Spring garden tour season in Southern California is ready to bloom
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The spring garden tour season is flush with events, ranging from the exploration of private gardens to neighborhood walks. Although a majority of the events are in April, the season officially kicks off with next weekend’s Theodore Payne Native Plant Garden Tour. What follows is a selection of seasonal offerings. Be sure to check organizers’ websites for more information and updates because some events sell out. Not all tours are handicap-accessible.
March 21-22: More than 40 gardens in Los Angeles are featured in the annual self-guided native plant tour organized by the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants. March 21 will feature gardens in the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys; events on March 22 will focus on Los Angeles, the Westside and South Bay. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Members, $30, nonmembers, $35. Includes admission for both days. (818) 768-1802; nativeplantgardentour.org; theodorepayne.org.
March 28: Tony Baker and Ric Dykzeul lead a visit to several gardens in the Palos Verdes area in this tour sponsored by the South Coast chapter of the California Native Plant Society. 9:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. $20 to $25. Reservations by phone only: (310) 629-0500; sccnps.org/upcoming-events.
April 18: The Sherman Library & Gardens in Corona del Mar hosts a tour of several private gardens in Newport Beach, Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Members, $50; nonmembers, $55. Lunch included. (949) 673-2261; slgardens.org.
April 19: The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden presents Cultivating the Wild, a tour of a Santa Ynez Valley neighborhood landscaped with native plants as well as a tour of a historic California rancho. The tour includes a stop at the Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Members, $95; nonmembers, $125. Includes lunch, wine and bus transportation. Advance registration required. (805) 682-4726, Ext. 102; [email protected]; sbbg.org.
April 19: The Westlake Village Garden Club’s 42nd Annual Garden Tour highlights five gardens in the area. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Experts are on hand to discuss bees, birds, butterflies and garden roses. Advance tickets, $20; same day, $25. westlakevillagegardenclub.com.
April 25-26: Six private gardens are open to the public during the 68th annual Riverside Flower Show and Garden Tour. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The flower show is open 1 to 6 p.m. April 25 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 26. Elks Lodge, 6166 Brockton Drive, Riverside. $10 to $12. ( 951) 777-0746; riversideflowershow.info.
April 25: The seventh annual self-guided Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase features five walkable neighborhood clusters of California native and drought-tolerant plants and edibles. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free; marvistagreengardenshowcase.blogspot.com.
April 25-26: The Floral Park Home and Garden Tour highlights homes and gardens in the neighborhood north of Santa Ana. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. advance tickets, $25; same day, $30. Classic cars and antiques vendors will be located on Victoria Drive. (714) 648-0904; floralpark.com.
April 26: South Pasadena Beautiful hosts a tour of four sustainable gardens in South Pasadena. Additionally, Debby Figoni presents lectures on turf removal rebates and water-wise gardening at 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. at 523 Prospect Ave. Between lectures, Figoni and landscape architect June Scott advises on creating water-wise frontyards. Plant Swap at 1020 Highland St., 1 to 4 p.m. Free. southpasbeautiful.org.
April 26: Six gardens in Pasadena, South Pasadena and Sierra Madre are featured in this year’s self-guided Open Days tour sponsored by the Garden Conservancy. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Maps and tickets available at La Casita del Arroyo Garden, 177 S. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Members, $21; nonmembers, $35. (888) 842-2442; opendaysprogram.org.
April 26: Several private gardens in Fullerton are featured in the self-guided Fullerton Beautiful’s Open Gardens Tour. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. $10. Tour begins at the Fullerton College Horticulture Department, 321 E. Chapman Ave. (714) 871-4156; fullertonbeautiful.org.
April 26: The Pacific Palisades Spring Garden Tour of gardens in Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades includes a free tour of the Temescal Canyon native plant garden. Noon to 4 p.m. $30. (310) 454-1030; pacpalgardenclub.org.
April 26: The Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society sponsors a tour of seven gardens adjacent to Brookside’s stream. 1 to 4 p.m. $30 to $35 for non-members; windsorsquarehancockpark.com.
May 1: Gardens in the Wood’s Cove neighborhood of Laguna Beach are included on the self-guided Gate and Garden Tour. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. $45 to $50. lagunabeachgardenclub.org.
May 2: The 19th annual Old Town Tustin Promenade Home & Garden Tour includes historical homes and gardens, a tree walk and vintage car displays. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. advance, $20; same day, $25. Tour starts at Tustin Presbyterian Church, 225 W. Main St. (714) 731-5701; tustinhistory.com.
May 2-3: The Mary Lou Heard Memorial Garden Tour highlights 34 residential gardens from Long Beach to San Clemente. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Donation. heardsgardentour.com.
May 3: The second Garden Conservancy Open Days tour highlights gardens in Bel-Air, Brentwood and Santa Monica. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tour begins at Grow Native Nursery, 100 Davis Ave., Westwood. (888) 842-2442; opendaysprogram.org.
May 14: The 18th annual Newport Harbor Home and Garden Tour includes stops at several homes and gardens, lunch and an afternoon reception hosted by Barclay Butera Interiors. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $75 before May 7; $85 if purchased May 7-14. (949) 722-9473; newportharborhometour.com.
May 16: Friends of Robinson Gardens presents its 27th Annual Garden Tour benefit showcasing several private gardens and tours of the Virginia Robinson estate in Beverly Hills. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets start at $225. 1008 Elden Way, Beverly Hills. (310) 550-2068; robinsongardens.org.
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