Excerpts from GARDEN THOUGHTS by Stuart Robertson garden columnist for the Montreal Gazette Summer’s the time for garden visits, from organized tours that inspire, to simple drop-ins to admire. But as with any form of social function, there's a recommended code of etiquette for a garden guest, and I call it Robertson's Rule of Order.
Rule 1: The cardinal rule is to be a welcome visitor. Better still, an invited visitor. There are days when even a prize-winning garden can be caught needing a face lift.
Rule 2: Walk gently in the garden and leave only favorable, impressions. Stay on the paths, particularly if your feet are just one pair of many that could be passing through. No leaping into the middle of a flowerbed for a better look and definitely no pets.
Rule 3: Resist, under all circumstances, the urge to pluck weeds. Your fingers may itch to yank out that offending bit of purslane, but it's not your garden. Rule 4: This closely related to Rule 3 and simply says don't touch. Anything. Don't pull plant labels out of the ground for a better look-you might spear a dormant tulip bulb when you stick it back in the ground. Don't handle the tempting blooms or fondle the unopened buds. Above all, don't squeeze the fruit.
Rule 5: Thou shalt not steal. We've all been guilty of it in some form or other- popping a little slip in the pocket or taking ripened seed heads but pretend it's your garden that's part of the tour. Would you want someone doing this?
Rule 6: If you see something in the garden you long to have, be subtle about it. It doesn't flatter the host or behoove you to go about dropping loud and obvious hints. Such tactics make it hard for a gracious host to refuse. Instead, ask where the plants were bought or if the gardener holds a plant sale.
Rule 7: Use your eyes and ears more than your tongue. One thing a garden host needs less than aphids is an invasion of loud-mouthed boors with voices like Ethel Merman, who grow things larger or better than the ones currently under scrutiny or those who love to point out the spot of rust on the roses to all within their considerable earshot.
Rule 8: In spite of Rule 7, don't be shy about asking questions. Gardeners all over the world love to share their experiences.
Rule 9: If you enjoyed your visit, say so. And return the favor by opening your own garden for others to visit. You may think it's not as good as the ones you've seen, or that it doesn't look like gardens pictured in glossy magazines, but people don't go on garden tours to be humbled; they want to chat and share and make friends.
Rule 10: Know when to leave. If a cup of tea hasn't been suggested at the end of the stroll take the hint. If your host wants you to stay he or she will let you know.
Our club would like to add: We do not encourage infants and children at our meetings, garden tours and bus trips because of the potential dangers-such as injury due to pets, eating of poisonous plants, the open water of ponds and rivers, etc. Children, no matter how well behaved, can be a distraction. We are essentially a group who meet for pleasure (as well as information of course) and we consider this our "quality time".