News
The annual Friends of Noe Valley Garden Tour will be held on Saturday, May 17th from 10am to 4pm. Ten gardens are open that day for you to view. Mark your calendar, grab some friends, buy your tickets, lace up your walking shoes and get ready to see some dazzling, impressive, and enchanting gardens on Saturday, May 17th. The very successful PLANT SWAP will be held again at the Noe Cafe on Sanchez Street from 10am -1pm. So bring cuttings or seedlings and swap plants with your neighbors!
Ticket prices are $20-Adult, $18-Senior, Kids-Free.
Tickets will be sold on Saturdays at the Noe Valley Farmer’s Market from 9am-1pm on:
- May 3rd
- May 10th
- May 17th
Tickets can also be purchased at:
- Noe Valley Night Market on Tuesday, April 29th 4pm-7pm
- When Modern Was – 4001 24th Street
- Just for Fun – 3982 24th Street
- Olive This, Olive That – 304 Vicksburg Street
- Omnivore Books – 3885 Cesar Chavez Street
- Noe Valley Books 3957 24TH Street
Raffle tickets will also be sold and among the prizes are gift certificates from Flora Grubb, Flowercraft, Urban Scout, Flowers of the Valley and Love and Stem. Additional prizes include goodies from SkinSpirit, Small Fry’s, Noe Valley Books and the Noe Valley Public Library! Raffle tickets can be purchased at the same locations as Garden Tour tickets. Raffle tickets are $1 each or 30 for $20.
As always, a donation to a beautification project in the neighborhood will be made with Garden Tour proceeds.
Featured gardens this year will showcase a variety of styles. Among them are:
Hillside Family Delight
This wonderful family garden makes excellent use of a steeply sloping hillside backyard. Here you will find multiple deck levels with terraces, play areas, stairs and even a built-in slide. There are entertainment spaces for both kids and adults with trees, bushes, vegetables, ferns and flowering plants throughout.
Relaxed Gathering Space
Delight in the wonderful southern views at this newly terraced backyard escape. A steep backyard has become a dog friendly relaxing gathering space with the sound of a soothing fountain overlooking newly planted fruit trees, drought tolerant succulents and flowing grasses.
Peaceful and Serene Garden
At the crest of the hill, accomplished landscape architect Stephen Marcus designed this mature garden in partnership with the host. The garden features sculptures by Mark Bulwinkle, a kinetic sculpture by George Rickey, and others designed by friends. Flowering trees and large shrubs amid various outdoor spaces are connected by pathways. At this garden you will find citrus, princess bush, camellia, crabapple, pittosporum, rhododendron, heuchera, bird-of-paradise, fuchsia, succulents and much more.
Secret Garden
A gate on Vicksburg allows access to this cute little secret garden which is terraced downward from street level. The property is surrounded by eugenia, Australian willow, and pittosporum, with a Japanese maple that commands the center of the garden surrounded by succulents and annuals. A fun addition in this garden is to spot the painted “critters” that exist here!
Old and Mature
You will find a very large, beautiful and mature garden that has depth and variety at this site. Abutilons line a fence on the East side of the property. A patch of succulents and several palms, some very large, take advantage of the ample morning sunlight. Two 100+ year old redwood trees provide central shade for ferns, heuchera, fuchsia and cymbidium orchids.
Library Garden
At our local library you will discover both sun and shade gardens. This inviting space awaits exploration and allows patrons to enjoy a western shade garden filled with cyclamen, clivia, azaleas and rhododendrons. As you move to the east side, a path of ferns and camellias leads the visitor to a large espaliered plum tree. Here you encounter a sunny garden filled with a riot of color enhanced with California natives and a large lemon tree. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer all your garden and plant related questions.
Middle School Garden
Two gardens at our local middle school are lovingly maintained by students along with the PTSA who support ongoing maintenance and pruning through beautification efforts and community events. Come meet students who take great pride in the care and upkeep of the garden while also learning important gardening skills.
Front Terraced Garden
At this newly redone terraced front garden come see extensive plantings of roses, Japanese maples, succulents, ferns, and bamboo. There is also a large collection of assorted potted plants including many varieties of cactus and succulents.
Noe’s Nest
A mature, lush oasis can be found behind Noe’s Nest Bed and Breakfast. It’s a peaceful sanctuary featuring whimsical sculptures and colorful flowers. A glass gazebo with 400 year old stained glass greets you and invites you to rest, relax and take it all in. Pause a moment to breathe in the smells of nature and enjoy this peaceful haven.
Tropical Garden Oasis
The tropical feel surrounding the front entrance to this garden beckons you to explore the possibilities that exist in the back garden. This entertaining garden offers the best of both sun and shade. Working closely with Kasorn at Ground Cover Landscape to design both the front and back gardens, the homeowner continues to update and modify on her own. This established garden contains roses, citrus, a dawn redwood, fuchsia, bougainvillea, palms and ferns surrounding charming seating and gathering spaces.