UPDATE: this tour was cancelled for 2020. I will post updates once the Tour is rescheduled for 2021!
Native plants are a perfect addition to any garden. Come check out some great native gardens on April 4 at the CNPS-San Diego Garden Tour: The Artful California Native Gardens of East San Diego County.
As I have said before, here are five reasons:
Why Native Plants Are Awesome
Native plants need very little water.- They require very little maintenance. No weekly mow-and-blow service needed.
- Native plants attract wildlife, including songbirds and butterflies.
- No need for fertilizers in a native garden.
- Native plants, when properly watered, can help protect your home from wildfire.
Native plants create a natural habitat on your property. As a result, native gardens are less expensive, easier to maintain, and attract more wildlife than a traditional lawn. Consequently, you save money because native plants need much less water and maintenance, no fertilizers, and fewer or no pesticides.
As a real estate broker, I love how a water-wise garden with native plants can improve curb appeal, which can increase your property’s value!
California Native Plant Society’s 2020 San Diego Native Garden Tour
The 8th Annual Tour is called “The Artful California Native Gardens of East San Diego County.” Mark your calendar for April 4, 2020. Gardens will be available for viewing from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
San Diego Native Garden Tour Tickets
One ticket gives you admission for all of the gardens on the tour. Buy your tickets here.
Adult tickets are $35 online, $40 at the door. A Garden Tour 4-Pack is available for $120 online. Student tickets are $15 online. Everyone 17 and under is FREE. You will receive a map of the gardens, which you can visit between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm on April 4.
FREE ADMISSION is available to all tour volunteers! See below for more information, or go to the volunteer sign-up page.
What’s Included
If you are interested in native plants and water-wise gardening, here’s a fantastic opportunity to see examples of successful gardens. This is a self-guided tour; you will receive a tour booklet that contains the addresses of the native gardens.
This year’s tour features 12 gardens in East San Diego County, including: Mount Helix, La Mesa, Allied Garden, Lakeside, and Blossom Valley. In addition, there will be 5 additional Front Yard Inspiration gardens for front yard viewing. You will see gardens that homeowners designed and installed themselves, in addition to gardens by professional native landscape designers.
You will see how homeowners have successfully converted sterile lawns into wildlife sanctuaries. This can happen anywhere. These garden tours show great examples of how you can convert your lawn into beautiful, low-maintenance native habitat.
Some of the tour sites will also host artists who will be creating and selling their California native garden-themed artwork and crafts. Here’s a schedule of the 2020 Garden Tour Artists.
The sites on this year’s tour will showcase examples of:
- Habitat planning
- Bioswales/dry creek beds
- Water catchment
- Pool-to-pond conversions
- Slope gardens
- Water features
- Bridges
- Sculptures
Available for sale during the tour:
- A wide selection of California native plant books
- Seeds for over 100 species of native plants
- Native plants from Moosa Creek Nursery
Tour ticket holders will also receive free admission to the Water Conservation Garden – see below for more information.
More information about the 2020 San Diego Native Garden Tour can be found at https://www.cnpssd.org/events/gardentour2020.
The Water Conservation Garden – Native Plants and More
Your Tour ticket will give you free admission on April 4 to the Water Conservation Garden in El Cajon.
The Water Conservation Garden is located at 12122 Cuyamaca College Drive West, in El Cajon. The Garden will feature:
- Interpretive docents at the California native plant exhibits
- Tree and shrub planting demonstrations
- Butterfly pollinator talk
- Art in the garden
- You can find a complete schedule of the day’s events here.
Tour Volunteers Needed!
If you would like to get involved with the Tour, consider volunteering as a Garden Tour docent. No previous experience is required! Volunteering is a great way to learn about native plants, and how to create a beautiful garden in your own space. Sign up online to become a volunteer.
Volunteers who sign up for a shift will receive complimentary admission to the Garden Tour, hands-on training, and garden previews.
Learn More About Native Plants – Join Us!
Support native plants as a member of the San Diego Chapter of the California Native Plant Society. It’s a great resource for gardening tips and upcoming events.
Want to replace your lawn with native plants? If you live in Southern California, you can receive money to do it. The Metropolitan Water District will pay you to remove your lawn! Through their Landscape Transformation Program, you can receive a rebate to remove existing turf grass, and install a water-wise landscape. Read my article about turf replacement programs in Southern California.
