Tour Private Gardens of the East Bay with Garden Conserancy's Open Days Program

ALAMEDA & CONTRA COSTA COUNTIES, CA: On Saturday, July 30th, the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days national garden-visiting program invites the public to explore five private gardens in San Francisco’s East Bay – a special opportunity to discover and enjoy the richly diverse and inspiring inventiveness of Bay Area gardens, and the gardeners who create them.

Visitors on July 30th may begin their tour at any of the following locations:

- Garden of Keeyla Meadows (1137 Stannage Avenue, Albany): This artist and garden designer’s personal garden is like walking through a living painting; includes brilliantly colorful plantings, wavy walls, mosaic benches.

- Camp Shasta (Berkeley; directions provided day of at other gardens, or in advance by emailing lwilson@gardenconservancy.org): Nature has been tamed and enhanced in this wild, woodland canyon garden on Codornices Creek; includes potager, fruit trees and chickens.

- The Garden at 520 Miner Road (520 Miner Road, Orinda): Lower and upper gardens laid out over thirty five years creating a sculptural wonderland featuring a collection from around the world.

- Mediterranean Delight (106 Estates Drive, Piedmont): This garden displays the owners' sense of whimsical design with a beautiful variety of plant color and texture in a layout that invites exploration.

- Case De Sueños (11110 Lochard Street, Oakland): A landscape designer’s own garden paradise, who’s travels have inspired lush and interesting plantings; includes shade house, koi pond and nursery.

Gardens are open from 10am to 4pm. Admission at each garden is $7 per person (cash or check); children 12 & under are free. Discount tickets are available online in advance, they never expire and can be used at any Open Day nationwide. Open Days take place rain or shine. Visit one garden or all of them – tours are self-guided and reservations are not required.

The Garden Conservancy’s Open Days program is a national garden-visiting and education program featuring self-guided tours of exceptional private gardens across the country. The Garden Conservancy is dedicated to sharing and saving America’s outstanding gardens, and in northern California has been instrumental in helping to preserve The Ruth Bancroft Garden and restoring the Gardens of Alcatraz.

For more information, to order discounted admission tickets, or to find out how you can get involved with Open Days in your area visit www.opendaysprogram.org or call the Garden Conservancy toll-free at 1-888-842-2442, M-F 9am to 5pm EST.

(Photo: Saxon Holt)