By Mary James.
Garden tour season winds down this month with a number of favorites, including three that make perfect Mother’s Day weekend celebrations. Missing from the lineup is the San Diego Floral Association’s tour of historic gardens, moved this year from May to October, when SDFA plans a spooky Haunted Garden Tour that ends with a Garden Festival at Mission Hills Nursery. Watch for details at sdfloral.org.
May 6: 21st Annual Clairemont Garden Tour
Among the dozen tour stops in the urban neighborhoods of Bay Ho, Bay Park, and Clairemont, are a lush Hawaiian tropical garden created over five decades, a backyard G-gauge model railroad, and a landscape home to chickens and an orchard. Master Gardeners and other experts will be on hand, along with yard décor artists and vendors. Two food trucks will sell refreshments. Visit gardentour.clairemontonline.com for more information.
May 13: 19th Annual Mission Hills Garden Walk
Mission Hills Nursery is the starting point for this popular tour in a historic San Diego neighborhood. Among the ten open gardens are terraced view landscapes and a tropical garden with a koi pond. Includes art displays, music, and food vendors, plus a Mercado at the nursery. Proceeds aid Mission Hills Garden Club educational projects. Details at missionhillsgardenclub.org.
May 13: 22nd Annual Country Garden Tour of Fallbrook
A garden sculpture gallery, a multi-acre landscape with a maze and hothouse, a permaculture garden with bee hives, chickens, and a duck pond can all be seen among the six gardens on this tour. Sponsored by the Fallbrook Chapter of the American Association of University Women. Shopping and free refreshments will be available at the historic Palomares House, where the tour begins. To learn more, visit fallbrookchamberofcommerce.org/events-v2/events/AAUW-Country-Garden-Tour---22nd-Annual_ET1055.html.
May 13-14: Mother’s Day Weekend Art, Garden & Studio Tour
Eight gardens in Encinitas and South Carlsbad open for this popular Mother’s Day weekend tour sponsored by the San Dieguito Art Guild. Among them is a historic Encinitas ranch, a seaside succulent garden, and two large estates. Works by more than thirty Guild artists will also be on display. Visit sandieguitoartguild.com/mothers-day-tour for more information.
May 20: 19th Annual Secret Garden Tour of La Jolla
Destinations on this tour are secret until event day, but based on past tours, stops will range from historic cottages to sprawling ocean-view estates with diverse landscape styles. Gardens feature entertainment, artists in residence, and tabletop and floral displays. The Secret Garden Boutique at Wisteria Cottage sells plants, garden accessories, and gifts. New this year is a May 19 Candlelight Garden Soirée in one of the 2016 Secret Garden Tour gardens, which was also featured in last November’s San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles. Sponsored by the La Jolla Historical Society. Details at lajollahistory.org/events/secret-garden-tour.