San Diego Horticultural Society upcoming events

Rancho Bernardo Sharing Garden (Sat, April 25, 2026)

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Sue Mansour’s decades of gardening expertise and enthusiasm are apparent the moment you see her front garden, a curbside succulent tapestry set against a low stucco wall. Located on a quiet street near our monthly meeting place in Rancho Bernardo, this richly-planted strip hints at what isto come - a complex series of garden rooms filled with exotic (and mostly edible) treasures. Sue was born in Iraq, earned her horticultural degree in Baghdad, and spent years in charge of 200 hundred people whose job it was to beautify that city with climate-appropriate plants. Today, she does most of the gardening herself, and her driveway is lined with several kinds of flowering pomegranate trees growing alongside bougainvillea and palms, “a common Iraqi combination.” As you approach the house there is a peaceful garden with the sound of running water, a haven for her husband, a poet, who likes to sit here and write in virtual seclusion from the street. Nearer to the house dozens of planters hold a huge array of succulents plus ornamental treasures Sue has collected for years. As you enter the back garden a tapestry of thriving trees, shrubs, vines, and annuals greets you. There is a living fence of carefully tended grape vines which Sue grows as much for the leaves she cooks with as for the grapes. Every tree has a story, many linked to her Middle Eastern heritage. There are four kinds of mulberry trees, including one that bears three kinds of fruit. Raised beds are sown with seeds for Iraqi veggies. Fruit trees supply her with produce virtually all year – loquats, cherimoya, white sapote, apricot, kumquat, figs, dates, mango, tamarind, persimmon, jujube, Surinam cherry, apples, blood orange, and more. Passion fruit vines grow enthusiastically on a large trellis, and several pots of blueberries are an ongoing experiment to find the perfect variety for her microclimate. Hundreds of nasturtium plants provide both bright color and edible leaves, flowers, and seeds (which Sue has pickled). In the sunniest spot there are roses, and against the house is a shady dining table from which to feast your eyes on this abundance. Be prepared to get some cuttings and/or seeds pressed into your hands by our generous hostess.

Address and Google map link are included in the registration confirmation email. - In case of rain, the event will be canceled and rescheduled for a different date -

Rancho Bernardo Sharing Garden - 2nd tour (Sat, April 25, 2026)

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Address and Google map link are included in the registration confirmation email.

- In case of rain, the event will be canceled and rescheduled for a different date -

Poway Sharing Garden (Sat, May 02, 2026)

Sat, 02 May 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Ida Rigby and John Sturla's Poway garden is returning to its roots. The original vision was to have as natural a garden as possible with a distinct sense of place and to have it blend with its setting, a borrow landscape of a disturbed, but native, hillside. In the fall of l992 Tree of Life Nursery brought down a truckload of California natives. The Englemann Oaks, Toyons, mountain mahogany and buckwheats are from that original shipment. Then, of course, as Australian and South African plants along with Mediterranean natives became more available they lured Ida into expanding her vision. It became a Mediterranean latitudes garden. The aging garden now needs editing and replanting, so last fall Ida returned to focusing on natives. A unique feature of the garden is the use of rocks excavated on the property or wheelbarrowed in by Ida from neighbors' properties. These local stones line the gravel paths and form the wall behind and coping around the pond. Another feature of he garden is an emphasis on aromatic plants. You can brush by a Southwestern tagetes limmonii, a California artemisia or a South African salvia or just nip a leaf and crush it. The garden welcomes wildlife. Great blue herons, egrets, raccoons and mallards visit the pond. Coyotes enjoy the loquats. Buckwheats and bladder pods attract local insects. Dragonfly larvae leave their exoskeletons on the stems of water lilies. A nuttall's woodpecker visits a massive, 30 year old palo verde. The Cooper's hawk leaves a perfect ring of mockingbird feathers under pomegranate boughs. So, come and wander the gravel paths of this evolving garden.

• Strudy walking shoes are a must. • No restroom access.

Poway Sharing Garden - 2nd Tour (Sat, May 02, 2026)

Sat, 02 May 2026 19:15:00 GMT

• Sturdy walking shoes are a must. • No restroom access.

A Day at the Huntington (Wed, May 06, 2026)

Wed, 06 May 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Bus Tour

Huntington Botanical Gardens

Hop aboard our private motorcoach for a full-day excursion to the Huntington Botanical Gardens at the height of Spring in San Marino. Immerse yourself in the 207-acre estate that features over a dozen specialized botanical garden. The gardens themselves are a breathtaking exhibition of biodiversity, with over 130 acres of themed spaces that transport guests to different corners of the world. Highlights include the iconic Desert Garden, home to one of the largest collections of cacti and succulents, and the serene Japanese Garden, featuring traditional architecture and a moon bridge. You can also explore the Liu Fang Yuan (Garden of Flowing Fragrance, The Chinese Garden), which boasts one of the largest Chinese-style gardens outside of China, and the historic Rose Garden, which traces the evolution of roses through centuries of cultivation. The Japanese Heritage Shōya House is a new, 320-year-old historic home at that opened in October 2023. The 3,000-square-foot 18th-century residence was relocated from Marugame, Japan, and features a newly constructed gatehouse, courtyard, and kitchen garden on a 2-acre site. Each garden offers a distinct atmosphere, ranging from the lush, tropical canopy of the Jungle Garden to the aromatic, meticulously labeled displays of the Herb Garden.

Feel free to go it alone with a buddy or stay with a group with your tour leader Kathy Ascher, San Diego Master Gardener, who will lead you through some of the more iconic spaces on the grounds.

Lunch is on your own at one of the Huntington Dining Options .

Afterwards you have the afternoon to explore the rest of the Huntington Botanical Gardens or Museums on your own.

We'll head back to San Diego in late afternoon, arriving early evening.

Transportation: Private motorcoach with small bathroom. Roundtrip from Old Town San Diego Transit Center or I-5/La Costa Ave. Park and Ride.

Schedule:

Depart Old Town Transit Center 7:30am, arrive La Costa Transit 8:00am
Depart La Costa 8:15am, arrive Huntington 10:00am
Tour Huntington from 10am to 3:30pm
Depart Huntington 4:00pm, arrive La Costa 6:45pm
Depart La Costa 7pm, arrive Old Town 7:30pm

Tour Details: Arrive/start group tour of the Palm/Dessert Garden.

Balance of day until 3:30 PM at leisure to tour other gardens and museums on your own.

Lunch: On own at Rose Garden Tea Room House (reservations required), coffee shop or Café; there is also the Chinese Garden Tea House. The Huntington does not allow you to bring in your own food. More Information

Water: Please bring your own refillable water bottle for the tour.

Reservations:

SDHS Members $98
Non-Members $120
Select Old Town or La Costa pickup location when registering.
Payment in full to reserve
$25 cancellation fee up to March 31st 2026; after then no refund, but you can find a substitute to take your place.
Full refund if trip cancelled due to inadequate signups.
Tour operates rain or shine!

CANCELED! Elfin Forest Sharing Garden (Sat, May 09, 2026)

Sat, 09 May 2026 17:00:00 GMT

UPDATE

Dear Members,

We regret to inform you that the Sharing Garden tour scheduled for Saturday, May 9th has been cancelled. We understand this may be disappointing and appreciate your understanding and flexibility.

We hope to see you at another upcoming Sharing Garden event soon. Information about future events can be found on our website at sdhort.org.

Thank you for your continued interest and support.

Warm regards,
The Board

----------------------------------------------------------

Dear Members,

Due to the current weather forecast indicating high probability of rain this weekend, the Elfin Forest Sharing Garden event has been rescheduled to Saturday, May 9th.

Please make a note of the new date and look out for updated registration information, which will be sent out approximately two weeks prior (around 24th of April).

Thank you for your flexibility. We hope to see you at a Sharing Garden event soon.

The Board

Frank and Susan Oddo Sharing Garden

This 45-year-old garden on 2.5 acres in Elfin Forest is the creation of Frank and Susan Oddo. They named it Birdsong for its lush Mediterranean vegetation that attracts birds, bees and butterflies year-round. It features Aloes, Agaves, Aeoniums, Bromeliads, Tillandsias, Grevilleas, Leucadendrons, a giant thorn tree, a statuesque Queensland Bottle tree, garden art, and much more. Pathways, gazebos, benches, a koi pond, rock work, and a large deck to enjoy the view are part of its charm.

Bring your lunch and sit on the deck after your tour.
Bring a bag or box for give-away plants.
A walking stick for the hillside, while not steep, is useful.
Walking shoes are a must.
No restroom access due to septic.