For a printable version of this Tip Sheet - CLICK HERE

Thank you for considering opening your garden with NPA! Please note that you must be a current member when you open your garden with NPA.

There are 7 Steps to Register Your Open Garden:

Step 1:  Find Your Garden’s Location on our Area Maps

• Find your location on the maps below to learn what NPA Geographic Area your garden is located within

• Find the FOUR dates on the Touring Calendar below to see the assigned dates for your area to open

Step 3:  Choose Your Open Days

• Open on any day - throughout the year and as many times as you’d like
• We recommend you open on an assigned date for gardens in your area - especially in the popular touring months of June and July!
• Do both – open with nearby gardens on an assigned date – and open another time too
• Set up your own garden tour date with your gardening neighbors

When choosing a day to open, consider the following:

• Gardens that open with nearby gardens generally get more visitors – this is why we pre-assign open garden dates to specific geographic regions
• Hosts are welcome to open on any date they prefer – regardless of what we suggest - and any time throughout the year
• Gardens accessed by ferry service or located further away from the Seattle Metro area are especially encouraged to open with nearby gardens to increase their number of visitors
• Geographic boundaries for touring areas are approximate – gardens near borders could open on dates assigned to adjacent areas
• Assigned tour dates are based on each area opening for one day (Saturday or Sunday) – hosts can open both weekend days but may get fewer visitors on the unassigned day
• Off-season open gardens (October thru April) will not be listed in the printed Open Gardens book mailed to NPA members – but will be advertised on NPA’s website and in our emailed newsletters

Step 4:  Write a Garden Description

You will be asked to describe your garden (400 words max). Some garden hosts are hard-pressed when it comes to writing a garden description. Think of it as an overview of the experience that awaits the visitor. Here are some prompts to help you get started:

• What kind of garden is it? Cottage, woodland, formal, English, etc.
• How long have you gardened there?
• Do you specialize in particular plants?
• Does your garden have any special features? Water features, shed, arbors, art, etc.
• What do you love most about your garden? 

It’s best to refrain from giving a lengthy, itemized list of all the plants you grow. Let visitors discover them as they tour your garden.

Step 5:  Garden Photos

Please share up to 5 color photos (10 MB max each – or already reduced for web) that show off your garden or garden features. These will be used to advertise your garden in our emailed newsletters and the members-only area of NPA’s website.

Step 6:  Sign up on NPA’s Website

• On NPA’s website - open the Open Gardens page
• Click the ‘Register to Open Your Garden’ button
• Fill out this form with your name and email address (use the email address associated with your NPA account)
• Click CONFIRM, and you will immediately receive an acknowledgment email from NPA that has a link to the online registration form

Step 7:  Fill out the Online Registration Form

• Open the acknowledgment email from Step 6
• Click the link to open the Online Registration Form
• Insert all the details about your open garden event, and upload photos
• This form can be saved and edited as much as needed
• NPA may edit registration if required - Hosts will receive email notifications if this occurs

Printed Open Gardens Book Deadline: February 28th is the last day to submit your open gardens registration to be listed in the printed book mailed to NPA members in April. It takes many weeks to create, edit, publish, and mail NPA’s Open Gardens book – so we have to set a firm deadline. The printed book only lists gardens open from May 1st through September 30th .

Late Registrations: If you miss the February 28th book deadline - you can still register to open your garden in May-September. It won’t be listed in the book but will be listed on an NPA members-only website page and in our emailed newsletters. So, if you see that gardens will be open in your area and want to add your garden, we can add it to the tour! Please register at least 2 weeks before your open date.

Find your location on the maps below to determine the Geographic Area name assigned to your location!

NPA’s Geographic Areas for Open Gardens

• NPA recommends that Open Garden Hosts open on one (or more!) of the assigned dates chosen for their Geographic Area - this will increase how many visitors you receive
• Geographic boundaries are approximate – gardens near borders could open with adjacent areas. 

Northern Region

Central Region

Southern Region