Beautiful rooms, gorgeous gardens; it must be spring tour season. Here are more upcoming home and garden tours for Sacramento and beyond:
ELK GROVE GREENER GARDENS TOUR AND FESTIVAL
Where: Start at Elk Grove Community Garden and McConnell Park, 10025 Hampton Oak Drive, Elk Grove.
When: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday
Admission: Free
Details: www.lagunacreek.org
Highlights: Driving tour features 15 water-wise makeovers in this first tour-festival combo dedicated to sustainability. Pick up a map or register in advance online. The festival includes plant and garden gear vendors, free workshops and demonstrations on composting (with or without worms), low-volume irrigation, native plants, drought-tolerant landscaping and more.
AAUW AMADOR HOME TOUR
Where: Ione, Amador County
When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. next Saturday
Admission: $22 in advance, $25 day of tour
Details: www.aauwamador.org, (209) 245-6052
Highlights: Sponsored by the American Association of University Women Amador Branch, this 40th annual tour spotlights five picturesque homes in the foothill town of Ione plus its historic Preston Castle and Methodist Church. A fundraiser for college scholarships for young women, this event also includes a garden tea, art show and wine tasting.
KITCHENS IN THE VINEYARDS HOME TOUR
Where: Napa and St. Helena
When: 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. April 28
Admission: $65
Details: www.musicinthevineyards.org, (707) 258-5559
Highlights: This 15th annual tour, which supports Napa's Music in the Vineyards concert program, features five estate homes in Napa's wine country with the focus on food. Top chefs from Napa Valley restaurants and Napa-based cookbook authors will be stationed in the homes' kitchens to offer tastings, recipes, autographed cookbooks and more.
FOLSOM GARDEN CLUB'S GARDENS OF FOLSOM
Where: Seven gardens in Folsom (map with ticket order)
When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. April 28-29
Admission: $12
Details: www.folsomgarden.org or (916) 984-3851
Highlights: Proceeds from this 12th annual tour benefit college scholarships and Folsom community projects. Each garden features something extra such as a master gardener to answer questions, a plant sale, an artist painting gardenscapes and a cookie sale. Bring a camera.
LAND PARK GARDEN TOUR AND TEA
Where: Start at Holy Spirit Parish School, 3920 W. Land Park Drive, Sacramento; homes on Parkridge Road and 12th Avenue, Sacramento
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 5
Admission: $20 in advance, $25 day of tour; tea luncheon and tour, $40 in advance
Details: www.hs-ps.com or (916) 446-7605
Highlights: Eight gardens in Sacramento's Land Park neighborhood showcase artistic themes with local ties such as the Crocker Art Museum's upcoming Norman Rockwell exhibit and a salute to painter Wayne Thiebaud's artistic family. Tour benefits Holy Spirit Parish School's art program and the Mustard Seed School at Loaves & Fishes. A boutique of handcrafted and garden items will be open at Holy Spirit Parish School. A tea luncheon will be served at one of the homes at noon.
ST. JOHN'S CHICO GARDEN TOUR
Where: Start at St. John's Episcopal Church, 2341 Floral Ave., Chico
When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. May 5
Admission: $25 in advance, $30 day of tour (map on tickets)
Details: www.stjohnschico.org or (530) 894-1971
Highlights: Now in its 29th year, this annual tour includes five gardens, luncheon and plant boutique.
PENCE GALLERY GARDEN TOUR
Where: Start at Pence Gallery, 212 D St., Davis, or 631 Oak Ave., Davis.
When: Noon-5 p.m. May 6
Admission: $25 in advance, $28 day of tour
Details: www.pencegallery.org or (530) 758-3370
Highlights: Supporting educational programs of this nonprofit gallery, this 21st annual tour celebrates eight art-filled gardens in central Davis with a twist artists painting the inspirational scenery during the event. This year's stops emphasize river-friendly, water-efficient gardens filled with native plants. Also included is an urban edible garden by Spring Warren, author of "The Quarter-Acre Farm."
EAST SACRAMENTO GARDEN TOUR
Where: Start at David Lubin School, 3535 M St., Sacramento.
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 12-13
Admission: $20 in advance, $25 day of tour
Details: www.facebook.com/ eastsacgardentour; www.eastsacgardentour.com; (916) 491-4952, ext. 45
Highlights: A fundraiser for David Lubin Elementary School, this 14th annual event features gardens in Sacramento's Fabulous 40s. A boutique in the school's multipurpose room is free without a tour ticket.
LOOMIS ART LOOP OPEN STUDIOS TOUR
Where: Start at 3578 Silver Ranch Road, Loomis.
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 12-13
Admission: Free (map available online)
Details: www.loomisartloop.com
Highlights: Here's a different kind of spring tour. See the work of 13 local artists showcased during open houses at five studios within a 10-minute drive. Each studio will offer something extra such as a Victorian tea.
GARDENS OF THE HILLS
Where: El Dorado Hills estates; tickets available at California Welcome Center, 2085 Vine St., Suite 105, El Dorado Hills
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 19, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. May 20
Admission: $20, $10 children under age 12
Details: Email ALSierraFoothills@gmail.com
Highlights: Hosted by the Assistance League of Sierra Foothills, this tour features six spectacular El Dorado Hills homes plus an art show and garden raffle. Proceeds help clothe needy children and provide sports scholarships and equipment for kids in El Dorado County. Tickets also will be available at Pottery World in El Dorado Hills and Rocklin.
AT HOME IN AL TAHOE
Where: Al Tahoe neighborhood, South Shore, Lake Tahoe
When: Noon-4 p.m. June 23
Admission: $20 in advance, $25 day of tour
Details: www.aauw-slt.org, (775) 309-3911
Highlights: Hosted by the South Lake Tahoe chapter of the American Association of University Women, this tour focuses on restored lakeside homes in this unique neighborhood, dating back 150 years. Walk, bike or drive on this self-guided tour. Proceeds go toward college scholarships and a math and science camp for seventh-grade girls.
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