Garden Tour promises more gardens, more inspiration

By Regina Elling

The 2012 version of the Ramona Garden Tour and Plant Sale, set for April 28, promises to be bigger, better and more inspiring than ever before. This year’s tour — the fifth annual for the club — boasts an impressive seven gardens, in addition to a huge plant sale and vendor booths.

Three of the gardens are within walking distance of each other, and the gardens’ owners are friends. Each has used similar elements — birdhouses, plants and art — in unique ways in their yards.

Another garden features succulents and cactus. At one home, nothing goes to waste and the homeowner repurposes as much garden art as she can.

One backyard has a park-like setting with oaks and large rock formations. To round out the individual visions of each homeowner, one garden features more than 250 roses.

The tour will take place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Headquarters for the tour and plant sale is Ramona Library, 1275 Main St. Look for the activities around the back parking lot.

The plant sale, which is free and open to the public, is larger than in previous years, with more room for parking, loading, and shopping the vendor booths. Hundreds of locally grown salvias, succulents, vegetables, palm trees, kangaroo paws, and more will be available. All plants are healthy and vigorous.

Garden club members will be on hand to help answer any questions. A drawing for a large basket filled with gardening items will round out the day’s events.

Tour tickets are $20 and are available at the plant sale on tour day. Tickets are also available at Sun Valley Florist at 758 Main St. and Crazy 9 Patch Quilt Shop, 2260 Main St.

The tour is self-guided, and a map is included with each ticket purchase. Guests may view the gardens in any order. Carpooling is encouraged.

Proceeds benefit the Ramona Garden Club Scholarship Fund and other community projects.

For more information, visit RamonaGardenClub.com or contact Jane Vidal at 760-789-1910.