Amazingly, it’s May and somehow we are on the brink of summer, a time when flowers — and flower shows — are blooming profusely around Southern California.
If you don’t mind a little drive, take a day trip to Idyllwild to wander Gary Parton’s colorful and fragrant Idyllwild Lilac Garden, with 165 different colors of the old-fashioned flowers that resemble clusters of tiny grapes with an intoxicating scent, sometimes spicy and sometimes sweet. The colors range from blue-violet and magenta to pinks and whites and, of course, dark purples, some of which resemble the burgundy hues of red wine.
In this mountain town where winter is just receding, his 300 lilac bushes are at their peak in May — especially Mother’s Day weekend — said Parton, a retired El Camino Junior College art teacher, who moved from Torrance to Idyllwild in the late 1990s. Parton, who said he’s “old-school,” doesn’t have a website and his Facebook page hasn’t been updated since 2021, but visitors can wander for free on weekends between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. through May 22.
Lilac blooms are deeply emotional for many people, Parton said. Many visitors tell him they grew up with lilacs on the East Coast but haven’t really seen them since they moved to the West.
“This is a plant of memory,” he said. “I’ve literally had women breaking down when they wander the garden. I have to have chairs for people just so they can sit and collect themselves. For many people, it’s just a magical plant.”
Parton, 83, retired in 1998 and was befriended by another Idyllwild resident, concert pianist Reva Ballreich, who started cultivating lilacs after carpal tunnel syndrome ended her music career. She gave him many lilacs before she died, starting him on his lilac journey. For years now, his dream has been to make the lilac Idyllwild’s flower by giving bushes away to local businesses and helping to plant them. Today you can see blooming lilacs up and down the main street, he said, the fruits of his labors.
“This is a plant of memory.”
But the last few years have been hard on Parton’s lilacs. Last year he officially closed his nursery, Alpenglow Lilac Garden, because he didn’t think he could keep up with maintaining the business (although he still has leftover plants to sell). SoCal’s ongoing drought has required him to water more, and admission to the lilac garden has always been free, so Parton has only a lonely donation bucket to offset water bills that climbed over $800 last summer.
“I couldn’t bring myself to have someone stand out front and collect money; it’s just too important for people to see this,” he said.
But he still gives tours to schoolchildren, hoping to build a new foundation of scented memories, and he has some tips for Southern California gardeners who want to grow lilacs: The plants usually need cold temperatures to set blooms, not easy to find in SoCal’s moderate clime, but Parton says you can trick lilacs into budding by withholding water from them in July and August until they start to wilt. If you give the plants a good watering once they wilt, they will bounce back, he said, but the stress will jump-start their budding cycle so they bloom the following spring.
Rather than buy mom flowers for Mother’s Day, take her to a Los Angeles-area nursery to pick up the perfect plant — and then help her place it in her yard or in a pot.
Two other tips: Make sure they get at least four hours of sun a day and stay away from nitrogen fertilizers. “Lilacs don’t like nitrogen and if you overfeed them, you’ll end up with big bushes and no blooms.”
Parton’s lilac varieties date back to the 1800s and come from all over the world — he even has a small section dedicated to lilacs from Russia, which get visits every year from a few Russian families who live in Los Angeles. “They set up tables, pass around food and talk about their childhood and the lilacs. They have no political angle; they just want to remember and celebrate the lilacs and be around them every year … wouldn’t it be great if all we had to argue about was who had the best lilac color?”
If you prefer to stay closer to L.A., and whimsical forms are your thing, check out South Coast Botanic Garden’s new exhibit of more than 100 artfully shorn plants called “Flamboyance — A Topiary Menagerie.” The exhibit, which runs through July 31, features topiary animals in six groups along the front half of the garden, including “70 life-sized flamingos filled with begonias, a pack of dogs, a fluffle of rabbits, a troop of monkeys, a swarm of butterflies and a pod of dolphins.” The exhibit is free with a general admission ticket.
You also can find several flower shows in May, featuring orchids, geraniums and chrysanthemums, or just visit botanic gardens or flower farms to catch the tail end of spectacular spring blooms.
SoCal gardeners also can find several gardening classes. Now is the time to finish planting, the sooner the better, and mulch, mulch, mulch before the heat is upon us, baking the tender roots of your veggies and flowers. Compost makes a fine mulch, especially for vegetable gardens, but you can also use straw or leaves to retain moisture and help rebuild the soil.
Here’s a list of garden- and plant-related events and activities for May. Email events to jeanette.marantos@latimes.com at least three weeks before they happen, and we might include them in the calendar.
Through May 8 The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch are still in bloom and open for visits from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $22 adults; $20 seniors 60+ and military; $10 for children ages 3-10; free for children under 3. Tickets must be purchased online. theflowerfields.com
Through May 22 Idyllwild Lilac Garden is open weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 25025 Fern Valley Road in Idyllwild-Pine Cove. Admission is free.
Through May 31 The first Butterfly Garden Contest for gardens in southwest Riverside County, sponsored by the Santa Margarita Group of the San Gorgonio chapter of the Sierra Club. Gardens should include California native nectar plants for adult butterflies and host plants for the caterpillars (based on information on the California Native Plant Society’s Calscape.com database under the “butterflies” tab). Gardens must be in the communities of Canyon Lake, Hemet, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Murrieta, Perris, Temecula, Wildomar or Winchester and will be evaluated in four categories, ranging from extra small (25 square feet or less, including container gardens) to larger than 125 square feet. Gardens will be judged on their overall beauty and functionality for all local butterflies; to be eligible, they must be primarily composed of native plants. It’s free to enter. Winners will be announced June 10, with prizes from $50 to $125, depending on garden size. Visit the website for entry forms and information. sierraclub.org/san-gorgonio/santa-margarita
Through July 31 Flamboyance — A Topiary Menagerie exhibit of more than 100 whimsical topiaries at South Coast Botanic Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Estates, daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The exhibit is free with $15 admission to the garden ($11 seniors 62+ and students with ID, $5 children ages 5-12, free for members, children 4 and younger and everyone on the third Tuesday of every month). Advance online purchase is required for nonmembers. southcoastbotanicgarden.org
Drought-resistant plants like hummingbird sage and rosemary are the ideal addition to Southern California gardens.
May 5 Edible landscaping presentation by the UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Orange County explains how to integrate vegetables, herbs, berries and fruit trees into your landscape in beautiful and interesting ways from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Murray Senior and Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way in Mission Viejo. The presentation is free. mgorange.ucanr.edu
May 6-7 Gates Cactus and Succulent Society 47th Annual Sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at the Redlands Church of the Nazarene, 1307 E. Citrus Ave. in Redlands. The sale promises thousands of rare and unusual cactus and succulents plus unique handmade pottery for sale, as well as growing tips from professional growers. Admission is free. gatescactusandsucculentsociety.com
May 7 Huntington Beach Monarch Nature Trail Volunteer Day from 9 to 11 a.m. at 5302 Rancho Road in Huntington Beach. Volunteers can work on a variety of tasks, including seed collection, watering, mulching and weeding. Children will be able to participate in a hands-on nature activity. Volunteers should wear tennis shoes, a hat and sunscreen and bring their own water. No restrooms are available at the site. The event is sponsored by the UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Orange County. Admission is free and no registration is required. mgorange.ucanr.edu
Foodscaping With Native Plants is a class taught by Sophie Pennes, owner of Urban Farms L.A., from 11 a.m. to noon at Fig Earth Supply, 3577 N. Figueroa St. in Mt. Washington. Pennes, who specializes in building food gardens and native plant gardens around Los Angeles, will explain how adding native plants to a landscape can improve the health and production of vegetable gardens by attracting pollinators. Capacity is limited to 25 people so it’s best to purchase tickets online, $20. figearthsupply.com
Planting Your Warm-Season Garden is a class offered by Geri Miller of Home Grown Edible Landscapes at the Cook’s Garden, 1033 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice. The class from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. covers how to plan and plant a warm-season garden with instruction on soil prep, drip irrigation and a hands-on opportunity to practice planting in the demonstration garden. thecooksgardenvenice.com
May 7-8 Geranium Society of Los Angeles Mother’s Day Weekend Show & Sale is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at Ayres Hall in the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 301 N. Baldwin Ave. in Arcadia. The show and sale feature multiple varieties of geraniums and pelargoniums. Free with $15 admission to the Arboretum ($11 for seniors 62+ and students, $5 children ages 5-12, free to members and children under 5). Purchase tickets online. arboretum.org
Physical therapist Terry Richardson, aka the Black Thumb, tends humans by day and rescues orchids by night. He can show you how to keep your orchids alive.
May 7-June 12 San Diego Botanic Gardens World of Orchids show daily except Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Quail Gardens Drive and Ecke Ranch Road in Encinitas. Reservations are recommended. Note that the orchid show is open to members only on Sundays and Mondays from 9 to 10 a.m. Admission is $18 ($12 seniors, military and students, $10 children ages 3-17, free to children under 3 and members). sdbgarden.org
May 8 The South Coast Cactus & Succulent Society presents a talk by Long Beach cactus grower Gary Duke about the native cactus he found during his travels to northern Argentina in 2021. The free program starts at 1 p.m. at the Peninsula Center Library Community Room, 701 Silver Spur Road in Rolling Hills Estates. southcoastcss.org
May 10 Orange County Organic Gardening Club presentation about plant propagation at 7 p.m. in the Silo Building at the Orange County Fairgrounds, 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa. Club member Lisa Bui explains how to expand your garden holdings by taking cuttings and propagating plants. Admission is free.
May 12, 19 Native Plant Maintenance Basics, a walk and talk through the Theodore Payne Foundation’s demonstration gardens about summer maintenance practices for California native plants, which often go dormant during the region’s hottest months. The May 12 class will be led by horticulturist Alejandro Lemus, assistant manager of the Theodore Payne Foundation nursery. The May 19 class is taught by Erik Blank, a native plant enthusiast with professional experience in restoration, installation and maintenance of native plant gardens. Both classes are from 9 to 10 a.m. at 10459 Tuxford St. in Sun Valley. Purchase tickets in advance online for $15 ($12 for members). Participants should wear closed-toe shoes and long pants and be prepared for up to one hour of walking on sometimes steep and uneven surfaces. Water bottles and sun protection are recommended. theodorepayne.org
May 13 Native Seed-Starting Workshop at the Theodore Payne Foundation nursery, taught by Tim Becker, the foundation’s director of horticulture. Learn how to propagate native plants from seed, with a focus on desert plants, during this hands-on workshop from 9 a.m. to noon at 10459 Tuxford St. in Sun Valley. Each student will take home a flat of seeds they’ve sown. Participants should come prepared for three hours of standing and up to a mile of walking in the sun; wear closed-toe shoes and bring water. Register online; tickets are $65 ($50 for members). theodorepayne.org
Drought-tolerant gardening presentation by the UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Orange County from 6 to 7 p.m. at the East Anaheim Community Center, 8201 E. Santa Ana Canyon Road in Anaheim. The free presentation provides tips for gardening in Southern California’s Mediterranean climate, a guide to garden design and tips for selecting and caring for drought-tolerant plants. mgorange.ucanr.edu
May 14 Backyard Composting 101 is a composting class for beginners taught by members of L.A. Compost, from 11 a.m. to noon at Fig Earth Supply, 3577 N. Figueroa St. in Mt. Washington. Capacity is limited so it’s best to purchase tickets online, $10. figearthsupply.com
Worm composting, or vermicomposting, turns food waste into worm castings that are great for garden soil. Here’s how to start worm composting at home.
Guided Spring Bloom Tours at Descanso Gardens, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at 1418 Descanso Drive in La Cañada Flintridge. The tours are free with $15 admission ($11 seniors 65+ and students with ID, $5 children ages 5-12, free to members and children under 5). No reservations required. Meet at the Center Circle. descansogardens.org
May 14, 28, June 11, 25 Mindful Garden Design: A four-part course in using regenerative practices to create a garden taught by arborist, contractor, climate activist and landscape architect Shawn Maestretti at the Theodore Payne Foundation nursery, 10459 Tuxford St. in Sun Valley, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each day. The course will cover multiple topics, including elements of design, permaculture techniques and green waste reduction as well as how to capture rainwater, build living soil, design with native and climate-appropriate plants and repurpose materials. Register online for the course, which costs $550 ($400 for members). theodorepayne.org
May 15 City of Beverly Hills Community Services presents Gardening for Caregivers, a workshop for parents, relatives, friends and caregivers about how to garden with people who have disabilities related to age, dementia, mental illness, autism or other conditions that require caregiving. Instructor George Pessin and wellness professional Pamela Korst will teach the class from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Greystone Mansion & Gardens, 905 Loma Vista in Beverly Hills. Tickets are $15 ( $12 for residents of Beverly Hills). secure.rec1.com/CA/city-of-beverly-hills/catalog
May 18 Gardening with California native plants, by the UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Orange County, 6 to 8 p.m. at the West Anaheim Youth Center, 320 S. Beach Blvd. in Anaheim. This free presentation includes information about how to create a garden of California native plants that builds habitat for local wildlife while reducing water use and chemical fertilization. (This class will be repeated in Spanish at the same time and location on May 19.) mgorange.ucanr.edu
May 21 Butterflies, Bees and Bugs (How to Be Pals With Pollinators) is a family class from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Sherman Library & Gardens, 2647 E. Coast Highway in Corona del Mar. The class explains what pollinators do and the types we can find locally, then takes participants on a tour of the gardens to learn about local pollinators’ favorite flowers. Families will take home a pollinator-friendly native plant at the end of the course. Register online for $35 per family group ($25 for members). thesherman.org
Who’s Eating My Garden: Organic Pest Control & Fertilizing, a class offered by Geri Miller of Home Grown Edible Landscapes at the Cook’s Garden, 1033 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The class covers organic pest control — with a “Bug Safari” identifying garden pests in the garden — and effective fertilizing techniques for summer gardens. thecooksgardenvenice.com
Irrigation Practices for Native Plant Gardens with Max Kanter, chief executive of Saturate and a member of the board of the Theodore Payne Foundation, where the class is being held at 10459 Tuxford St. in Sun Valley from 1 to 3 p.m. Learn the most effective ways to water a garden of native plants, including tips on when and where to irrigate and the pros and cons of overhead, drip and hand-watering equipment. Register online; tickets are $25 ($20 for members). theodorepayne.org
Plant-and-Sip: Garden to Glass: The Secrets of the Homegrown Artisanal Cocktail, a class offered by Geri Miller of Home Grown Edible Landscapes at the Cook’s Garden, 1033 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Learn how to plan, plant and use herbs and veggies in your summer cocktails. Tickets are $125 and include two cocktails and light appetizers. Participants must be at least 21. thecooksgardenvenice.com
May 21-22 San Gabriel Valley Chrysanthemum Society Show & Sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days at Ayres Hall at the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 301 N. Baldwin Ave. in Arcadia. Free with $15 admission to the Arboretum ($11 for seniors 62+ and students, $5 children ages 5-12, free to members and children under 5). Purchase tickets online. arboretum.org
Poachers are stealing wild white sage at an alarming rate from its Southern California habitat and selling it to smudge stick makers. Here’s how to save the native plant.
May 22 Composting class by the UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Orange County, a free presentation from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Placentia Library, 1330 S. Baker St., in Placentia. The class includes information about traditional composting and the UC rapid composting method and a display of composting bins. mgorange.ucanr.edu
City of Beverly Hills Community Services presents Indoor Gardening, a workshop demonstrating how to grow vegetables indoors in a sunny location or under artificial lights or using an all-enclosed hydroponic system. Instructor George Pessin will discuss plant selection, containers, soil, lighting, fertilizers and pesticides from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Greystone Mansion & Gardens, 906 Loma Vista in Beverly Hills. Tickets are $15 ($12 for residents of Beverly Hills). secure.rec1.com/CA/city-of-beverly-hills/catalog
May 23 “Historic Paphs: Passions and Paradigms of 150 Years” is the topic of the upcoming South Coast Orchid Society of Long Beach from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Whaley Park Community Center, 5620 E. Atherton St. in Long Beach. Tim Culbertson, an expert in Paphiopedilum or lady slipper orchids and judge for the American Orchid Society, will discuss the history of “paph” orchids and how they’ve been bred. The meeting is free. southcoastorchidsociety.com
May 28 Family Night Hike: Botany Around the World — Africa is a family-centered tour of the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanical Garden’s plants from the African continent, including succulents from its deserts and flowers from the Mediterranean coasts, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin Ave. in Arcadia. Online registration required. Tickets are $20 per person ($15 for members, children under 12 months old enter free but must still be registered). Participants should arrive 10 minutes early for check-in. arboretum.org
Adult Night Hike: Living History Walk from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanical Garden, 301 N. Baldwin Ave. in Arcadia. “Guests are invited to step back through time to the year 1900 and see Los Angeles on the brink of becoming the massive cultural center it is today,” according to the website. “We will learn how palm trees came to represent the city, how oranges built an empire, and why there are so many darn parrots! Guests are encouraged to join their hosts in wearing period-appropriate clothing.” Online registration required. Tickets are $25 per person ($20 for members). Participants should arrive 10 minutes early for check-in. arboretum.org
Let the darkness amplify your senses on these epic yet accessible trails.
May 28-30 Santa Anita Bonsai Society 56th Annual Bonsai Show features maples, junipers, pines and other trees up to 4 feet tall trained to look like miniature forest giants from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. all three days in Ayres Hall at the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 301 N. Baldwin Ave. in Arcadia. Admission is free with $15 admission to the Arboretum ($11 for seniors 62+ and students, $5 children ages 5-12, free to members and children under 5). Purchase tickets online. arboretum.org
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Jeanette Marantos started writing for the Los Angeles Times in 1999, doing Money Makeovers until 2002. She returned to write for The Times’ Homicide Report in 2015 and the Saturday garden section in 2016, a yin and yang that kept her perspective in balance. In early 2020, she moved full time into Features, with a focus on all things flora. She is a SoCal native who spent more than 20 years in Central Washington as a daily reporter, columnist, freelancer and mom before returning to the land of eucalyptus and sage. Her present goal is to transform her yard into an oasis of native plants, fruit trees and veggies.