Garden Etiquette Gaffes

No one wants to commit an etiquette gaffe, but when it comes to garden tours, plant shows and sales, and going to nurseries big and small, it's easy to do. We get caught up in all things spring and can be, well, clueless.

Perfect for spring garden touring: A garden hat decorated with succulents. By Laura Balaoro for Better Homes & Gardens. Get hat-decorating how-to and design ideas.

Yes, we’ll wear sunscreen, closed-toe shoes and bring a hat and drinking water. We’ll park legally, duh. But have you considered…

• Owners of private gardens would rather you don’t bring pets; uninvited or unregistered guests; anything on wheels; or cumbersome bags or backpacks.
• Beverages are best left in the car. You want your hands free, and you sure don't want to spend time hunting a trash can.
• Access may be challenging. I like how the SDHS/APLD Garden Tour (Sat., April 14) diplomatically advises, “Stay on paths and respect your own abilities to navigate stairs, steps, paths and walkways.”
• Watch out for mud puddles, uneven terrain, and plants with sharp tips or spines.
• Rethink wearing floaty clothes that can get snagged. And those adorable sandals.
• Accidentally break something? Mortifying, I know. But do tell the host or whomever is in charge. Don’t try to hide it, or leave it to be found and fixed later.
  

Avoid touching succulent leaves that have a powdery coating. It rubs off easily, and you’ll leave behind fingerprints. (Which means we can find out who did it, ha.)

Heed these nursery no-no’s

Don’t filch fallen pieces of plants. They may be headed for the trash, but the nursery or vendor is in the business of selling plants, not giving them away.

• Keep an eye on your kids. Employees cringe when children throw rocks, jump off retaining walls, pick flowers, and splash in water features.

Tempted to take a tag to help you remember? Aiee! It’s better for both you and the nursery to photograph the tag with the plant.

• If you pick up a succulent or other nursery plant, take care to set it down where it was. Otherwise it might miss its regular watering schedule or get too much (or too little) sun exposure.

Tips from San Diego’s ultimate garden host

I’m indebted to Jim Bishop, past-president of the San Diego Horticultural Society, for helping me with much of the above...and for yet another tip you may find both endearing and amusing (as I do):

• Probably best not to bring food into anyone’s garden…but bringing a special treat for the owner is often welcomed.

Re plant IDs, Jim advises, “If you want to know the name of a plant, and the host isn’t available, take a photo and ask later. Nothing worse than being asked what ‘the yellow flower is’ when 50 different ones are blooming!” Photo: Jim Bishop

• Finally and importantly, Always thank the host for opening their garden, and thank any volunteers for helping out.

Btw, Jim’s garden, which has been on numerous Mission Hills Garden Walks, isn't in 2024, but do enjoy it virtually in his stunning Facebook photos.

And if you’ve yet to do so, be sure to watch my two-part You Tube tour and interview with Jim: