The annual Friends of Noe Valley Garden Tour will be held on Saturday, May 6th from 10am to 4pm. Nine private gardens are open that day for you to view. So 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 6th.

Ticket prices are $20-Adult, $18-Senior, Kids-Free. You can purchase tickets online HERE and on Saturday mornings in April at the Noe Valley Farmers Market in the Town Square located on 24th Street. Merchants selling tickets include Folio Books, Just For Fun, Olive This Olive That, Omnivore Books on Food and When Modern Was. Once again raffle tickets will be sold for garden themed prizes. Tickets are $1 each or $20 for 30. Proceeds from the Garden Tour are donated each year towards neighborhood beautification projects.

Here are the 2023 gardens:

STUNNING VEGETABLE GARDEN
This large garden was recently redesigned to be accessible for people using walkers and wheelchairs. It features easy access from gate to recycled brick patio, wide main pathways and several chair height raised beds. Primarily a food garden, mature pomegranate, fig, persimmon and guava trees grow alongside a seasonally changing array of vegetables, herbs and edible flowers.  Storage shed features a green roof.

HILLSIDE RETREAT
High up a hill sidewalk plantings greet you in front of this home. In the backyard you will find a terraced garden, with lovely views surrounded by greenery. Plantings include colorful bee, butterfly and bird friendly plants mixed in with shade plants, mature trees and shrubs. Two coral bark maples and a 38 year old Meyer lemon tree add to the mix. A flagstone patio provides space for entertaining and relaxation and an upper deck offers tree filled views over Noe Valley. Owner created art is scattered throughout the garden.

LIBRARY GARDEN
At our local library you will  discover both sun and shade gardens. This inviting space awaits exploration and allows patrons to enjoy both a western shade garden filled with azaleas and rhododendrons as well as a sunny garden filled with a riot of color enhanced with California natives and a large lemon tree. A path of ferns and camellias leads the visitor to a large espaliered plum tree. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer all your garden and plant related questions. 

CREST OF THE HILL
Behind an ornate iron gate you will find an historic property featuring a beautiful Italian fountain. This property, with its stunning views, sits on top of Liberty Hill. The newly renovated front garden is filled with colorful plants spread throughout well established ceanothus, spruce and palms trees. There is even a lovely bed of roses. The home was originally built and owned by the longest sitting Mayor of San Francisco, locally known as “Sunny Jim”!

HUMMINGBIRD HAVEN
A flagstone entrance way leads you into this fragrant and colorful garden of hummingbird and butterfly favorites. Fuchsia, ceanothus, Douglas iris, penstemon, cuphea, multiple varieties of sage, and several types of ground cover border a wooden walkway creating a lush English style garden. Flowering trees can be seen throughout the garden and include cherry, dogwood, lemon and a large Princess tree. Many of the delightful ornaments seen throughout the garden are owner made!

SUN AND SHADE
This south-facing garden is a typical back yard space defined by two planted fences on the east and west, and a tall, ivy-covered retaining wall at a higher elevation to the south. A challenge is that part of the garden is very sunny, and part quite shady. The yard was originally a concrete disaster, and over many years all the concrete paving has been demolished, the soil improved, a brick terrace added, and the new space was planted with trees and shrubs. There is an ever changing seasonal garden which is a year-round joy both from inside the house and from outside. In the garden you will find two plum and two apple trees, a plethora of culinary herbs, and a home to bees, birds, and other pollinators.

A REVIVED GARDEN
In 2009 the garden you see at this home was in its natural state with just a fence, high weeds and not much else! Since then the owners have added a meandering flagstone garden path lined with hydrangeas, lavender and succulents. Roses, which survived a few years of neglect, are now happily blooming. A highlight for the owner, who grew up on an apricot orchard, is a 30 year old Blenheim apricot tree that still produces a bountiful crop of apricots!

URBAN DELIGHT
Originally designed by by Carolyn Atherton in 1989 this garden was renovated by Malcolm Hillan in 2014. The garden features a rich and fragrant display of roses, wisteria, and fruit trees that are anchored by tree ferns, a Japanese cherry tree and a New Zealand tea tree. Don’t miss this colorful oasis!

PERFECT FOR ENTERTAINING
In this peaceful, park-like setting you forget that you’re in an urban environment. Multiple decks throughout the garden were created for lounging and entertaining. One has Comice pears that can be picked directly from a raised deck. A unique variety of potted and planted Japanese Maples are growing throughout the garden. Some of these maples have been cared for in pots for over 20 years! Intimate, miniature succulent gardens are displayed in ceramic planters that were thrown and handbuilt by the owner.

If you would like to be a Volunteer Garden Greeter you’ll receive a FREE ticket for the Tour. Garden Greeters take a shift at one of the gardens to welcome visitors and check them in, sell tickets as needed, and sell raffle tickets. To volunteer, send an email to LindaLockyer3@gmail.com. Shifts are 10am-12noon, 12noon-2pm and 2-4pm.

THANK YOU to our generous sponsors for supporting the Garden Tour!

Gold

Dennis Otto
NoVY
Sloat Garden Center
Urban Farmer Store
Vivre Real Estate – Danielle Lazier

BJ Droubi – Generation Real Estate
Corcoran Icon Properties
Dennis Pennebaker – Compass
Dirty Hoe Landscaping
Flora Grubb Gardens
Flowercraft Garden Center
Love and Stem
Mitchell’s Ice Cream
Noe Valley Farmers Market
Noe Valley Merchants & Professionals Association
SkinSpirit
Urban Scout

SAVE THE DATE

The Friends of Noe Valley annual Garden Tour is back again for its second year post Covid.

The Tour will be held on Saturday, May 6th from 10am-4pm to take advantage of blooming spring flowers. In its 17th year the Garden Tour will feature eight to ten private gardens for all to enjoy!

We are currently looking for gardens for this year’s Tour. Any kind of garden is acceptable. Gardens can be homeowner or professionally maintained. If you have a garden and would like to schedule a garden preview for potential inclusion please send an email ASAP to:
info@friendsofnoevalley.com

There is also a need for garden greeters. Garden greeters are stationed for a two hour shift at one of the gardens and will be given a FREE ticket. Those interested in being a garden greeter can contact Linda Lockyer at:
lindalockyer3@gmail.com

Proceeds from the Garden Tour go back into the community to support neighborhood beautification projects. Past beneficiaries have included the James Lick Middle School Garden, the Fairmont School garden project, the Noe Valley Town Square, and the On Loc 30th Street Senior Center garden. If you have an idea for a neighborhood beautification project, email your ideas to Linda Lockyer or Peggy Cling at:
mpcling@gmail.com

The Garden Tour connects our neighborhood in numerous ways. Garden owners meet other garden owners and friendships are forged. Volunteer Garden Greeters meet other volunteers and spend quality time getting acquainted. Neighbors can visit gardens of the “people next door”. The public comes to Noe Valley and finds out why we love it here!  The annual Noe Valley Garden Tour brings hundreds of people into the neighborhood and positive attention to our urban village.

Check back for more detailed Garden Tour information and TICKET sales in April.

After many years of thinking about sponsoring an Art Festival and then two years of Covid cancellations, the Friends of Noe Valley is THRILLED to be holding the FIRST EVER NOE VALLEY ART FESTIVAL!

If you are an artist, please consider joining us and being a part of this exciting, inaugural art event in Noe Valley! Since directed sales are prohibited by San Francisco City code in public parks, this is a great opportunity to promote your art ahead of the Art Span Open Studios. Please note that this is an ART FESTIVAL and not an ART SALE.

Details –

• Sunday, October 2, 2022
• 10am – 4pm
• Noe Valley Town Square
  3861 24th Street, between Sanchez and Vicksburg
• 22-24 exhibit spaces
• 10X10 foot space will be assigned to each artist, double spaces may be available.
• All items and materials used to display art are to be provided by the artist. Tents, tables, easels, display panels, signs and other items must fit in the 10 X 10 space assigned.
• $25 fee to participate
• Set up 8am – 10am
• Tear down 4pm – 5pm
• Free to the public to attend
• Sponsored by the Friends of Noe Valley

If you are interested in participating, please send your website or images to

friendsofnv@gmail.com

Deadline to apply AUGUST 20TH.

In partnership with SF Rec&Park

 

 

After many years of thinking about sponsoring an Art Festival and then two years of Covid cancellations, the Friends of Noe Valley is THRILLED to be holding the

FIRST EVER NOE VALLEY ART FESTIVAL!

 

Back in JUNE 2013 the Friends of Noe Valley thought that an Art Festival would be a great event. The plans being developed were enthusiastic and elaborate!

The 2013 October date that was chosen coincided with the Noe Valley Harvest Festival as well as Open Studios in Noe Valley. Since the Town Square was not open until Fall 2016 and the Harvest Festival was typically held on 24th Street between Sanchez and Church the committee thought Vicksburg Street between 24th and Jersey would be a great spot for an Art Festival. So planning began!

• The event was described to Vicksburg Street neighbors to get their approval,
• City departments were contacted to determine how to go about getting permits for the event and to find out what the costs would be,
• Artist outreach began,
• A web page and an application to participate were created,
• A space plan for Vicksburg Street that would allow 40 artists to exhibit was developed.

What we discovered was:

• Noe Valley Artists with studios were most likely participating in Open Studios that weekend,
• The Harvest Festival had 50+ artists and crafts people displaying and selling their work,
• We were running out of time,
• The Vicksburg residents are fantastic neighbors who were supportive and happy to help with the street closure!

Because of these facts (except the 4th one) we decided to pull the plug on the Art Festival for 2013. We came back to the idea on and off over the next seven years.

Then, in March of 2020, serious planning began again. Because the Noe Valley Town Square was now open and hosting regular Sunday events, we thought an Art Festival in that space could work. We were well underway with plans when Covid canceled our event for 2020. And again for 2021.

That brings us to the present. Here are the details for the

FIRST EVER NOE VALLEY ART FESTIVAL 2022:

• Sunday, October 2, 2022
• 10:00am – 4:00pm
• Noe Valley Town Square
• 22 artists
• Art work to include ceramics, painting, drawings, prints, sculpture, mixed media, textiles and photographs
• Art activity for adults and kids
• Free to the public

We hope to see you there! Spread the word! Bring your friends and family.

If you are an artist interested in participating please check information HERE.

In partnership with SF Rec&Park

 

Purchase tickets HERE

The Garden committee has finalized the gardens to be included on the Tour. You will be amazed at what the huge December rain has done for gardens this year. Music and Art can be seen in several gardens as well. Come be inspired!

The self guided tour will be held on Saturday, May 7th from 10am to 4pm with 11 gardens bursting with greenery and color. Ticket prices remain the same at $20 for adults and $15 for seniors 62+. Children under 12 are free. Tickets can be purchased at –

When Modern Was – 24th Street
Just for Fun – 24th Street
Folio Books – 24th Street
Olive This, Olive That – Vicksburg Street
Omnivore Books – Cesar Chavez Street
Farmers Market – Saturdays at the Noe Valley Town Square

OR you can purchase them on line

HERE

Featured gardens will showcase a variety of styles. Among them are –

• QUAINT COTTAGE GARDEN
  Follow a meandering path through a quaint cottage garden. This secluded north facing garden has high fences to protect it allowing a wide variety of plants and trees to thrive.
• EXOTIC TROPICAL GARDEN WITH KOI POND
  At this home in the front, you will find a small, quaint garden with a Wisteria vine and varied succulents. A lush, exotic, tropical garden with a Koi pond awaits you in the rear with open views to the neighbors’ flowering garden.
• SCHOOLYARD GARDENS
  Our neighborhood middle school has two educational gardens – a garden with plants from the Americas and a “dinosaur” garden with ancient plants and trees. Both gardens are lovingly tended by students from the school. Come meet the students and learn from them about these two gardens.
• SIDE BY SIDE GARDENS, SPECTACULAR VIEWS
  At an intriguing Noe Valley “castle” like residence you can find side-by-side gardens with spectacular views. One space is filled with gorgeous roses and amazing succulents and the second space is a gardener’s delight complete with a bridge over a Koi pond.
• QUIET AND PEACEFUL FOREST SETTING
  An English style cottage garden created and maintained by the artist/architect homeowner with help from Mission Creek Gardening, awaits you in a lovely forest setting. Peaceful and quiet sitting areas share the space and an operating compost system used in the garden is also on site.
• FLOWERS PLUS VEGETABLES!
  A well established front garden, featured in the March Noe Valley Voice, greets you with blooming flowers. In the rear garden you will find north facing vegetable beds. Come see what edibles grow in the neighborhood and what it takes to grow them!
• RARE PARK LIKE SETTING WITH ADJOINING GARDENS
  These side by side gardens, connected by a pathway to one another, are composed of a large formal style garden with a rabbit hutch and a lush garden with flowers, shrubs and trees.
• LIBRARY GARDEN
  Both sun and shade gardens await exploration at your local public library. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer all your garden and plant related questions.
• TAPESTRY LAWN IN SHADES OF BLUE
  You will find an imaginative “lawn” that suggests a tapestry, created with ground cover in shades of blue in this garden. The “lawn” is surrounded by well established Mediterranean plants in this calming garden setting.

 

Raffle tickets will be sold and among the prizes are a $100 gift certificate to Flora Grubb, a $100 gift certificate to Sloat Garden Center, a $100 gift certificate to Flowercraft and a lovely potted orchid from Flowers of the Valley. Raffle tickets can be purchased at the same locations as Garden Tour tickets, at the Saturday Farmer’s Market and on the day of the Tour at all of the gardens. Tickets are $1 each and 30 for $20.

As always, a donation to a beautification project in the neighborhood will be made with Garden Tour proceeds.

We look forward to seeing you on May 7th!

Thank you to all of our wonderful sponsors with a special BIG shoutout going to our incredible GOLD level sponsors:

• Dennis Otto – Compass RE
• Pete Brannigan – Compass RE
• Sloat Garden Center
• Umpqua Bank
• BJ Droubi – Generation RE
• Claudia Siegel – Compass RE
• Corcoran Global Living
• David Pennebaker – Compass RE
• Dirty Hoe Landscaping
• First Republic Bank
• Flora Grubb Gardens
• Flowercraft Garden Center
• Flowers of the Valley
• Noe Valley Merchants and Professionals Association
• SkinSpirit
• Urban Farmer Store

 

 

After two long years of not being able to gather together in person the Friends of Noe Valley are thrilled for the revival of Word Week as Word Weekend!

We are very excited to announce that Noe Valley Word Weekend 2022 will be held March 4th-6th at Bethany United Methodist Church. Noe Valley Word Week was founded in 2007 as a project of Friends of Noe Valley to showcase local talent and provide the community with interesting and enjoyable literary events. In its 15th year, in partnership with Folio Books, Noe Valley Word Week is carrying on as Noe Valley Word Weekend!

• All events are FREE but space is limited. Please RSVP to reserve your seat.
• Proof of vaccination will be required for all events.

Friday, March 4
Judd Winick NYT Bestselling Author of Hilo
5pm-6pm, Bethany United Methodist Church, 1270 Sanchez Street

In addition to Hilo, Judd is the author of multiple bestselling comic book series, including Batman, Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Justice League, and Star Wars. “An action-packed page turner with heart!” – Dav Pilkey, author of DOG MAN.
RSVP: https://bit.ly/nvww0304

Saturday, March 5 at 4pm
Her Stories: An Afternoon of Songs, Spoken Word, and Poetry
4pm-5pm, Bethany United Methodist Church, 1270 Sanchez Street

Celebrate Women’s History Month with this Noe Valley Word Weekend event featuring six amazing writers/performers – Kim Shuck, Kimi Sugioka, Mimi Tempestt, Susana Praver-Pérez, Chris Kammler, and Susan Dambroff! Followed by open mic.
RSVP: https://bit.ly/nvww0305

Sunday, March 6
Leslie Kirk Campbell in Conversation with Allison Hoover Bartlett
5pm-6pm, Bethany United Methodist Church, 1270 Sanchez Street

Leslie Kirk Campbell’s debut short story collection, The Man with Eight Pairs of Legs (Sarabande Books) won the 2020 Mary McCarthy Prize for Short Fiction. Her award-winning stories have appeared in Ploughshares, Arts & Letters, Briar Cliff Review, Southern Indian Review and The Thomas Wolfe Review.

Allison Hoover Bartlett is the author of the national bestseller, The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession (Riverhead Books).
RSVP: https://bit.ly/nvww0306