Foothill gardens open for Mother's Day tour

This Sunday, skip the crowded holiday brunch and take the mom in your life (or yourself) outside – and up out of the soon-to-be-hot Valley. Six fabulous gardens await in Granite Bay and Loomis on the Placer County master gardeners’ 36th Annual Mother's Day Garden Tour.

“We have been trying to get one of these gardens on the tour for three years,” said Kortne Phillips, co-chair of the event, along with Cooki Vonasek. “This may be our best tour yet,” she added.

The tour window is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, rain or (likely) shine. Tickets with maps are $20, available now through the day of the tour at the Green Acres Nursery & Supply sites in Auburn (the former Eisley’s), Rocklin and Roseville; cash or check only. Children under 12 are admitted free.

Here’s how the Placer master gardeners describe the six gardens on the tour:

– The Reimagined Garden: This homeowner has completely transformed her “water hungry” landscape into a “water wise”, easy to care for spacious setting with a diversity of drought tolerant flowering plants that attract the local pollinators. It’s a peaceful, relaxing place to just sit and watch the evening sun set. 

 – The Estate Garden: Behind the grand gates, explore elegant acres complete with large reflecting ponds filled with koi and water lilies, an incredible collection of plantings and wandering pathways that lead to a breathtaking vista. Caution: some steep stairs and uneven walking surfaces.

–  The Butterfly Garden: The uniqueness of this garden is evident right away. Its charm beckons you to see more, and more there is. Creative features greet you at every turn. Look closely and discover butterfly shapes in unexpected ways along with impressive design elements widely placed throughout the garden.

 – The Tranquility Garden: The feel of Tuscany welcomes you immediately with towering Italian Cypress, old world stonework and tile, and distinctive decorative urns. Follow the pathway to a fabulous entertaining area secluded among the redwoods with lots of striking surprises.

 – The More is Better Garden: When you love plants and just have to have more but nowhere left to plant them, what do you do? This homeowner’s answer was to put them in pots! Now you have a mobile landscape that adds a completely new dimension that is flexible, colorful, and totally unique. 

  – The Traveler’s Garden: Inspired by their extensive local and international travels, this garden oasis is bursting with an extensive collection of amazing plants, flowers, water features and eclectic art treasures. Every pathway is an experience to be discovered in this vibrant and dramatic party-ready retreat.