Spring garden tour season in Southern California is ready to bloom
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; registrations@sbbg.org; 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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