Spring garden tours and events in Southern California
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Now that spring is in full swing, here’s a list of upcoming garden tours. Be sure to check websites for more information and updates, because some events do sell out. Your suggestions are welcome too via reader comments.
April 17: The South Coast chapter of the California Native Plant Society presents its 16th annual Spring Garden Tour featuring two gardens in Rolling Hills Estates. 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. $20 to $25. Reservations: (310) 629-0500.
April 18: The 51st annual garden tour of the Santa Monica Bay Auxiliary, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles will feature six gardens in Santa Monica, Brentwood and Pacific Palisades. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. Refreshments and boutique included. $35. Tickets may be purchased on the day of the tour at any of the gardens, including 534 Tenth St., Santa Monica, and 1667 N. Amalfi Drive, Pacific Palisades. (310) 395-3713.
April 22-25: The 20th annual Southern California Spring Garden Show will feature more than 75 specialty vendors and display gardens. South Coast Plaza. Free. South Coast Plaza, Crate & Barrel/Macy’s Home Store wing, 3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa. (714) 435-2160.
April 24-25: The Floral Park neighborhood in north Santa Ana will host its 17th annual home and garden tour. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Advance tickets online $25. (714) 648-0904.
April 24-25: The California Poppy Festival celebrates spring blooms in the Antelope Valley. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. $5 to $8. Lancaster City Park, 43011 N. 10th St. West, Lancaster.
April 25: The fifth annual Windsor Square-Hancock Park Historical Society Garden Party and Tour will consist of six private estate gardens of varying styles. Noon to 5 p.m. $50. Tour begins at Frances Blend School for the Visually Impaired, 5210 Clinton St., Los Angeles. (213) 243-8182.
April 25: The self-guided Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase will feature nearly 80 drought-resistant landscapes including the one pictured above. 2 to 6 p.m. Free. Website has details and addresses for each garden.
April 25: The Garden Conservancy’s Open Days tour of six private gardens in Pasadena includes Rancho La Loma, a Spanish-style house of the late 1800s with a terraced vineyard on one acre; and the landmark Greene & Greene 1907 Blacker House. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to each garden is $5; no reservations are required. Maps and discounted admission tickets will be available at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, 125 S. Grand Ave., from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (888) 842-2442.
April 25: The Fullerton Beautiful Open Gardens self-guided tour begins at the Fullerton College Horticulture Department on Berkeley Avenue, east of Lemon Street. Nine gardens will be featured; some are drought tolerant. $10. Pick up a map of locations 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (714) 871-4156.
April 30-May 2: The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden’s annual L.A Garden Show will focus on green living in Southern California. Workshops, lectures and demonstrations will include edible gardens, designing with California friendly plants, composting and making water-wise choices. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. $3 to $8. 301 N. Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia. (626) 821-3243.
May 1: The annual Venice Garden and Home Tour will feature 25 to 30 properties, including landscape designer Jay Griffith’s office as well as contemporary homes designed by Steven Ehrlich, Marmol Radziner, Callas Shortridge and Charles Ward. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $60 in advance, $70 day of event. Tour starts at 804 Broadway Ave., Venice.
Keep reading for more tour listings ...
May 1-2: The Mary Lou Heard Memorial Garden Tour ‘Real Gardens by Real People” features more than 30 gardens from San Juan Capistrano to Long Beach.. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Donation. (714) 566-4800.
May 2: The United Homeowners Assn. presents its fifth self-guided spring garden tour showcasing seven backyards in View Heights, View Park and Windsor Hills. Noon to 5 p.m. A vendor fair and plant swap runs from 10 a.m. 5 p.m. at Monteith Park, 3685 Olympiad Drive. $10 before May 1, $15 weekend of event. (323) 692-8302 or e-mail beautification@uha1979.org.
May 6: The Sherman Library and Gardens Volunteer Assn. presents its 14th annual garden tour from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Includes seven local gardens and a viewing of the library’s California Impressionist art collection. Refreshments included. $40 in advance day of tour $45. Sherman Library and Gardens, 2647 East Pacific Coast Highway, Corona del Mar. Reserve tickets by mail or phone (949) 673-2261.
May 7: This year’s self-guided Laguna Beach Garden Tour will feature seven private gardens in Woods Cove, one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. $35. Advance tickets only: www.lagunabeachgardenclub.org.
May 8: The Garden Conservancy’s Open Days tour for Los Angeles covers seven homes in the Windsor Square area. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to each garden is $5. Maps and discounted admission tickets will be available at the Ronnie Allumbaugh Gardens at Getty House, 605 S. Irving Blv., Los Angeles, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (888) 842-2442.
May 8: The 11th annual self-guided Open Doors Home and Garden Tour features properties in the Huntington Harbor, Seacliff and Southeast communities. Includes lunch and boutique at the Huntington Beach Arts Center. $50. (714) 915-1568.
May 8: The Orange County chapter of the California Native Plant Society will host a garden tour featuring a dozen gardens. Free. Consult website for contact information.
May 15: Friends of Robinson Gardens will present the 22nd annual “... Into the Garden” benefit tour showcasing five private gardens and a spring festival at the Robinson Estate. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $175. Virginia Robinson Estate, 1008 Elden Way, Beverly Hills. (310) 550-2068.
May 16: The Huntington Botanical Gardens 36th annual spring plant sale will include thousands of rare varieties, many difficult to find at nurseries. Edibles will include heirloom tomato seedlings, colorful chiogga beets, white alpine strawberries, purple string beans, herbs for delicious teas, even hops for the home brewer. 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Members can shop early at a preview sale May 15. Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. Free. (626) 405-2100.
May 22: Pasadena Heritage hosts the lecture and walking tour “Uncovering History in Pasadena’s Busch Gardens.” The lecture begins at 10 a.m. in the auditorium of Westridge School, 324 Madeline Drive, Pasadena followed by the tours which will last approximately two hours. $22. (626) 441-6333.
-- Lisa Boone
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