Final preparations made for garden tour

FALLBROOK — Spring is in the air and plants are bursting with blooms.

There’s no better time to admire eight of Fallbrook’s most gorgeous gardens than during the Fourth Annual Fallbrook Garden Club’s Garden Tour on Saturday, April 5.

Each year new gardens are carefully selected to be included on the tour.

Tickets and maps ($20 each or two for $35) can be obtained on April 5 from 9 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. (the tour runs from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.) at the Fallbrook Historical Society at 260 Rockycrest Road. (Rockycrest is located across from the Peppertree Village shops in the 1600 block of South Mission Road.)

Coffee, donuts, plants and garden-related items will be offered for sale at the Historical Society.

Raffle tickets will also be offered for sale with unique prizes including gift baskets, a quilt, embroidered shirts and apron, a painted table and a birdhouse.

As a special feature this year, cars from the Fallbrook Vintage Car Club will be available for viewing at select locations.

The homes this year are located in only two areas of Southern Fallbrook, which will allow more time for viewing the gardens.

Leading off the tour is the Russo garden, bursting with whimsical highlights and many “potted people.” This charming garden is filled with color and a variety of fruit trees. The raised beds in the backyard make growing herbs, vegetables and flowers easy on the back while the potting shed’s artistic décor adds color.

The James garden can best be described as a garden retreat. Naturally planted banks give a feeling of seclusion. The variety of shrubs and trees set off the pool and shaded koi pond. There are wonderful staghorn ferns and other hanging plants as well as lush climbing roses covering the patio.

The following gardens are located in a private gated estate community. An acre of land turned into a garden of lush tropicals and unique specimen trees highlights the McDougal garden. Visitors can wander paths through clusters of blooming plants and notice the impact created by using contrasting colors of flowers. They will enjoy the sounds of the water cascading into a lovely backyard pool.

“Wine and roses” is the theme of the Sohegian/Webber vineyard and garden. An arch of climbing roses is the entryway to acres of lush grapevines. The beauty of this nine-acre estate includes large rose gardens and a pond. This is Tuscany transplanted to Fallbrook.

One will enjoy the serenity of the oak grove and take in the views, colors and sounds of a yard filled with drought resistant plants, shrub roses and a semi-dwarf tangerine grove in the natural setting of the LeMasters garden.

Swaying palms and tropicals abound in the Dunn garden. As visitors stroll through the grounds they will enjoy the “animals” that seem at home. The backyard pool and patio add to the feeling of being in the tropics.

The Durling garden is ideal for entertaining family and friends. It has a children’s play area and vegetable garden surrounded by a pristine citrus grove. While strolling through the yard one will enjoy the blending of art and nature.

The warmth and beauty of the front patio welcomes visitors to the Kalbfell garden. They can take a walk down to the pond with an elephant at water’s edge and enjoy the seclusion of the area. They’ll also be able to see the beauty of the backyard that is enhanced by the view of the rolling hills.

Proceeds from the garden tour will benefit the Fallbrook Garden Club Scholarship Fund and other community projects.

For further information contact Sandi LeMasters at (760) 723-3783.