The L.A. garden tours you won't want to miss this spring

Jeanette Marantos
·9 min read
Artist Cathy Hull donated this watercolor to the Sherman Library & Gardens in honor of its annual garden tours at seven private residences May 9.
Artist Cathy Hull donated this whimsical watercolor painting of an otter attending to the lily pond at the Sherman Library & Gardens to help promote the Newport Beach Garden Tour of seven private residences on May 9. (Cathy Hull)

It's garden tour time in Southern California, when a handful of gorgeous gardens open their doors to the public — and inspire us all to do a little gardening of our own. Please note that tours may be postponed or canceled due to the unfolding coronavirus crisis, so check before you go. If you have a garden tour you’d like us to consider, email details to jeanette.marantos@latimes.com and we may include it.

March 14, April 11, May 9 and June 6

A Curated Tour of Florence Bixby's Gardens by historic garden expert Janet Brown Becker from noon to 2:30 p.m. at Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Ranch and Gardens, 6400 E. Bixby Hill Road in Long Beach. Tickets are $15, advance registration required online. rancholosalamitos.org

March 28-29

The 2020 Theodore Payne Native Plant Garden Tour has been called off, but organizers have created a virtual tour of the 30-plus private and public landscapes that were slated to be on display. For details visit nativeplantgardentour.org

This newly re-landscaped home in Hollywood Hills West is featured in two garden tours: the Theodore Payne Foundation's event March 28-29 and the Association of Professional Landscape Designers' tour on April 4. The design, by Shawn Maestretti of Studio Petrichor, includes paths framed by water-saving hugelkultur berms, a waterfall and a lush collection of colorful native plants.

April 4

The Assn. of Professional Landscape Designers' 5th Sustainable Garden Tour has been postponed pending further notice. Please watch the website for details: apldca.org

April 18

California in My Garden, a free, self-guided tour of private and public gardens in west central Orange County featuring landscapes with more than 50% native plantings, has been canceled due to coronavirus concerns but the board is trying to create a virtual tour online; visit the website for more information. . occnps.org

April 19

The 2020 Art of the Garden Tour has been postponed to a date not yet announced. Visit the website for new information. creativeartsgroup.org

Claremont Eclectic: A Tour of Six Local Gardens has been canceled for 2020 due to coronavirus concerns. . claremontgardenclub.org

The Pacific Palisades Garden Club’s Annual Spring Tour has been canceled due to coronavirus concerns, but the club hopes to reschedule in May. Watch the website. pacpalgardenclub.org

This drought-tolerant landscape in Sierra Madre will be featured during the 2020 Art of the Garden Tour on April 19.
A stream is part of this drought-tolerant landscape in Sierra Madre that will be featured during the 2020 Art of the Garden Tour on April 19. (Lisa Agaran / Creative Arts Group)

April 25-26

Floral Park Home and Garden Tour begins at North Park Boulevard and Benton Way in North Santa Ana. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; wine tent 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 26. Tickets are $40, or $35 if purchased online by 3 p.m. on April 20. Proceeds support scholarships and community and charitable organizations in Santa Ana. floralparkhometour.com

The Morongo Basin Conservation Assn. 10th Desert-Wise Landscape Tour was still finalizing details at the time this story was published but promises to include natural dyeing workshops, tours of the Mojave Desert Land Trust nursery, more plant identification signs and desert gardening educators as well as tours of several private home gardens from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Buy tickets online for $10 ($5 for members). mbconservation.org

May 2

The Laguna Beach Garden Club’s Gate and Garden Tour starts and ends at the Bruce Scherer Waterwise and Fire-Safe Gardens of the Laguna Beach County Water District Headquarters, 306 3rd St. in Laguna Beach, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event includes free refreshments, plein air painters in several gardens, a raffle of prizes donated by local artists and businesses, and the opportunity to purchase "artisanal" margaritas and Mexican fare. Tickets are $50, or $60 on the day of the tour (if available — tickets sold out last year two weeks before the tour). Buses shuttle visitors to and from the water district gardens to featured homes in two Laguna Beach neighborhoods. Proceeds support educational school gardens, local scholarships and community projects. lagunabeachgardenclub.org

Artists will be painting in real time during the Laguna Beach garden tours May 2.
Artists will be painting in real time during the Laguna Beach garden tours May 2. (Carolyn Bent)

The Tustin Area Historical Society’s 24th Old Town Home & Garden Tour takes visitors through homes and gardens in the city’s Old Town, starting at the Tustin Presbyterian Church, 225 W. Main St. Advance tickets are $25 if purchased online. More details to be announced. tustinhistory.com

May 2-3

The 16th Mary Lou Heard Memorial Garden Tour features 39 residential gardens from Long Beach to Irvine to San Clemente. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets by donation; proceeds support the Sheepfold shelter for women and their children in crisis. Tour map available to download in April at heardsgardentour.com

The Redlands Horticultural & Improvement Society 2020 Garden Tour features six private gardens in Redlands. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Purchase tickets at Future Museum of Redlands, 700 Brookside Ave., for $15 (children 13 and younger free). Tickets are good for both days. The annual Spring Plant Sale is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 2 only at Redlands Prospect Park, 1352 Prospect Drive. redlandsgardenclub.com

Riverside Flower Show and Garden Tour includes a free, two-day flower show, seminars and garden fair at the Elks Lodge, 6166 Brockton Drive, in Riverside, from 1 to 5 p.m. on May 2 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m on May 3, and self-guided garden tours both days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $10, children under 16 free with paying adult. riversideflowershow.info

May 3

The 10th biannual "Blooms With a View" Spring Garden Tour and Vendor Park features nine drought-tolerant, traditional and eclectic gardens in the View Park-Windsor Hills, View Heights and Ladera Heights areas of South Los Angeles. Organized by Inspired Garden Artistry, the event includes drumming in one of the gardens plus potting classes, a children's play area, plant swap, food and music at the vendor park. The vendor park opens at 10 a.m. at Monteith Park, 4616 S. Mullen Ave., in View Park. The garden tours are scheduled from noon to 5 p.m. Tickets are $30 or $25 if purchased before April 20 at inspiredgardenartistry.com

The 24th Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Assn.’s Camarillo Garden Tour features art exhibits and demonstrations, live music, refreshments and a garden-themed boutique in addition to tours of five Camarillo gardens. 12-4 p.m. Tickets available online for $25; all proceeds benefit the association’s Camarillo Hospice program and free bereavement programs. imvna.org

Golden West College's native garden is the suggested starting point for the free California in my Garden tour April 18, sponsored by the Orange County chapter of the California Native Plant Society.
Golden West College's native garden is the suggested starting point for the free California in my Garden tour April 18, sponsored by the Orange County chapter of the California Native Plant Society. (Don Songster)

May 9

The 24th Newport Beach Garden Tour at Sherman Library and Gardens includes a light lunch and tours of seven private gardens. Each garden will host an artist at work from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets are $60 or $50 for members, with lunch at Sherman Gardens served from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The afterparty at Sherman Gardens is from 3 to 5 p.m. at Sherman Gardens, 2647 East Coast Highway, Corona del Mar, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Shuttle ride to gardens available by reservation for an additional fee of $50 per person. On Friday, May 15, an artist reception featuring all the artwork the artists make during the tours is set for 5:30 p.m. at the gardens. slgardens.org

Rose Society of Saddleback Mountain Garden Tour has been canceled for 2020, due to coronavirus concerns. rosesrosesroses.org

West Floral Park and Jack Fisher Park Neighborhoods' 14th Open Garden Day in North Santa Ana features garden tours in two neighborhoods of vintage homes. Event includes garden talks and demonstrations, plus a vintage car show, food-to-table demonstration, vendors selling garden products and gourmet food trucks, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Advance tickets are $15, or $20 the day of the event. Children 12 and under free. Pick up tickets and tour maps at Santa Clara Drive and Westwood Avenue. opengardenday.com

May 14

Newport Harbor High School Home and Garden Tour features seven homes, a breakfast reception from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop, a harbor-view lunch at Plums Cafe & Catering between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and an end-of-the-day reception from 2 to 5 p.m. at Barclay Butera, all in Newport Beach. Tickets available online for $85; tour maps will be mailed to ticket holders after April 1. Proceeds benefit the high school. newportharborhometour.com

May 16

Friends of Robinson Gardens presents its 2020 Garden Tour and Showcase in Beverly Hills, featuring self-guided tours of private gardens in Beverly Hills and West Los Angeles, as well as tours of the Virginia Robinson estate, a designer fashion show and catered lunch for one of the most glamorous garden tours of the season, at 1008 Elden Way, Beverly Hills. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets start at $250, and proceeds support the estate's restoration needs as well as the Children's Science Program. robinsongardens.org

The San Clemente Garden Club 2020 Garden Tour features self-guided visits to new private gardens in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, with food tastings and live music. Tour proceeds support scholarships, school gardens, civic beautification and conservation organizations. Tickets are $30 if purchased before May 16, $40 day of the tour. Tour tickets and maps will be mailed after April 27. sanclementegardenclub.com

Updates:
7:52 PM, Mar. 12, 2020: This story has been updated to reflect cancellations due to the unfolding coronavirus crisis.