Community Corner
Enjoy Mother's Day On the Aromas Country Garden Tour
Everything from tiny cottage gardens to enormous properties covering an acre or more can be seen on a self-guided tour that's tailor-made for Mother's Day weekend.
Why give your mother just one bouquet of flowers when you can show her around ten gardens filled with blossoms on Mother's Day weekend? That’s the main attraction of the Aromas Country Garden Tour slated for this Saturday. The annual tour, organized by the Aromas Hills Artisans, is the perfect activity for you and your mom to enjoy together — or for anyone who loves plants and beautiful sights.
What to do here: The tour includes both residential gardens and plant-based businesses in nearby Aromas, south of Gilroy. Start at the Aromas Grange, corner of Rose and Bardue, where you can buy tickets to the tour for $10 per person. In addition to the ticket table at the Grange, there are other items available here: You can also buy box lunches and plants from the Aromas 4-H, get free advice from Monterey Bay Master Gardeners, and receive drought-resistant plant lists from the Aromas Water District. The self-guided tour is from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Why we like it: The tour includes everything from tiny cottage gardens to enormous properties covering an acre or more, according to event chair Linda Bjornson. Aromas’ gentle microclimates are ideal for growing a wide variety of plants, even tropical natives like hibiscus, princess flower and avocados, and right now is the best time of the year to see gardens in their full spring glory. In addition to the home gardens, visitors can peek at the operations of Cole Canyon Farm, an organic herb and vegetable grower which is co-sponsoring the tour, and the Iris Farm, where the owner grows a wide variety of the colorful flowers and creates new hybrids. Plants can be purchased at these locations.
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And even more to like: Since it’s sponsored by an artist’s group, naturally there’s art involved in the tour. Artists will be found in the gardens showing and selling their work, which ranges from stained glass to paintings to jewelry to ceramics. “The artworks make great last-minute gifts for Mother’s Day,” said Bjornson, “or you can take Mom on the tour and let her pick out her own gift.”
About the Aromas Hills Artisans and Aromas: The nonprofit arts group, which includes craftspeople, artists, and writers, has as its mission to “celebrate and inspire the creation of art by providing support, education and enrichment for our members and the community.” The Artisans also hold workshops, a monthly “paint out” and this November will host a holiday arts festival for the first time. Many artists and creative folk call Aromas home; the little town at the border of San Benito, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties has about 3,000 residents. On one side of town, you’ll find Graniterock’s original quarry, still in operation after more than a century; and on another side, strawberry giant Driscoll. The very active Aromas Grange hosts numerous events and concerts all year long, and the entire town gets together for an old-fashioned celebration, Aromas Day, each August.
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Directions and website: Directions and website: Head east on Riverside Road about 7 miles; exit right on Rogge Lane and keep going straight. After a mile or so Rogge turns into Carpenteria Avenue. After going through the intersection in the middle of Aromas (a three-way stop), turn right on Rose Avenue. You’ll travel a short block to the Grange building on the left side of the street. More information on the tour and the Aromas Hills Artisans can be found at www.aromashillsartisans.org.
