Private Garden Shows Offer an Insider’s View

Everybody’s curious to see what the other guy’s garden looks like, but at this time of the year you don’t have to peek over any fences. There are plenty of private garden tours coming up. Here are some of the early ones:

* Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. A tour of six gardens in Simi Valley. Tickets cost $10 and may be purchased by calling Barbara Swink at (805) 526-1713.

* Wednesday and April 24, 10 a.m. to noon. The annual Sustainable Garden Tour of private environmentally appropriate gardens in Santa Monica. Tickets are $5 for Santa Monica residents, $10 for nonresidents. Payment must be received in advance to guarantee bus seating. Information: (310) 458-8459.

* April 24-25, 1-6 p.m. April 24 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. April 25. A tour of six private gardens, as part of the Riverside Flower Show. Tours are included in the admission price of $5 and begin at the show, held at the Elk’s Lodge, 6166 Brockton Ave., Riverside. Information: (909) 683-0370.

* April 25, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. A tour of five gardens in Corona del Mar. Tickets cost $20 in advance, $25 on tour day. To order, call Sherman Library and Gardens, (949) 673-2261.

* April 25, 1-5 p.m. A tour of six gardens in Pacific Palisades. Tickets cost $8 and are available at some Santa Monica nurseries and at Palisades nurseries such as Yamato and the Outdoor Room. Or: (310) 454-7826.

* April 25, 12:30-5 p.m. A tour of five gardens in Westlake Village. Tickets cost $8 and are available at several area nurseries such as Sperling in Calabasas or Armstrong in Thousand Oaks. Or: (818) 889-0560.

* May 1, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. A tour of 20 private gardens in the Millwood neighborhood of Venice. This “Secret Gardens” tour benefits Las Doradas Children’s Center. Tickets cost $50 and are tax deductible. They will be available on the day of the tour at the Jay Griffith studio, 717 California Ave., Venice. Or, call Mikki Jones at (310) 390-6641.