I have been interested in the past year to open my garden to the public. Does anyone have any advice? I don't want join a local gardening group. Most are uppity and lacking a modern feel to them. I would like people to come to my garden not expecting to see a garden that's immaculate, just a well put together garden that's done by an ordinary person and they too can make a great garden. I would love to hear from anybody who have taken the liberty to open there garden for a day just cause they wanted to.

That's an interesting idea. I have seen members of certain plant groups or Master Gardeners open their yards to the public for the day but never a private individual. Maybe contact the local gardening society? When I lived in California, I did invite the local Garden Society, uppity old people and all, to my garden. I had a lot of unusual and unique plants that some had never seen before but it was spring and the azalea, dogwoods and daffodils were in full bloom.

Go for it! And have fun.

Daisy

Your County Extension service might be able to help and advise you on this. As Daisy said, Master Gardeners here host a Gardens tour each year that is open to the public. People who know the various Master Gardeners have also offered to put their gardens on the tour, then a whole lot of people get to spend a day going from house to house, viewing gardens. This way you will get people who are genuinely interested in gardens and gardening, not crazies and criminals.

If you just put out an ad in the paper, or (heaven forbid) somewhere like on Craig's List or another public forum, you could get a whole lot of very strange people trooping through your yard. I'll take uppity old gardeners any day to nutcases who want to case your house.

You may want to talk with your home insurance provider about a temporary rider that would give you extra coverage for these events.

Keep in mind that sometimes birdbaths, shrubs, tools ect sprout legs and take a hike! I would stick to inviting people you know. Maybe a neighborhood gathering or your Sunday School class or the people you work with or such like that.