This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon: June 8, 2008 - At least it wasn't raining.
That's what we laughingly told ourselves as we braved the heat and muggy conditions to visit the gardens on the annual Hermann garden tour and plant sale -- and then took in the art fair in the center part of town. Better a hot, bright sun than the almost biblical deluges of late. As usual, the gardens were a delight.
I love the gardens on the Hermann tour, largely because they're created and worked by the people who live there themselves -- although they definitely seem to be people with considerably more time than I seem to have. There's little evidence of landscape architects, design firms or professional horticulturalists. They're just people who love plants and love experimenting with them.
Most of this year's eight gardens were in the historic district and within easy walking distance of each other. We were treated to front yards bursting with colorful annuals and perennials, such as coriopsis, blazing stars, phlox; to backyard edens, shade gardens with meandering pathways and whimisical yard art; to vegetable plots where all sorts of things from Transylvanian garlic to all the ingredients for salsa were being grown.
I left chock full of creative ideas and good intentions. Now all I need is the time.