I'm a little bit of a nosy Nancy when it comes to other people's gardens. I love to see the endless possibilities of plants and people expressed through a garden. So the other evening I was fortunate to be in the group of Hennepin County Master Gardeners previewing possible sites for next year's garden tour.

It is said that gardens are just an attempt to recreate Eden, supposedly the ultimate paradise where there are no Japanese beetles or thistles. Yet when you might put ten gardeners to a plot, the result will be ten very individual Edens, unique as snowflakes.

While striving to be natural, the hand of the gardener is always evident to varying degrees. In one garden a large lilac was in the gardener's words "on its last legs", but the stakes propping up the leaning limbs showed a kind compassion for this elderly member of the backyard. Another gardener's humor made light of issues that might stress another, referring to the creeping Charlie encroaching upon her property as the Maginot Line. One more garden kept revealing delightful details that a quick look might miss.

In these very urban gardens, the lot dimensions was modest, reminding us that size doesn't matter to a determined gardener. Yet they all gave a sense of enclosure while not excluding the neighboring properties.

The idea of differing garden styles but with shared common goals was illustrated perfectly at one home. This Master Gardener had transformed a barren yard into a mosaic of purple, chartreuse and silver foliage and flowers. It was tasteful and contemporary while warm and welcoming.

As he talked about the evolution of his garden it was obvious this young man had developed a friendship through gardening with the older next door neighbor who had lived there for years. Her garden was a colorful composition of impatiens and geraniums, flamingos and pinwheels.

But when I saw the two gardens juxtaposed together, I could only marvel at how each person approaches the art of gardening. The same energy and ambition was apparent yet so distinctive in the outcome.

Driving back home I was reflecting on the recurring theme in all these gardens. I think it was love.

Read more of Rhonda at The Garden Buzz