Check out this season’s garden tours for a bounty of inspiration.

By Teresa Woodard

This summer, garden gates across the Midwest will open to welcome guests for tours.  In search of inspiration, I attend several tours and walk away with a list of ideas and renewed motivation to spruce up my own garden.  Here are several don’t-miss tours.

• Old Louisville Hidden Treasures Garden (June 12)
• Cincinnati Secret Garden Tour  (June 20)
• Gross Pointe (MI) Annual Garden Tour (June 26-27)
• Lake Co. (Libertyville, IN) Master Gardeners’ Garden Walk (July 11)
• St. Louis Pond-O-Rama 12^th Annual Pond and Garden Tour (June 27-28)
• German Village (Columbus, OH) Haus & Garten Tour (June 28)
• Lakeside (OH) 10th Annual Garden Tour (June 29-July 2)
• Olbrich (WI) Home Garden Tour (July 10-11)
• Janesville (WI) Home Garden Tour (July 11)
• Sheboygan (WI) Area Garden Walk (July 11)
• Annual Secret Gardens of Wauwatosa (WI) Tour (July 11)
• Friendly Garden Club Walk (Traverse City, MI) (July 16)
• Sheffield (IL) 47^th Annual Music Festival & Garden Walk (July 18-19)
• Westaflora (Westerville, OH) 24th Garden Tour (July 19)
• Elkhart (IN) Quilt Gardens Tour (All summer)
• Garden Conservancy’s Open Days Tours (Find a private garden tour in your area.)

What’s your favorite garden tour?