On Friday the second annual Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival opens. This year there are over 80 gardens on tour Cape Wide, for the benefit of local non-profits. It’s a celebration of local gardeners, businesses and non-profits, all organized under the umbrella of our signature flower, the Hydrangea.

My garden will be open three times during this ten day period, so come visit!

Here’s what I like about my garden being open:

1. It forces me to get things in great shape. If my garden wasn’t going to be on tour I might not get the random plants that have been sitting outside the kitchen door planted. We plant geeks tend to have what my friend Roberta calls “The Driveway Collection” of random pots we have purchased, were given, or otherwise begged and borrowed…being on tour spurs me to plant or repot them.
2. I enjoy being able to help the non-profits I’m involved with…if I had the strength I’d open the garden even more than three times. It’s nice to use what we’ve created to benefit others.
3. We enjoy sharing great plants and garden practices, especially with beginning and younger gardeners.
   

   Come hear about the original Cocktail Hour Garden – where the inspiration for my new book originated.

   

   See the entry garden by the front door – the Echinacea and daylilies are coming into bloom.

   

   The veggie garden is beginning to produce, the berries are ripe and the test gardens are flowering.

    

   And of course there are Hydrangeas too – come learn which ones are in flower for me despite the harsh winter!  Hope to see you soon,  C.L.