This Saturday a garden party will be held from 10am-5pm at the the historic Marston House & Gardens, 3525 Seventh Avenue, just north of Balboa Park featuring Suzy’s Zoo & the Geranium George Project. Gardening and nature activities for all ages, art displays, music and guided tours will fill the property’s five, lush acres. Special guest Suzy Spafford, the internationally beloved creator of Suzy’s Zoo books, calendars and greeting cards, will be on hand for the unveiling of three colorful new geraniums named for her delightful animal creations and specially developed by the Marston House’s all-volunteer Geranium George Project. The Duckport geranium series, inspired by the imaginary place where Suzy’s Zoo creatures live, will be unveiled and plants will be available for sale with proceeds benefiting the restoration of these magnificent grounds and gardens. They include a formal garden with a brick teahouse and plantings developed over time with the aid of nationally prominent landscape designers such as John Nolen and Samuel Parsons, Jr. and a 2.5 acre rustic Arts & Crafts-era garden with stone stairs, benches and bridges, remnants of which remain through the adjacent Cabrillo Canyon. Saturday tickets are $5 adults, $3 children; extra for the tea & wine garden.
“San Diego’s Garden Party, which will be held annually, celebrates the legacy of George and Anna Marston, who were integrally involved in San Diego’s garden societies and park communities. They entertained often outdoors as they helped lead and improve San Diego from this home for nearly half a century. Funds raised at this event will support SOHO’s restoration and long-term maintenance plans for the Marston House’s five acres of gardens,” said Alana Coons, SOHO’s Events & Education Director. “Additionally, it begins the reintroduction of the site as a community resource, the home once served as San Diego’s front porch.”
The event coincides with the beginning of National Preservation Month, sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and California Museums Month. The painting above is by Uptown artist RJ Riccoboni who has an art gallery in Old Town that showcases his colorful creations.
