I’m deep in my gardening era, and while tending to plants has been one of the most relaxing, soul-soothing hobbies I’ve picked up, there’s one thing that consistently ruins the vibe: the hose.

"This event is one of two a year that the Task Force works really hard to put on. This is the seventh year that we've hosted the tour," said Eleanor Mooty, historian for the Landscape Task Force.

Ms. Renkl is a contributing Opinion writer who covers flora, fauna, politics and culture in the American South. In Middle Tennessee, October is supposed to mean golden light and falling leaves and ...