As one of the original co-founders of The Secret Garden Tour of La Jolla, I am once again pleased to announce that this perennial favorite is now in its 19th year and will take place on Saturday, May 20.
Presented by the La Jolla Historical Society, The Secret Garden Tour offers a unique opportunity to wander through the garden gates and into some of La Jolla’s most cherished secret gardens, where you can learn about horticulture, garden design, history and historic architecture.  The tour helps support the Society’s diverse programs and also helps to maintain their irreplaceable archives of photographs and memorabilia.  
While the garden locations will remain a closely guarded “secret” until the day of the tour, here is a little “peek” at a few of the six featured gardens… A romantic garden that graces a historically designated 1930s, Edgar Ullrich-designed fantasy castle, ocean-view gardens overlooking a canyon that features vegetable and fruit trees, a 1930s Spanish-style home set in a botanical wonderland with specimen plants and spectrums of color and a garden that emphasizes water conservation with drought-tolerant plantings on more than an acre of land.
What sets the secret garden tour apart from other garden tours, besides the beautiful La Jolla settings, is that each garden features music from live musicians, as well as designer tabletop displays created for entertaining and artists painting each of the garden scenes. This year’s poster features a painting from the 2016 Secret Garden Tour that was painted by artist Cherry Sweig.
New this year will be the “Friday Night Garden Candlelight Soiree!”  This intimate garden gathering will take place Friday, May 19 in a beautiful garden that was one of the highlights of last year’s tour, and was also featured in the November 2016 issue of San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles magazine.  Enjoy hor d’oeuvres, wine and music by candlelight while mingling with other garden enthusiasts.  Garden designer, botanist author and host of the popular KPBS show, “A Growing Passion,” Nan Sterman, will be the night’s celebrity guest.
Returning again, The Secret Garden Boutique at Wisteria Cottage will be open to the public throughout tour day.  The boutique offers gardening accessories, plants, and gifts from various vendors known for their special artistic style and craftsmanship.   Wisteria Cottage will also offer a wine reception from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. for tour participants.
There are two ways to enjoy the tour, either the self-guided tour or the platinum tour. The platinum tour includes an elegant brunch and docent-led shuttle service to the gardens.  Early reservations are recommended as both the tour and candlelight soiree will sell out quickly.  
Reservations are available at www.lajollahistory.org/events/secret-garden-tour/ or call the society at 858-459-5335 for more information.  If you are a member of the society, you receive a discount on your tickets, so join today!