By John Beaudry.
Our 2018 Spring Garden Tour will be in beautiful Encinitas on April 7, 2018. The tour will feature eleven gardens in the Olivenhain ("olive grove") neighborhood, which was settled in the 1890s by a German colony on the Rancho Las Encinitas Mexican land grant. Ten of this year’s gardens will be within walking distance of one-another.
The Horticultural Society’s early season tour focuses on plant-rich gardens belonging to people who have been lifetime plant collectors. Each garden has its own personal style, and from intimate courtyards to palatial estates, this tour is sure to inspire all.
The tour will include a master’s ceramic studio and home on a two-acre parcel whimsically and artfully adorned with handmade ornaments to die for. Another tour garden owner created an exquisite outdoor space surrounding an incredibly beautiful home that is shrouded in creeping ficus. This estate features a large reflecting/lap pool, formal gardens with fountains, and much more.
The Spring Garden Tour is our biggest fundraiser of the year. Proceeds from the tour fund college scholarships for local horticulture students and programs that promote our mission: educating residents about gardening in this rich horticulture environment with so many micro-climates.
We are seeking volunteers who can assist with vendor coordination, signage, online sales, as well as artists and, of course, lots of volunteers for the day of the tour. Volunteering for the tour is a great way to meet new people and to learn more about our favorite obsession: plants and gardens. If you can give a few hours a month between now and April 7 to make our event a success, we would be delighted to have your support. Please contact Karen Krugman, Volunteer Coordinator, to join the team.