Each year during the prime-time gardening season, any Master Gardeners of Davidson County member can show off their garden by hosting a tour or open house. When you host a garden tour, you earn 15 volunteer hours. In addition, any Master Gardener who assists a host in preparation for the tour can record one volunteer hour for every hour you assist (including travel time to and from the garden). Master Gardeners who visit the tour garden can count the visit for one CEU hour.

Here are the steps for hosting a garden tour or open house:

Schedule: Decide on a date and time for the tour. Generally, tours take place on Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Time and hours are up to the host; a two- to four-hour window provides ample time for visitors to come and go as they are able. You may provide a rain date, but it’s not required. 

Email the request at least two weeks in advance to gardentours@mgofdc.org. Along with the date and time, include the address of the tour, a bit of information about your garden, and a couple of recent images that we can include with the announcement. 

Plan: Even if your garden is a “work in progress,” Master Gardener colleagues enjoy and learn from it. We encourage tour hosts to include an educational component. Possibilities could include visible labels on plants, including botanical names; a listing of plants in the garden; a handout with information on design/planting/maintenance, or other learning opportunities relevant to your garden.

Enjoy: Welcome visitors, chat with your gardener colleagues, walk with them around the garden and enjoy showing off your hard work. Some hosts provide very light refreshments, but it’s not required. Water is nice to have on hand, though, especially on a hot day.

Questions? Email Gloria Ballard at gardentours@mgofdc.org.