In September, lovers of natural beauty will have a chance to see some of the most beautiful spots in Herndon.

The Herndon Garden Tour, slated for Sunday, Sept. 10, will be a showcase of five examples of fine use of green thumbs. The tour will feature:

• 900 McDaniel Court: A palette of different leaf shapes, textures, and colors; and a pond with waterfall
• 958 Tympani Court: An Italianate garden modeled after the designs of southern Italy
• 654 Old Hunt Way: Trees, bushes and flowers that create overall design balance
• 809 Monroe St.: A contrast of different plants, colors, leaf shapes accentuated by various types of stones and plants
• 101 Pearl St.: An organic garden with emphasis on colors throughout the seasons

In addition to the private gardens, the Monarch butterfly waystation at Runnymede Park (195 Herndon Parkway) will also be part of the tour. Painting demos, garden music and more will also be offered. Gardeners will be on hand during the self-guided tour to discuss their gardens and answer questions.

The tour is scheduled for noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 10. Advance tickets are available for $10 through Sept. 1, at which time the price will increase to $15. Children under 12 can participate for free.

Tickets are available at Herndon Florist (716 Lynn St., cash or check only) and the Herndon Community Center (814 Ferndale Ave.).

The Herndon Garden Tour is produced by the town’s Cultivating Community Initiative, a group of volunteers who are committed to neighborhood beautification and community spirit.

If you’ve wanted to reserve a Reston Association garden plot but there’s never been space, now is the time to put down roots.

Patricia Greenberg, RA’s environment resource supervisor, says that “for the first time” there are open plots available with no waiting list.

“There are nine plots available right now, of different sizes and in different locations in Reston,” Greenberg said. “It’s an incredibly popular program, and [right now] there is only a waiting list for the plots in South Reston, and that’s only two or three people.”

Plots are available to Reston Association members only, and are available at half-price since the growing season is already half over. Discount prices to reserve available plots for the rest of the season are as follows:

• 119.9 square feet and below: $15
• 120 to 199.9 square feet: $25
• 200 to 280.9 square feet: $37.50

Gardeners get right of first refusal for their plots, Greenberg said.

“They can renew the same garden plot rental every November, unless they notify us that they do not want the garden plot,” she said.

Anyone interested in reserving a plot should call 703-437-7658 or email [email protected].

Appian Going Public — Reston-based software developer Appian Corp. has filed for an IPO, making it the first DC-area company to do so in 2017. They are looking to raise up to $86.25 million. [Washington Business Journal]

Reston Expo Event Coming Up — Reston Association’s Home and Garden Expo is slated for Saturday, May 13. It will feature a variety of interior and exterior home improvement vendors and retailers; music, workshops and kids’ activities; and food trucks on site. [Reston Association]

Herndon PD Plans Another Coffee Meetup — HPD officers will meet informally with community members Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Guapo’s (1042 Elden St.). [Herndon Police/Twitter]

County Park Authority Readying for Eclipse — A solar eclipse Aug. 21 is expected to cover 80 percent of the sun in Fairfax County. County parks are partnering with schools and libraries to provide eclipse learning opportunities. [Fairfax County Park Authority]

April 1 and it’s time to think spring.

Reston Association is holding a Native Plant Sale today from 1 to 5 p.m. at Walker Nature Education Center, 11450 Glade Dr.

Gardeners can pre-order some of the plants that survive and thrive at the Nature Center. Pick up of orders will be Saturday, April 16.

Species include sun and shade-loving perennial flowers and ferns that do well in a variety of growing condition and add value to your backyard habitat. Plants are deer-resistant and neonic free.

Download this form to see what’s for sale and the prices per plant.

Aspiring gardeners, interior designers and home-improvers of all sorts can head to the Reston Home & Garden Expo on Saturday.

Free to Reston residents, the event will be held in the Reston Association’s conference center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The expo set to be held for the fifth time will include three workshops and more than 20 exhibitions by companies that specialize in design, paving, lighting and more.

The focus of the event will be on how residents can seamlessly work within Reston’s covenant design review rules, RA communications and community engagement director Kirsten Carr said Friday.

“As you’re talking with people who can do your windows and do your remodeling, we’ll have covenant staff who can go through the whole process with you,” she said. “It will be one-stop shopping.”

The following workshops will be offered.

Let Covenants Work for You, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.
Presenter: Reston Association covenants staff

How to Qualify a Contractor, 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Presenter: Mark Fies, Synergy Design & Construction

Color Trends in Interior Design, 12:30-1:15 p.m.
Presenter: Amelia Vallone, Amelia Vallone Interiors

 The Reston Home & Garden Expo will take place at 12001 Sunrise Valley Dr.