Hortense Miller in the entry courtyard March 2004

The Hortense Miller Garden

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  • Feb 2005 Camellias
  • Oct 2004 Cameilia sasanqua
  • Oct 2004 Cameilia hiemalis
  • Sept 2004 Amaryllis belladonna
  • Jun 2004 Calandrina gigantea
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Wisteria in bloom March 2004

Also of interest:

A Garden in Laguna:  The Garden Essays of Hortense Miller

The Garden Writings of Hortense Miller

Become a Friend of the
Hortense Miller Garden

In the news:
 Orange County Register 2005
 Los Angeles Times 2005

To contact us:
   Friends of the 
   Hortense  Miller Garden
   P.O. Box 742
   Laguna Beach, CA 92652

The Hortense Miller Garden, established in 1959, covers two and one half acres of the upper slopes of Boat Canyon in Laguna Beach, California.  The Garden demonstrates the range of plants that can be grown in Southern California coastal zones.  It provides a source of visual information and inspiration for visitors planning their own gardens.  The use of of fertilizers and chemical controls has been limited in the Garden, so as to encourage a diversity of plant and wildlife species.  

The house, a classic 50's modern design, was completed in 1959. The Garden has evolved from that time into a world famous natural treasure. The entrance court to the house is a beautiful sight particularly in the spring when the lilac blooms of large Japanese Wisteria dominate the brick wall.  The spreading structure of the house and its wing walls divide much of the remaining area into small, intimate and distinct gardens.  

On the sunnier side of the house a perennial garden displays a profusion of flowers during all seasons.  Further down the path to the lower entrance, large succulents lead to rare Puyas from Chile.  The northwesterly half of the Garden is devoted to preservation of the native coastal Sage Scrub.

The Gardens are maintained by the Garden Manager with the help of volunteers, including members of the Friends of the Hortense Miller Gardens and the Orange County Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners.

This web site is sponsored by the Friends of the Hortense Miller Garden. We are a non-profit organization which supports the preservation and care of this unique wild Garden.  The Friends train docents who lead tours through the Garden on Tuesdays through Saturdays throughout the year. The tour takes approximately two and a half to three hours.  Hortense Miller died in July 2008 just six weeks before her 100th birthday. Guests now have the opportunity to tour the interior of the house, which is full of Hortense's art work. All who met her were enchanted by her wit, plant knowledge, and opinions on diverse subjects.

Enjoy your visit to our web site.  We hope to see you at the Hortense Miller Garden very soon!