Tickets going on sale soon for 21st Annual fundraising event
Spring is just around the corner and the many volunteers of the Folsom Garden Club are gearing up for its 21st annual Garden Tour, taking place on April 29th and 30th. This highly anticipated event has been a staple in the community spanning two decades, showcasing some of the most beautiful gardens in the Folsom area.
The Garden Tour will feature several stunning gardens, each with its own unique style and personality. From colorful flower beds to carefully manicured lawns and unique features. As usual, visitors will be treated to a diverse range of landscapes and gardening techniques as well as the incredible work of local homeowners who have spent countless hours cultivating and nurturing their outdoor spaces, getting ready for the upcoming event every chance they have between the inclement weather.
While the rains make it challenging on the gardeners, they are sure to produce a bounty of blooms by show day.
“The gardens vary from large to small and feature a variety of colors, textures, patios, pools and waterfalls. People will be able to gather ideas for their own gardens and create a sanctuary all their own. Artists and Master Gardeners will be present at several homes, as well as a food truck, raffle, metal and glass artists, and even a chocolatier, “ said Lynn Faulk of the Folsom Garden Club. “As has been in the past, our annual plant and bake sales are always a big hit.”
The annual Garden Tour is an event that is perfect for individuals of all gardening interest levels. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting out, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Visitors can take a leisurely stroll through each garden, learning about the unique features and techniques used to create them.
There will also be opportunities to purchase plants and gardening supplies, with all proceeds benefiting the Folsom Garden Club. Tickets for the event at $20 for all attendees over the age of 16.
Tickets for the Garden Tour are available online and can also be purchased at the event. Proceeds from ticket sales go directly towards supporting the Folsom Garden Club’s efforts to promote gardening and environmental conservation in the community.
Faulk shared that the club is thrilled to be bringing this event to the community once again and hopes that visitors will leave feeling inspired and excited about the world of gardening. Tickets are set to go on sale beginning April 1 at select locations as well as www.folsomgardenclub.org.
Locations that will be selling tickets on site beginning April 1 will be as follows:
American River Ace Hardware – 9500 Greenback Ln. #10 – Folsom
The Blossom Shop – 47 Natoma St. – Folsom
Bushnell Nursery – 5255 Douglas Blvd. – Granite Bay
Green Acres – 205 Serpa Way – Folsom
Not Too Shabby – 729 Sutter St. – Folsom
Tickets will also be available on days of the tour 11am–3pm Saturday, 11am-1pm Sunday at: Garden No. 1 – 113 Oak Canyon Way – Folsom
The Folsom Garden Club has provided a sneak peek of some of the local participants on this year’s show. Take a look of what is ahead:
123 BRIGGS RANCH DRIVE
When you see this garden think sunshine and shade. In the front of the house ample light allows pretty pots of annuals to thrive along the front walkway. As you enter the back, see a sunny a garden complete with sage, rose, day lilies, butterfly bushes, and agapanthus. But it’s the shade in the garden that is uniquely beautiful. Three huge, mature Valley Oaks make this back garden feel like a park. When the house was built, special care was taken to preserve their timeless beauty. Walkways were added so one can stroll underneath their canopy. Then one and a half years ago, Master gardener and homeowner, Marla Chase, collaborated with a landscaper to add the understory plants. Keeping in mind the yearly leaf drop, Marla chose acid loving azaleas, camelias and gardenias. Also, hop seed, lilac and an interesting weeping cedar thrive in the dappled shade. Several dogwoods share space with Japanese maples. Another side yard area away from the shady oaks has lemon, mandarin orange, and lime trees. Look up through the treetops and you might see squirrels or a variety of birds. With its quiet beauty, this shady suburban backyard is a true sanctuary.
1005 PERSIFER STREET
What garden tour is not complete without a true cottage garden. Built in the 1930’s, this charming house has been on the tour before, but now has many updates. Walk through the garden gate covered with pink jasmine. Follow the path through the boxwood hedges under an ancient cypress tree and a huge, mature camellia. The front porch has climbing roses, hydrangeas, and bear’s breeches along with crape myrtles and baby breaths. And can you spot “Peggy Pots” standing by the metal fence? Follow the sidewalk to the back and note the many artistic and whimsical features along the way. True cottage flowers such as roses, yarrow, pansies, and lamb’s ears line the fence, and an old sink sits happily planted with flowers. Note the beautiful sparkling window glass art pieces made by David surrounding the garden. Down the steps near the fountain see the Alice in Wonderland sculpture surrounded by hot lips sage. To your left see a true “flower bed” planted with sweet peas, pansies, and alyssum. Well placed veggie boxes sit next to the seating area and a very mature lilac tree. The old garage, now used as a potting shed and storage is slowly being covered with creeping fig. Filled with old fashioned charm, this garden just gets prettier with time.
107 COBBLE RIDGE DRIVE
Who doesn’t love model trains?! Despite the pool occupying much of the space, Don was determined to build a 1:32 scale “garden railroad” in his suburban backyard. Fond memories of family trips to the Pomona County Fair helped fuel his passion for the wonderful, whimsy and detail seen in his creation. Many yards of soil were carted in to allow for raised beds necessary for perspective. With help from tech minded friends, you can see the working replica of Empire Mine, Uncle Paul’s Sawmill and an amazing Matterhorn Mountain complete with gondola, skiers, waterfall, and sound. Many details pay homage to family members, including the tree roses planted in honor of Don’s grandmother. Follow the train tracks past German houses, through boxwood and yew bushes pruned to resemble trees and finally end up in a western themed town. Like any true hobbyist, Don finds tinkering with his creation relaxing, a perfect way to balance a demanding career. There is a little more room left in the garden – who knows where the train will go next!
1514 SNOWY RANGE COURT
On a corner lot, perched on top of a hill this castle like house is truly unique. A magnificent boulder wall covered with creeping fig and low growing manzanita completes the grand effect. Precisely placed mature crape myrtle trees, loropetalum, butterfly iris and day lilies planted around the front anchor the property. Walk up the driveway and then along the flagstone path and note the beautiful heritage oak tree carefully protected during construction of the house. A charming white swing allows views of the surrounding area and parkland beyond. While the front garden was completely established, the backyard was bare dirt, narrow and very difficult to access. While told “It can’t be done” by several pool contractors, the homeowners finally found a pool company that not only designed and built a magnificent resort like pool and spa but hid the pump equipment behind the back fence. With that completed, the couple contacted Julie Kelly (aka “Julie the Garden Girl”) and hired her to complete the backyard. Now, enter the back gate and see a fire pit surrounded by a twenty five year old philodendron. Giant bird of paradise, geraniums and azaleas complete the cozy space. Running along the fence are cannas, Roman candles (podocarpus), asparagus fern, and sage. Queen palms planted along side the pool further enhance the spa like feel. This hilltop oasis is now truly transformed, a perfect place for relaxing.
113 OAK CANYON WAY
This property is perfect for the year-round gardener. The front flower beds are carefully tended with spring and summer bloomers. Iris, foxgloves, lavender, and peonies mix with geraniums, ajuga and a Gala apple tree. At the home’s entry way are daisies, azalea, bird of paradise and gardenias surrounding a charming old bicycle. Guarding the front walk are friendly gargoyles, often “decorated” for the season. Inside the back gate note the cleverly placed herb garden planted along the walkway. Two kinds of blueberries are planted in the patio area, one for sun and the other for shade. A seventy-five-year-old Sago palm sits next to a pretty koi pond. Note the shade and water loving hydrangeas and elephant ear on your left and the gorgeous cactus garden on your right, excellent examples of making use of two microclimates in one area. Collected over time and carefully nurtured in pots, these cacti thrive in this very hot corner. Walk past the sun loving rose garden to the extensive vegetable boxes located in the side yard. Artichokes, spinach and herbs in the winter and tomatoes and peppers in the summer are just a few of the crops grown here. Whether it’s winter lettuce, summer flowers or heat loving cacti, this garden gives a full year of pleasure.
303 KATARINA LANE
When the homeowner decided to landscape this garden, she focused on creating a space for entertaining. Shady and inviting this small garden uses multiple levels to drive your eyes upward. Originally a steep slope in the back, it was transformed when three terraces were cut into the hill. A row of sixteen podocarpus stand tall at the very top adding to the illusion of height. Pavers, used for the floor are also stacked as retaining walls that double as a place to sit. Loropetalum, camelias, and ferns add a green grotto feel to the area that surrounds the lower patio. Note the charming nook nestled in an upper tier complete with a fountain and comfy places to sit. Painted and scored concrete give the illusion of tile and beautifully anchor the large outdoor kitchen on the one side and the intimate fireplace on the other. The repeating color tones of green, bronze, and cream are seen on the boxwood hedges, umbrellas, and patio furniture uniting the space and giving it an artistic old world feel. The garden is used year- round. The fireplace is perfect for chilly nights and the kitchen area ideal for entertaining friends and barbecuing. Intimate and comfortable seating areas invite you to curl up with a book or coffee and allow the beauty of the garden to draw you in.
109 TAUNTON WAY
What do you do when there is no available space for a vegetable garden in your backyard? You put one in you front yard! Concerned about aesthetics, Lori took careful care to make her new garden a pleasing sight for her neighbors. With a daughter who is a landscape designer and a contractor husband, Lori was able to make her vision materialize. A three-foot-high horizontal fence made of mahogany surrounds what was once the grassy front yard. Veggie boxes made of corrugated metal and comfortably wide sitting caps stained the same color as the fence are artfully placed in the space. First a layer of weed cloth, then decomposed granite and finally stone pavers allow less weeding and easy access all around. Each veggie box has its own water valve, important for conservation and individual plant needs. The soil, obtained from a local landscape supplier is known as “Veggie Mix” and contains all the ingredients important to Lori.Tomatoes, green beans, eggplant, and squash are just a few of the crops grown in a season. Tasty nasturtiums grown in the box corners add pretty pops of edible color. Creating food in a small place allows Lori to enjoy her passion for growing organic, healthy produce for herself and sharing it with her friends and neighbors. There is even enough bounty leftover to donate to the local foodbank.
384 N. LEXINGTON DRIVE
The homeowners bought this property in 1999 because of the beauty of the open wetlands behind their fence. However, the yard was water hogging grass, thorny roses, and a five by eight patio. It was hardly conducive to entertaining. Twenty years later they transformed it. Now it is a study in small landscapes requiring minimal attention for maximum enjoyment. This yard offers a Zen like feel. As you enter the gate, note the raised garden for growing vegetables and herbs alongside lemon, orange, lime, fig, and larch trees. Gone is the concrete slab replaced by square pavers tinted to match the crushed stone and fences. Artistic screens, placed about the garden and on the pergola create shadows when hit by the sun or accent lights at nights. Under the pergola is a table for twelve, when removed it becomes a dance floor. Angles and squares repeat throughout, including the fire pit with its concrete “tables” supporting redwood benches and a “no mow” fescue lawn. Minimal maintenance plants like nandina, black pine, manzanita, and asparagus fern provide texture and color. A camelia is one of the only flowering plants. Whether it is a quiet night by the fire or dinner and dancing, this garden is pure relaxation.
