As a perpetual renter and dreamer-of-my-future-home, I often admire the more beautiful, well-kept homes of others as I walk through the city streets. It's thrilling to catch a tease of a gorgeously maintained garden, or witness a home evolve over time as owners solidify their tastes and invest in the nest. If you've ever wondered about the interiors and what is found beyond passer-by visibility, take part in the Landmark Society's 43rd Annual House & Garden Tour, held this weekend.

This year's event features 10 homes and an architecturally significant school around the Park Avenue area, including Westminster Road, Canterbury Road, and other streets that provide quiet residential retreats just minutes away from bustling city culture. The tours take place Saturday and Sunday, June 8-9, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. each day. Tickets are $22, or $18 for Landmark Society members, and may be purchased at landmarksociety.org or at Parkleigh, on the corner of Park and Goodman. For more information, call 546-7029, or visit landmarksociety.org.