The San Diego Horticultural Society has teamed up with the Association of Professional Landscape Designers-San Diego District, to feature the work of some of the best local garden designers and three of its members’ personal gardens!
This year’s spring garden tour in Escondido and Poway offers a chance to tour eight diverse gardens that are larger than your average city lot with lush-looking, low-water plantings.
Each garden has its own personal style and takes advantage of the unique characteristics of the site.
Here‘s an extraordinary opportunity to see professionally designed and member home gardens.
When the homeowners found this lovely 2-acre property, they knew it was the perfect place to live the dream - space to have a large orchard and a hoop house to grow edibles for themselves plus enough to donate to others. The site also features California native plants to complement the habitat conservation area that dominates the view from the property. The homeowners wanted to create a continuum for wildlife and to honor the habitat that existed on the site long ago. A large band of native plants surround the property on 3 sides. The center area is non-native Mediterranean climate plants with similar cultural needs. This combination offers habitat for local wildlife combined with year-round interest for the homeowners.
Features include winding DG pathways to navigate the steep slope, a dry streambed with ponds acting as bioswales, efficient in-line drip irrigation, wood based mulch away from the home, and stone mulch surrounding the home for fire resistance.
Nan will be selling her books on site!
Gentle Movement | Serenity in the Garden Designed by Lisa Bellora ornamentalgardens.net |
|
|
This relaxing, park-like setting has so much more to offer than the simple, water-thirsty lawn that it used to be. The drought tolerant front yard “Meadow” relaxes the eye with varying shades of green as grass-like plants move about gently in the breeze. Pebble pathways meander about in the large backyard through various colorful and textural plantings. The large water/fire feature on the patio and the outdoor kitchen with seating areas make this garden a great place for entertaining.
|
Living Among Natives | A Peaceful Respite |
|
|
Enjoy visiting this relaxing garden that sports a beautiful orange front door that just makes you smile! The expansive front yard features a variety of California natives, punctuated by large boulders and a dry creek bed for rainwater capture. There is also a welcoming seating area where one can enjoy the beauty and soft fragrance of the many native plants. The backyard continues the California native plant scheme, along with a large area with raised beds for edibles. (The best of both worlds!). Additionally, one more seating area overlooks a riding trail and the landscape beyond. Greg will be selling his books on site! |
A Watershed Approach | Surrounded by Color and Texture
Designed by Lisa Bellora ornamentalgardens.net
|
|
Who wants to mow when you can have a colorful, interesting front yard? This garden utilizes a large rain garden and berms created by Hugelkultur. The water from the roof is captured in the rain garden where it slows, spreads, and sinks into the soil below. The Hugel helps with water capture as well, creating living soil that holds onto water and nutrients for the surrounding plants. A front courtyard with beautiful stone tile is a great place to read while enjoying nature. Multiple plantings attract hummingbirds and bees to the garden creating a beautiful and functional garden for all.
National Wildlife Certified Habitat | It’s for the Birds! Designed by Greg Rubin calown.com |
|
|
Wildlife habitat is very important to this homeowner and her California native garden supports all types of wildlife, (especially our feathered friends!), by providing Food, Water, Cover, and Places to Raise their Young. Enjoy strolling through this lush landscape that has it all: color, texture, fragrance and an undulating meadow, accented by boulders, to rest your eyes upon. The DG (decomposed granite) pathways provide easy access to navigate the entire garden, slowly and purposefully. You’ll find plants that thrive in full sun, along with those that do well beneath the shade of an Oak tree. It’s a lovely place to be as you take it all in. |
The Designer’s Garden | A Habitat Watershed Designed by Lisa Bellora ornamentalgardens.net |
|
|
This 1957 Mid-Century Modern home sports a Modern Meadow with Urbanite patio, as well as native and Mediterranean plants in the front yard. The large backyard has a waterfall, pool and tiny Casita, a native habitat garden, rain garden, small bridge, Hugels, a large edible garden, and a meandering path that connects it all. It is a place to encourage wildlife, grow food, utilize ecological techniques, and experiment with new plants for the designer who lives in the home. Views to the east and west from the front and back porch are an added bonus. |
Let Nature be your Guide| Know your Place! Designed by Dennis Mudd founder of Calscape.org |
|
|
We’re so pleased to feature the Mudd Nature Preserve in this year’s tour. If this is your first time to see this garden, you’ll be amazed at the transformation of this large, suburban property from one with a landscape of lawn and tropical plants to one that mirrors the natural beauty of the surrounding hills and canyons. The homeowners used Nature as their Guide. If you’ve toured this garden before, then you’ll be pleased to come back again (& again!) to see how it evolves over time. This treasured garden is teeming with wildlife! The secret? Using plants endemic to the area and turning your pool into a pond, all of which support a wide variety of bird, insect, and animal species. Natural systems are in place here: leaf drop provides the best mulch for the soil, and having larger native species helps draw water through from an area with a water source, (in this case the dry creek bed in the driveway that’s irrigated w/bubblers), to the perimeter understory plants due to the mycorrhizal fungi on the plants’ roots. CNPS (California Native Plant Society- San Diego) will be on site with native plant information, books and seeds to purchase! |
The Collector’s Garden| Enjoying what you Love
Designed by Ray Brooks - 2024 SDHS Treasurer
|
|
Situated on more than an acre, the owners boast a diverse array of plants from many different areas of the world. The garden features a large greenhouse/conservatory with numerous plants and a propagation area. Don't miss the Cycad Terraces showcasing over 100 cycads both in-ground and in pots. Take a moment to explore the enchantment of the Secret Garden where you can relax beside a waterfall. There is a little bit of something for everyone in this garden! As you tour the garden, you will see other delights such as: dragon trees, waterwise plants, and how to collect 2000 gallons of rainwater for the landscape!
|
