. We had requested that at least one of the owners be on site the day of the happening. There was a good reason for that request. As gardeners and owners of the property, the visitors could interact with the people who do all the work and share their stories. The owners answered many questions and had a chance to connect with others that truly appreciated all their efforts. Plant availability and care were only a few of the questions on the table.

This brings me to those that told me that so and so had a garden every bit as beautiful and why did they not get on the tour? You cannot be a winner unless you enter the Westlake in Bloom contest.  In other words, if you don’t buy a ticket you can’t win the lottery.

There will always be people that question the wisdom of how the selections are made. Almost everyone on this tour had only the most positive comments to make. I remember the lady that said, “I think I have died and gone to heaven.” Others observed that it was a charming way to start at the Porter property and thus getting to enjoy the lovely tunes of the harpist.

The Westlake Garden Club is grateful to the city for their complete cooperation. Thanks to this joint effort, a worthwhile scholarship for those interested in horticulture, the environment or related studies, will be awarded to a Westlake student in 2009.

The biggest thank you has to be extended to all those wonderful homeowners who were willing to have a few hundred people come to their garden and share their knowledge. Phone numbers were exchanged and who knows, friendships may develop.

There is one outcome of this that very well might insure more beautiful neighborhoods in the whole Westshore area. Representatives from other communities enjoyed the tour to see what they could learn from this event. Fairview Park is one community that is starting to plan for their own garden tour next year.