You have a beautiful garden, hoovb, and your roses are simply awesome! How on earth do you keep up!? I've participated in a "Going native" garden tour for the past 3 years. It's a lot of work, but a lot of fun. I've also found that folks are very respectful of your plants and I've never had any plant trampled or damaged. And best of all, the visitors overlook your imperfections. LOL wanda

I have heard of the Going Native Gardens tour. Last year, I toured gardens in the Bring Back the Natives Garden Tour, and some of the gardens were just amazing.

[Santa Clara Valley and Peninsula, San Francisco Bay Area] VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! The 2008 Going Native Garden Tour is seeking volunteers who are willing to spend a few hours greeting tour participants and answering questions. The tour showcases bird- and butterfly-friendly, pesticide-free, water conserving gardens that contain California native plants. The tour will take place on Sunday April 20, 2008 from 10AM to 4PM. Last year the tour featured 45 gardens in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Benefits to volunteers include invitations to private showings of select tour gardens throughout the year, and a guaranteed tour reservation for the half-day you are free. Plus, you will help to educate garden visitors about the pleasures and benefits of gardening with California native plants! Volunteer Participation Tour Volunteers must: - Enjoy public education and interaction - Be able to commit to either the 9:45AM-1:15PM shift, or the 12:45PM-4:15PM shift. (Volunteers may use the balance of the time to tour gardens.) You can be a Greeter or a Docent: - Greeters welcome guests and make sure that they sign in. They direct the flow of traffic into the garden. They encourage guests to add comments to the sign-in sheet. - Docents (after orientation) help answer questions about the homeowner's garden. To volunteer for the 2008 Tour, please complete the Volunteer Sign-up Form at http://www.goingnativegardentour.org/volunteerForm.php Sign up now! There is a volunteer orientation this Friday, April 4. More information after you have registered.

Have you thought about organizing a hosta society? Most of the time, tours are usually sponsored thru a club or society. Are there any other gardening clubs in your town? Another thought is to maybe set up your tour as a charitable event. As for the thought of a "real life" forum... tours really don't do much to foster relationships, unless its a bus tour where you have time to chat with your neighbor. But even then, people tend to visit with those they know, not so much with strangers. This is where the gardening club/hosta society is going to come in. If you think you might want to start a society, I'd go to the American Hosta Society facebook page and ask how to start one there, or maybe the Hallson's forum. If there is already a local society, perhaps you can draw interest from the membership. Food is a great way to get people to linger in a garden. Perhaps you could set up your tour as a progressive dinner? Or a pot luck/progressive? 1 house has 4 people bring appetizers, next 1: 4 salads, next 4 entrees, next 4 desserts? Ok, now, from the garden host's perspective. Being on a tour is intimidating. We (the host) have this notion that our garden should be pristine, finished (no works in progress), weed free and perfect before anyone sees them. I don't know how to tell you to get people to relax, but when I had my 2 garden parties in June, I knew they were both going to be groups of gardeners, so they'd understand if things weren't perfect. But if I were on a public tour, I think I'd feel more pressure. Not sure how to tell ya how to get possible hosts to be willing to look past imperfection, but it's going to be a stumbling block. Also, choose a time of the season when hosta gardens look their best. Here in the twin cities that time is in mid to late June.... before the heat really sets in. If it's going to be a general garden tour, maybe July is best, since there is going to be more in bloom. Good luck!