The gardens on display vary in size. You will be amazed at what can be accomplished in very small spaces, and you will be in awe of large properties that incorporate everything from a putting green to a waterfall. Expect to see a wide array of plantings, fountains, pretty benches, and hardscape designs. (The term “hardscape” refers to all non-living features in landscaping such as a brick patio, stone wall, or wooden arbor.)

These self-guided walking tours don’t require you to stick to a schedule; you can visit the houses in any order and spend as much time there as you want. There are at least two visits to our region scheduled for the month of June. Both are fundraisers for organizations that benefit the community.

Each garden has surprises, large and small. This sculptural stone planter is nestled among hydrangeas. CONTRIBUTED

Kettering, Oakwood Gardens

Seven gardens will be open to the public on Saturday, June 12, when the Garden Club of Dayton hosts a walking tour of Oakwood and Kettering Private Gardens. The organization has the honor of being one of 200 United States affiliates of the Garden Club of America and this annual event is a fundraiser for the club, which has been involved in Dayton’s horticulture and conservation efforts since its foundation in 1922.

Over the years, the Garden Club of Dayton has committed volunteers and funds to projects ranging from the Marie Aull Tribute Garden to Carillon Park and Wegerzyn Gardens to Cox Arboretum, RiverScape and Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm. To honor its upcoming 2022 centennial, members have chosen to support the Sunrise Park segment of the Dayton River Development Project, which focuses on river ecology, native plants and bird migration. At each stop on this tour, you will receive an information sheet with details.

Upcoming tours allow you to take your time in each garden. CONTRIBUTED

Yellow Springs Gardens

In memory of her friend Diane Foubert, gardener Lynn Sontag organized a tour of 10 private gardens in Yellow Springs on Sunday, June 27, to benefit the Yellow Springs Community Children’s Center where Foubert was director. Her husband, Dave, served as the village mayor for many years.

Sontag says that many of the gardens on this tour feature native perennials as well as garden rooms, separate areas sometimes separated by hedges. “One room can be vegetables, another can be a shade garden under a tree that leads to a meadow,” Sontag explains.

This Tuscan retreat is featured on the Garden Club of Dayton Tour. Built in 1927, the Italian Revival style home is surrounded by over an acre of landscaped grounds that include a swimming pool and natural waterfall. CONTRIBUTED

What the gardeners say

Nancy Dankof, a member of the Garden Club of Dayton, envisions her garden as an exterior painting. She started gardening at a young age while watching over her mom and dad. “I thought the trowel was my trophy for the day if I was asked to help dig holes, plant flowers, and then sprinkle water from the tin can or hose,” she recalls. “I learned the names of the flowers and often took my parents to the garden center to buy their plants. Buying and planting pansies has become an annual tradition with my mother, which I continue to this day.”

In the years that followed, Dankof combined the information she gleaned from her parents with her own artistic experience. “These gardens become my outdoor paintings,” she explains, “Just like when I sit down to paint, I think about my composition: what should be my focal point? What textures, colors and shapes should I use to create differences and harmonies? “

Dankof’s garden becomes the canvas. “I’m thinking of the shades and textures of green to use for contrast. For my flower selections, I try to find harmonious color combinations – sometimes I choose a dominant color with supporting accent colors. I think about the values ​​of colors, lights and darks, and their placement. Do I want to use a monochromatic or similar color palette? “

The gardeners of the region share their passion with the public. This photo is from the upcoming Garden Club of Dayton tour. CONTRIBUTED

These outdoor canvases, she adds, sometimes need to be “painted” when a plant grows too tall or when a rabbit eats it. “Mistakes are made,” she concludes, “but I also appreciate the annual questioning!”

Tracy Bieser, who led the DGC effort to redevelop the Wright Brothers’ grave at Woodland Cemetery, finds gardening a form of self-expression. Each year, she decides what to add or subtract. “I think the most successful gardens – like large paintings – have a certain balance of composition, texture, and color that guides the eye and helps create points of focus that make you want to slow down, slow down. stop and watch, ”she said.

GCD member Debbie Corpus of Kettering argues that the elements that create art in a garden are the same elements that create art in a painting: unity, contrast, repetition, color, patterns, volume and energy. “A garden can be calm and serene, loud and busy, bold or gentle,” she says. “I have loved plants since I was a child, have been gardening seriously for 30 years and still have a lot to learn about making art in the garden. It is an infinitely fascinating adventure.

HOW TO GET THERE

What: Garden Gems, a walking tour of seven gardens in Kettering and Oakwood organized by the Dayton Garden Club

When: From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 12. We encourage you to arrive at the last garden before 2:30 pm The event will take place rain or shine.

Or: A map and list of exact locations will be listed on your ticket. You can visit the gardens in any order.

Admission: Tickets cost $ 25 until June 11 and can be ordered online at www.gardenclubofdayton.org and picked up on the day of the tour at Smith Gardens, 11 Walnut Lane in Oakwood. Tickets can also be purchased for $ 30 on the day of the event at Smith Gardens. If you plan to go with someone who has a ticket, you can purchase an additional ticket in one of the gardens.

Car park: Street parking is available outside each house. The gardens are not wheelchair accessible and some gardens have stairs.

More information: Visit gardenclubofdayton.org/events or send an email to [email protected]

HOW TO GET THERE

What: “Flower and Beauty Gardens Tour” of 10 Private Gardens in Yellow Springs

When: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 27

Tickets: $ 10 in advance, $ 15 the day of the tour and available from June 7 at the Young’s Jersey Dairy Market gift shop on Route 68 north of Yellow Springs, Rosie’s Natural Foods, Yellow Springs Hardware and Current Cuisine in Yellow Springs. The tickets will provide addresses and information about the various gardens.

Benefit: The Yellow Springs Community Children’s Center was founded in 1926 and dedicated to the memory of Diane Foubert, former director of the center who died last year.

More information: Contact Lynn Sontag at [email protected]