INPAWS Garden Tour

When it comes to understanding how to use native plants in the landscape, a picture may be worth a thousand words, but an actual garden built around native plants is priceless. INPAWS initiated its public garden tours in 2010, following a successful members-only trial run in 2009.

As people become aware of the urgency of increasing biodiversity, we want people to see that, to include native plants in their landscapes, they need not sacrifice beauty, neatness, or their relations with the neighbors. That’s what INPAWS garden tours are all about.

The 2012 garden tour featured spring gardens and a city park in Central Indiana. In 2013, fall landscapes will be featured in a Sunday afternoon tour on September 22. We hope to expand the tour to include gardens all around Indiana on the same day.

If you would like us to consider your garden for the tour, please email gardentour@inpaws.org. We seek gardens that include at least 50 percent native plants in either a designed or naturalistic context.

A 2011 tour garden, Wilderness in Suburbia, wowed visitors with its bioswale alive with color and abuzz with pollinators

 

What to Expect

It’s not that easy to find appropriate demonstration gardens! Those that happen to be ready for viewing are not necessarily close together, so plan on doing some driving and invite your friends to share a ride. When parking near tour gardens, please be thoughtful of the neighbors and keep from obstructing traffic.

Wear comfortable clothing and good walking shoes so you’ll be prepared for any kind of terrain. A hat and bug spray are essential!

You’ll be greeted at each garden by volunteer hosts who will do their best to answer your questions.

We welcome your suggestions for improving the garden tour and your tips on tour-worthy gardens to include next year. Write to us at gardentour@inpaws.org.

How to Register

Registration is informal. Simply email gardentour@inpaws.org to let us know you’re coming. If you register, we’ll send you the addresses of the tour gardens, along with directions on how to get there, about a week before the tour.