Garden club to host annual tour, plant sale
Colorful plants, innovative landscaping and water-saving ideas await those who venture out on Ramona Garden Club’s annual garden tour April 30, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The gardens of eight Ramona residents will be on display.
“We try to get a variety of gardens so we show what can be done on large properties as well as smaller ones,” said Debby Novak, garden tour hostess chair. “Some people really want ideas on how to cut their water bills, others (want) more about growing natives.”
During the tour, the garden club will have a plant sale and vendors set up in the Ramona Library parking lot, 1275 Main St. Among types of plants will be succulents and cactus, fruit trees, vegetables and perennials. Vendors will feature such yard art and accessories as bird feeders, birdhouses, stepping stones, signs, and wind chimes, as well as gardening supplies, handmade jewelry and soaps, raw local honey and beeswax candles.
Tickets for the garden tour are $20 and will be available at the plant sale, along with maps for the self-guided tour. Tickets are also available at Packard’s Coffee Shop, 680 Main St., and Ramona Country Yarn Store, 638 Main St.
The tour and plant sale is the garden club’s largest fundraiser with proceeds benefiting scholarships and community projects.
Gardens on tour:
Lenore and Geoffrey Applegate’s garden: Located on the edge of the Cleveland National Forest in San Diego Country Estates, this property offers grand views of Eagle Peak and the surrounding mountains. The large outdoor entertainment space reveals a creative use of hardscape, and plantings include citrus, roses and succulents.
Melinda McDaniel’s garden: This property represents a very waterwise design with selective use of synthetic turf and colorful plantings highlighting graceful terraced levels. At the uppermost level of the yard is a pool area with Trex decking.
Jeanne and Ned Erickson’s garden: The front yard, designed by Landscaper Rick Reiling, showcases a pleasing use of hardscape with a seating area, and native plants along the front walkway with rock and mulch. In the backyard is a pool area and large citrus trees.
Linda and Ron Mulick’s garden: White roses run along the front of this lovely home with synthetic grass and succulents setting off the front. The backyard has a welcoming entertaining patio area, Ron’s skillfully-built rock walls that enhance the pool area, and sculptures. Small outbuildings include a garden shed designed to match the house.
Charlene and George Foote’s garden: This charming Victorian home and garden is visually pleasing with many different bulbs and flowering plants and a large vegetable garden. With the recent addition of hardscape in front, this property has lots of curb appeal. Small buildings housing pool equipment and gardening items are designed to match the Victorian house.
Bill and Denise Moe’s garden: The Moes hired Scotty’s Landscaping to create a rock stream bed with various species of palm, ground covers, and attractive plantings. The yard also has a collection of citrus and avocado trees, and the pool area features a waterfall and cave.
Rick and Denise Reiling’s garden: Landscaper Rick Reiling has created a lovely outdoor environment for his family on property that enjoys vistas of Ramona. Plantings include natives and succulents, accented by boulders, in this serene spot that has charming seating areas, a bocci ball court, pool and a jasmine-covered arbor.
Dina and Don Weim’s garden: This large property features succulents, pigmy palms, bamboo and trees that include scrub oak, ficus, fruit, and avocado. Within the last year, the couple removed the last of grass in the side and back yards, replacing it with decomposed granite pathways, palms and cycads.