Spring 2013 San Diego County Garden Events

A hillside butterfly garden on display in the 2012 Clairemont Garden Tour

It is officially Spring and it’s time to think about attending one or more of this season’s garden events. I encourage you to attend a tour and plant sale in your neighborhood or explore a new neighborhood! Here is a list of events for the San Diego county area:

Through May 12: Visit the Flower Fields in Carlsbad, CA – See the Ranunculus flowers bloom in patterns yet unseen in the 15 year history of the event. Cost $11 for adult, $6 for child. Event website

March 22 - 24, Orchid Show at Scottish Rite Center in Mission Valley. Event website

April 6, 9 AM to 4 PM San Diego Horticultural Society 25th Annual Garden Tour of seven diverse Poway gardens sponsored by San Diego Home and Garden Magazine. Rumor has it that this is one of the best garden tours in the county. Event website 

April 6 - 7, Southern California Plumeria Cutting Sale at Room 101, Casa del Prado, Balboa Park. This free admission event is a cutting sale (cash and check only) with demonstrators and vendors on hand to offer advice on caring for plumeria. Event website

April 13,  9 AM to 3 PM, Fallbrook Garden Tour displays seven gardens featuring water conservation and native vegetation. Tour begins at Fallbrook Historical Society. Event website

April 20, 9 AM to 12 PM, Point Loma Garden Club Annual Plant Sale at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Event website

April 20 - 21, San Diego Rose Show at Liberty Station, Point Loma. Amateur and expert presentation of roses. Cost is $5 per adult, children under 12 are free. Event website

April 20, 10 AM to 4:30 PM, 8th Annual Encinitas Garden Festival and Tour displays eighteen gardens focusing on the use of space. Gardening Sale and exhibitions will take place as well. Event Website

 April 21,  2 PM, 11th Annual Seaside Native Plant Garden Tour, St. Mary's School, Oceanside. Tour will showcase eighteen front yard gardens that focus on native plants. Event website

April 27, 10 AM to 4 PM, 12th Annual Point Loma Garden Walk will feature ten neighborhood gardens and a large plant sale. Event Website

April 27, 9 AM to 3 PM, Friends of East County 18th Annual Garden Tour features six gardens and a craft show. Event website

April 27, 9 AM to 3 PM, 6th Annual Ramona Garden Club Tour and Sale, Ramona Library. This tour will feature six gardens and a large Plant Sale. Event website

April 27,  9 AM to 4 PM, 19th Annual Spring Garden Festival, Cuyamaca College. Learn about urban farming and sustainability. Loads of activities for all ages and gardening skill levels. Please review website because there is some discrepancy between on-line resources of the actual date. Some sites say April 27, others April 28. Event Website

May 4, 10 AM to 4 PM, Clairemont Garden Tour. This 17th Annual event features twelve homes in Clairemont, Bay Park, and Bay Ho. Check out the cool gardens in central San Diego, in the neighborhood I call home! Event website

May 4, Master Gardener Spring Seminar, County of San Diego Operation Center, Kearney Mesa. Take a class from the San Diego Master Gardeners, view demonstrations, and purchase items at the garden market place. Event Website

May 11, 10 AM to 4 PM, Mission Hills Garden Club Walk, Mission Hills Nursery. One of the most highly regarded garden tours in the county in the area of historic Mission Hills. Information is currently forthcoming on garden club website.

May 18, 10 AM to 4 PM, 15th Annual Secret Garden Tour, La Jolla and Muirlands features six secluded, old-growth gardens. The garden locations are a tightly maintained secret until the day of the tour. Event website

May 18, San Diego Floral Association Historic Garden Tour  and Plant Sale will showcase eight gardens in the eclectic and historic neighborhoods of Burlingame and North Park. Event Website

Take a stroll through the garden gate - you'll never know what you'll find!

16th Annual Clairemont Garden Tour 2012

The Clairemont Garden Tour is back and better than ever! I saw the reemergence of wonderful, do-it-yourself gems and some amazing show-stoppers! The diverse central San Diego garden tour, which encompasses the area east of Interstate 5, south of Interstate 52, and west of Interstate 805, had a lovely range of 14 gardens that showcased multiple themes including an Tuscan Terrace, a Southwest Tropical front yard, an extensive canyon property with chickens, a model train front yard, a terraced butterfly garden, and a combination Tropical Rain forest/ floral garden. Included in many of the gardens were terraced hillsides tailored to the topography of the area, drought tolerant xeriscaping and native plants, certified wildlife gardens that provide food, water, cover and shelter to animals, and fruit trees incorporated into the landscaping. Vegetable garden plots were smaller this year, with a lot more focus on the flowers. But oh, the flowers: Hydrangea, lilies, roses, epiphyllum, protea, grevillea, multiple kinds of butterfly bush, and so many more! Some gardens were nascent developments, just beginning to put their roots down. Other gardens have been established for up to 20 years. Many thanks to the exhibitors, Clairemont Town Council, volunteers and sponsors who made this event possible!

Avanti Tuscan Terrace in Bay Ho

This certified wildlife habitat had water, plants to provide food, cover and shelter for animals.

A perfect spot to read on a hot summer day

Grape vines make a living roof

Terracing follows the lay of the land

Cole Canyon View Garden in Northwestern Clairemont

View from patio, fruit trees line perimeter of garden

Stairs through the terraced garden beds connect the lower level to the patio.

Drought tolerant succulents look lush, not sparse.

Chicken coop!

Terraced garden beds maximize cultivated space

Sunglow Butterfly Terrace in Northeastern Clairemont

A waterfall with pool creates relaxing garden soundtrack.

Butterfly nectar flowers - Butterflies were released earlier that day!

Another view of waterfall and pool.

Butterfly garden terracing provides food an shelter for winged friends.

 Burgener Rain Forest Garden in Bay Park

Walkways lead through the garden like secret passages

Second level walkway leading to greenhouse on top of home

What could be around this turn?

Light and shadow display amazing textures

To view more pictures of the 2012 Clairemont Garden Tour, please click here to see my entire photo album of the event.