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16th Annual Clairemont Garden Tour May 5 th

by Janet Miller

One of the most popular springtime events in Clairemont is the Clairemont Town Council’s Annual Garden Tour.  Now in its 16th year, the CTC’s Garden Tour showcases amazing and beautiful private gardens tucked away in Clairemont.  This year’s Tour will be held on Saturday May, 5th from 10am – 4pm.

The self-guided tour includes approximately 15 gardens, no two the same. You’ll see a variety of water features, drought tolerant gardens, gardens that attract butterflies and birds, vegetable gardens and much, much more.

First time attendees are often very surprised by the gardens they see on the tour. It’s not uncommon to hear comments like ““Wow! I never knew a garden could be designed in such a small place!” or “I had no idea a Clairemont backyard could look like this!”

There are many lovely garden tours in San Diego, such as those in Mission Hills and La Jolla. Almost all of the gardens on these tours are landscaped by the professionals whose signs are displayed. The Clairemont Garden Tour on the other hand is different; gardens on the tour have been designed by the owners themselves! It is impressive how the residents of Clairemont can have a wonderful vision for even a small plot of land.

Along with the fascinating gardens, there will be a number of other things to see and do. For the folks who enjoy gardening, we’ll have the Master Gardener Association offering horticulture

and pest control advice, and Master Composters with composting information and instructions. The Rare Fruit Growers Association will be there as well.

A new feature on the Garden Tour will be an educational and engaging afternoon reception at the SDG&E Energy Innovation Center in the Diane Village Shopping Center.  It will feature seminars in energy efficiency for both the home and garden, “green” ideas and resources, as well as activities for children.   Free refreshments will also be offered at the reception and the awards for the best garden and visitor favorite will be given out there.

What does the CTC do with the money raised through ticket sales? It all goes right back into Clairemont through Town Council grants given each year.  Schools, Eagle Scouts, and music teachers are just some of the folks whose ideas for a better Clairemont were funded in part by Garden Tour ticket sales.

The tickets are $12 in advance and $15 day of per person.   Children under 12 are free.  Additional information about the tour and ticket sales is available at   www.ClairemontOnline.com .  If you are interested in being a volunteer or sponsor of this year’s exciting event, please submit your information by emailing   contact@clairemontonline.com .  Your participation is enthusiastically encouraged!

Don’t miss this chance to see some of the prettiest and most interesting private spots in Clairemont. Get your tickets today for the 16th Annual Clairemont Garden Tour!