To help you decide which of the 21 gardens to visit, read the garden descriptions, listed in no particular order, below. On the day of the tour, ticket purchasers will receive a map and several possible itineraries. Cross reference the gardens’ names to the map to find your way to your favorites.
Purpose: To relax outside, To enjoy the fruits of labor. Features: Fruit trees, flower beds. Style: Eclectic, Informal, Rustic.
Purpose: To relax outside, To provide native habitat for wildlife, To educate others. Features: Flower bed(s), Entertainment space(s), Unique terracing. Style: Eclectic, Rustic, Lush. Notes: This garden arose from previously unusable space; walk through a magical gate and visit us to see how we created beauty, community space, and art from what some consider waste.
Purpose: To relax outside, To provide native habitat for wildlife, Spend time with family.. Features: Sculpture, Entertainment space, Small garden space. Style: Eclectic, Sunny, Tropical.
Purpose: To entertain, To relax outside, To grow food, To provide native habitat for wildlife, To create art, To provide play space for kids, To educate others. Features: Vegetable bed(s), Fruit tree(s), Native plants. Style: Eclectic, Rustic, Lush. Notes: The Room 8 Band will be playing in the garden! Come see live music and how a garden and the arts can work together to build community. Community members will also be hosting a potluck the day of the tour.
Purpose: To relax outside, To cook outside, To spend time with family. Features: Water feature(s), City Views, Outdoor Kitchen. Style: Eclectic, Modern, Lush.
Purpose: To relax outside, To provide native habitat for wildlife, To entertain. Features: City Views, Entertain, Outdoor kitchen. Style: Informal, Rustic, Sunny.
Purpose: To entertain, To relax outside, To provide native habitat for wildlife. Features: City views, Flower bed(s), Unique hardscaping. Style: Modern, Rustic, Natural.
Purpose: To entertain, To relax outside, To spend time with family. Features: City views, Unique hardscaping, Unique terracing. Style: Modern, Lush, Shady.
Purpose: To create art, To relax outside, To grow food. Features: City views, Fruit tree(s), Vegetable bed(s). Style: Productive, Sunny, Rustic.
Purpose: To provide native habitat for wildlife, To relax outside, To cook outside. Features: Water feature(s), Entertainment space(s), Small space garden. Style: Informal, Rustic, Eclectic. Notes: Roses taken from Golden Gate Park cuttings, multiple fruit trees, and a smattering of natives.
Purpose: To focus, To reflect outside, To be proactive. Features: Roses, City view, Unique plans-scape. Style: Lush, elegant, manic;ured.
Purpose: To provide native habitat for wildlife, To create art, To educate others. Features: City views, Sculpture, Native plants. Style: Modern, Drought tolerant, Community maintained. Notes: The Goettingen Community Garden and Steps to Wisdom is a decade-long collaboration among neighbors and friends in San Francisco’s Portola District! On your way to the next garden, plan to climb or descend these colorful steps.
Purpose: To relax outside, To grow herbs, To provide native habitat for wildlife. Features: Unique hardscaping, Unique terracing, Small space garden. Style: Productive, Informal, Shady. Notes: Another public garden to view on your way to the next garden. Maintained by devoted neighbors and includes delightful fairy features.
Purpose: To provide native habitat for wildlife, To create art, To educate others. Features: City views, Unique hardscaping, Native plants. Style: Eclectic, Drought tolerant, Informal. Notes: A right of way garden slope featuring a mural of indigenous plants, pollinators and propagators.
A Perfumed Oasis
Purpose: To relax outside, To grow food, To spend time with family. Features: Flower bed(s), Fruit tree(s), Unique terracing. Style: Informal, Lush, Shady. Notes: Our garden has a little bit of everything – veggie gardens, hidden yard art, flowers to smell, and places to lounge.
Purpose: To entertain, To spend time outdoors, Unique play area. Features: City views, Mixed Bed Regime, Tree stumps for climbing. Style: Playful, Lush, Eclectic. Notes: Another public garden to view on your way to the next garden. A McLaren Park island maintained by devoted neighbors bordering a unique Nature Exploration play space with a sense of humor.
Purpose: To provide native habitat for wildlife, To educate others, To relax outside. Features: Unique landscaping, Growing fruits and vegetable, Public gathering spaces. Style: Drought Tolerant, Eclectic, Natural. Notes: The award winning six block long Visitacion Valley Greenway is an outdoor classroom artfully designed as a public pedestrian thoroughfare that is a lush green respite providing sun or shade as desired.
Purpose: To relax outside, To provide native habitat for wildlife, To entertain. Features: City Views, flower beds, Entertainment space Style: Eclectic, Informal, Lush.
Purpose: To provide native habitat for wildlife, To educate others, To relax outside. Features: Waterwise design, Native plants, Unique landscaping. Style: Drought Tolerant, Rustic, Natural. Notes: The McLaren Park Native Plant Garden is an outdoor classroom made without any hardscape, which was designed to promote wildlife biodiversity and has a nature play area for children.
Purpose: To provide a place for children to enjoy, To educate others, To relax outside. Features: Lush, Growing fruits & vegetables, Public gathering spaces. Style: Love, Natural, Informal. Notes: Community space. Started as a collaboration with Alta Vista school. Find faux creatures hidden in the garden.
Purpose: To grow food, To provide native habitat for wildlife, To educate others. Features: Rainwater Catchment System, Fruit tree(s) & Native plants. Style: Productive, Drought tolerant, Educational. Notes: Student run, community space.
Portola Garden Tour 