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Hortense Miller in the entry courtyard March 2004 |
The Hortense Miller Garden
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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 In the news: To contact us: For Tours please call the City of Laguna Beach Recreation Dept., Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm at (949) 497-0716. The garden manager does not arrange tours. If you have questions about the garden you may contact Garden Manger Marsha Bode via email or by calling (949) 244-2010. Email:
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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.
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. If you are lucky, you might even have the opportunity to meet Hortense Miller herself, who is now in her 90's. Everyone who meets her is 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! |
Last update 10/01/08
All text and images
© Friends of the Hortense Miller Garden, 2004-2005
except as noted.
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.
