Find gardens full of surprises

The Fallbrook Garden Club Garden Tour offered a variety of surprises in gardens all over town, May 4. From two gardens in the south in the area of Sleeping Indian and Olive Hill roads, to the north off East Mission Road and the north end of Live Oak Park Road where seven gardens were open for viewing.

Whether visitors were gardeners looking for ideas to use at home or people interested in viewing the gardener’s handiwork, it was a day full of unique sights and creative finds. The club’s garden tour is held every two years, alternating with the club’s flower show as its major fundraiser of the year.

A few gardens featured water, in streams, swimming pools and a lily pond, while others focused on drought tolerant plants. A few properties included outdoor rooms, potting sheds and a putting green. Decorations included metal sculptures, statues, a fountain planter and birdhouses, providing unexpected finds for those who took time to explore the paths and hillsides at each stop.

The biggest property was 5 acres while the smallest was half an acre. Besides cacti and other succulents, rose and vegetable gardens were spotted along with fruit trees and live oak trees. Some gardens were planned out in detail while others were more organic, but they all represented a lot of effort and care.

Other highlights of the fundraiser included docents at each garden as well as plein air artists and a sale of all kinds of plants, including indoor ones, at the Fallbrook Historical Society’s barn where the tour started. Garden club members were on hand with advice on choosing the right plant, and more than 100 members worked on the fundraiser, planning, preparing or working to welcome the many visitors.