Stroll Through the Beautiful Gardens of Petaluma, California
Most treat this garden tour as an all-day sensory affair, allowing ample time to appreciate each garden’s unique charm. Some go seeking inspiration for their own garden projects, or to glean information about any number of gardening topics, from what makes the best mulch, to how others win the war against snails and deer. Many go hoping to see unusual new plants, and still others visit the gardens merely to satisfy their longing to look at something beautiful for a few hours.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½
For many garden buffs, Petaluma’s Through The Garden Gate tour is a not-to-be-missed tradition, a rare opportunity to view magical, tranquil settings they wouldn’t normally be invited into. Although a fair number of the gung-ho gardeners who attend each year are Petaluma residents, the tour also draws a large number of visitors from other cities throughout the state.They arrive by the busload from Lodi, carpool from San Francisco, or fly up from Los Angeles and San Diego. Some even come all the way from England year after year, scheduling their vacation time to coincide with the event (this year’s tour takes place on May 27. For ticket info, visit www.petalumamuseum.com. )Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½
Petaluma’s annual Through The Garden Gate tour began twelve years ago as a casually organized benefit for the Petaluma Historical Museum, and quickly blossomed to become their most prosperous fundraiser by far. But the tour-and the exquisite gardens themselves-do more than just enrich the museum’s coffers. Viewing such an abundance of nature’s miracles up close rejuvenates people’s spirit and restores balance in an otherwise chaotic world. Visitors come away with feelings of peace and wellbeing that can last for days, weeks, even months.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½
The garden tour itself fosters friendships and brings the community of garden-lovers closer together, resulting in a network of diverse individuals that grows larger and more user-friendly every year. Gardeners share loads of mango mulch or spread the word about where to get innovative new products. They never tire of talking shop, and enthusiastically divulge what they have learned through years of “trowel and error.”Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½
The tour includes gardens of all sizes, shapes and colors, from teeny terrarium-like spaces with flowers in every nook and cranny, to apple orchards and sprawling country acreage. They are precisely planned down to the last inch, or free-spirited and unstructured. Some have eye-popping color schemes, while others offer a profusion of blooms or perfume. Each garden is a distinctive work of art, chosen not just for its aesthetic appeal, but also for how it fits in with the rest of the tour, both in location and style.�¯�¿�½
Just who are the people willing to let hundreds of strangers stroll through their own private oasis? They are confirmed plant collectors who can’t resist acquiring yet another rosebush, or “artists with hoes” who view their plot of barren ground as a blank canvas just waiting to be brought to life. They are gardeners who can rattle off the botanical name of every plant, or their opposite, those who have an attitude of “it’s pretty, I love it, it works, it was in my Grandma’s yard.” Yet despite their many differences, the ultimate end is the same: to create a special place that they, and others, may enjoy.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½
The homeowners who participate on each year’s Through The Garden Gate tour are thrilled to show off their garden. Some do have an initial bout of cold feet, but as the tour approaches they become more and more excited, much like a child anticipating their birthday party. After all, they till, toil, feed and weed for years to create a breathtaking view, and unless they throw lavish garden parties, rarely have such a marvelous opportunity to share the fruits of their labor. And for those with spouses who tease them about spending so much time, energy (and money!) in their garden, being selected for the tour provides an irresistible “I told you so” moment. Many of the homeowner’s gardens have even garnered national exposure in Sunset, Country Homes and other magazines, and while that’s not usually the main reason they garden, it does give their ego an added boost.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½
Though some homeowners worry that their garden won’t measure up or will be scrutinized for spent buds or less-than-spectacular plants, their fears are always unfounded. The exuberant visitors are far from critical, and even those with only a marginal interest in gardening have fun viewing other people’s handiwork.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½
A garden is, after all, a reflection of the individual who creates it, with each plant or color choice revealing pieces of their personality and style. And gardens, like life, are always in transition, constantly changing, ever delightful. There are no mistakes, only enlightening discoveries.
