The fundraising event on Sunday May 19 will features six Rossmoor homes, two elementary schools, floral demonstrations, a plant sale, raffle and more.
“Every garden, big or small, has its own story to tell,” says Garden Tour Chair Yolanda Vargas. Indeed, several of the gardens literally tell stories. One, a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat, is inspired by the owner’s many antiques collections as well as her pilgrimage on the famous Camino de Santiago in Europe. Another home employs murals, plants and statuary in homage to its owner’s late spouse and in appreciation for friends and family who’ve helped her through her grief.
Other gardens are all about lifestyle choices — stunning pools, bars and barbecue areas for family-oriented entertainers, a putting green and hot tub for retirees seeking low-maintenance.
In a first this year, the tour includes vegetable and herb gardens tended by pupils at Richard Henry Lee and Rossmoor elementary schools under auspices of the Orange County Master Gardeners Program. Eager students plan to show visitors just how much produce they can grow in well-organized, compact spaces. The Lee students also plan to distribute seed packets to visitors and children at both schools will hand out a variety of master gardener tip sheets.
The self-guided tour, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., includes an outdoor market place at Arbor Village featuring complimentary refreshments, a plant sale, raffle baskets and music by harpist Julio Montero, beginning at noon. Cynthia McElwee of Heaven Sent Design Floral Studio in Anaheim Hills is scheduled to demonstrate flower arranging at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Tickets, which contain addresses and a map to all the homes, are $20 per person. They may be purchased in advance from any club member, from a selection of local merchants or on the club website, rossmoorwomansclub.org. Tickets will also be for sale the day of the tour at the outdoor marketplace, which will be directly behind Flags With a Flair in Arbor Village, 10651 Los Alamitos Blvd., Los Alamitos. (Tickets purchased online must be picked up at this site on the day of the event.)
All net proceeds go to fund student scholarships and to support local charities in the Los Alamitos/Seal Beach and Long Beach areas.
Merchants selling tickets are Brita’s Old Town Gardens, 225 Main St., Ste A, Seal Beach; Cinnamon Stik, 10641 Los Alamitos Blvd., Los Alamitos; Prep Kitchen Essentials, 12207 Seal Beach Blvd., Seal Beach; and McNally Electric, 10792 Los Alamitos Blvd., Los Alamitos.
The Rossmoor Woman’s Club, founded in 1958, is a social and philanthropic organization affiliated with the international General Federation of Women’s Clubs. The club is based in the northwest Orange County community of Rossmoor but membership is open to anyone.