About the Mission Hills Garden Walk

The Mission Hills Garden Walk is a celebration of community and gardening. This is our 11th year of presenting the Walk.

The Walk is a self-guided tour of an incredible variety of private gardens in the Mission Hills neighborhood.

When is the Mission Hills Garden Walk?

The Walk is Saturday, May 9, 2009 10 am to 4 pm - (rain or shine).

Where does the Mission Hills Garden Walk begin?

The walk begins at the Mission Hills Nursery at 1525 Fort Stockton Drive in Mission Hills.

What happens the day of the Walk?

Maps of the Walk are given out beginning at 10 AM the morning of the Walk at Mission Hills Nursery. MAPS ARE NOT GIVEN OUT IN ADVANCE.

There will also be gardening-related vendors at the Nursery providing information on their products.

What about food and water?

Complimentary bottles of water will be provided at the start of the walk, and more water will be available along the route.

Snacks will be available for purchase at one of the homes on the walk.

Frequently, industrious neighborhood children have lemonade and cookie stands along the way—this is truly a neighborhood event.

How much do tickets cost?

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day of the Walk.

Tickets are required for admittance to the gardens.

Where can I buy tickets?

Tickets can be purchased after March 15th at Mission Hills Nursery (1525 Fort Stockton Drive, Mission Hills), Cedros Gardens (330 South Cedros Avenue, Solana Beach), Walter Andersen Nursery (3642 Enterprise Street, Point Loma), or via PayPal at missionhillsgardenclub.org.

Where can I park?

Parking is available at Grant Elementary School (1425 Washington Place, around the corner from Mission Hills Nursery) or limited street parking.

Can we drive from garden to garden?

This is a walking tour, not a driving tour. Many streets in Mission Hills are extremely narrow and will be filled with pedestrians on the day of the walk. Driving between gardens is strongly discouraged.

How far is the Walk?

The walk is usually about 2 miles round trip.

How often will the tours run?

Tours are on your own and at your own pace. There are no tour guides and no set tour times. You will have a map to show you where the gardens are located, and docents are at each garden to answer any questions you may have. Gardens open at 10 AM and close at 4 PM.

Will there be bathrooms along the way?

We will have portable toilets in several locations along the tour route.

Are the gardens accessible to people with disabilities?

Some of the gardens will be accessible, but many of the gardens are on steep canyon lots and unfortunately will not be accessible by individuals with disabilities.

Is the event suitable for children? Children under 12 accompanied by an adult get in free, but please note the following:

The tour is on foot, so smaller children are best in a stroller, but please be aware that because of steep terrain, some of the gardens will not be accessible to strollers. Older children are welcome, as long as they are able to walk the route. Please remind children that gardens are private property and need to be treated with respect.

Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Can I bring my dog?

Only certified service dogs are permitted. Otherwise, pets are not allowed in the gardens.

How will the ticket proceeds be used?

Mission Hills Garden Club is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to furthering garden education and supporting neighborhood beautification projects. The Garden Walk is the Club’s major fund-raiser. Projects we have supported (and continue to support) include, among others:

• Landscaping of the Washington Street median between Albatross and Dove.

• Landscaping and maintenance of the public tennis courts near Pioneer Park.

• Horticultural scholarships at four local community colleges.

• Installation of pots and hanging baskets of flowers in the Mission Hills business districts.

• Purchase of gardening books for children and adults at the Mission Hills/Hillcrest branch library.

• Support of the Gecko Garden, a student-, teacher-, and parent-run garden at Grant Elementary School.

• Support of the playground upgrade in Pioneer Park.

• Support of the floral murals on Reynard Way.

Where can I get more information?

Please send an email to gardenwalk_chairperson@missionhillsgardenclub.org

Thank you, and we hope to see you at the Walk!