The La Jolla Historical Society is presenting its signature Secret Garden Tour fundraiser on Saturday, May 17.

For 20-plus years, this celebrated community happening has afforded the public a unique sneak peek behind the scenes at La Jolla’s most extraordinary private gardens.

This year’s garden tour features six spectacular properties in the Jewel, all with exquisite views and settings. That, along with each featured garden being enhanced with live musicians, plein air artists, and dining table designs, makes La Jolla’s garden tour unlike any other in San Diego.

And it’s all for a worthy cause. All event proceeds go to support LJHS’s exhibitions and educational programs.

“It has always been a fundraiser and this is its 26th year, said Lauren Lockhart, LJHS’s executive director, noting the tour was started by Linda Marrone and Susan Vandendriesse. She said Susan remains actively organizing the tour’s free boutique at Wisteria Cottage with 20-plus vendors that happen all across LJHS’s historic campus. “We’ll have a coffee cart and great food available for purchase,” Lockhart said adding, “It’s a great way to kick off spring and lead into the summertime by seeing all these gorgeous gardens.”

Open to the public throughout the day on May 17, come shop at the garden boutique where a collection of gardening accessories, plants, and gifts are available for purchase. The boutique features vendors known for their artistic style and craftsmanship. There will also be a silent auction with one-of-a-kind items.

Lockhart said LJHS pulls out all the stops to make each featured garden an attractive destination for guests. “We also have a great local designer assigned to each of the gardens who creates an imaginative table-top design staged somewhere in each of the gardens,” Lockhart said. She added, “This year we have gardens from all the different neighborhoods of La Jolla, so people get to see different parts of the community.”

Concerning how gardens are chosen each year for LJHS’s secret tour, Lockhart said: “They come to us in lots of different ways. We have an amazing volunteer committee, and many of those members have been part of this event for 20-plus years. They (committee members) come to us (LJHS) with great ideas about homeowners and their gardens. Some folks call me out of the blue and say, ‘I have an amazing garden and I’m happy to share it.’ And sometimes it’s friends of friends in the area. I’m always blown away that people are so generous to open up their beautiful gardens for this event.”

There are two ways to experience LJHS’s “secret” gardens, either going with a self-guided tour or the popular Platinum Tour including a spectacular seventh garden, with a catered lunch and docent-led shuttle service to the gardens. For more information, visit lajollahistory.org.

La Jolla Historical Society: is a private nonprofit dedicated to promoting the history and culture of La Jolla. LJHS operates a historic house museum at 780 Prospect St. on the former estate of philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps. LJHS programs include exhibitions, presentations, symposia, discussions, interviews, architecture tours, youth education, and annual community events such as the Secret Garden Tour in May and the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance car show in April.

LJHS public hours – Wisteria Cottage: Wednesday-Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. at 780 Prospect St. Admission is free. Office & Research Center: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 7846 Eads Ave.