May 9th, 2026 will be a date we remember for a long time. Mayor Tracy Martinez officially proclaimed it Del Mar Garden Club Community Gardens Day — and the community showed up to celebrate in the best possible way.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., families, garden enthusiasts, and curious neighbors joined our free, self-guided walking tour through five of Del Mar’s public gardens. The energy throughout the day was wonderful, and it was truly heartwarming to see so many people discovering the green spaces woven into the heart of our city.
The tour kicked off at Del Mar Civic Center, where visitors picked up maps, received fresh succulent cuttings from the Girl Scout Succulent Library, and got an up-close look at the caterpillars living in the Monarch Butterfly Pollinator Garden — a crowd favorite, especially for the younger visitors.
Next up was the Del Mar Community Building Succulent Garden on 9th Street, where guests learned how easy and rewarding it is to propagate succulents, and ladybugs were handed out to the delight of kids and adults alike. At the Del Mar Library’s Drought Tolerant Garden, SDSU Professor Emeritus and club member Dr. Michael Simpson drew an enthusiastic crowd with his expert talk. The Library also honored us with a surprise — an honorary award recognizing the Garden Club’s decades of stewardship and community service. We were deeply moved.
The Post Office Shade Garden on 15th Street was a fragrant stop, where UC Master Gardener Mary Friestedt and fellow club members answered plant questions and sent everyone home with rose-scented geranium clippings. The tour wrapped up beautifully at Crest Rim Park’s Native Garden along Crest Road, where visitors could slow down and appreciate the native plants that sustain Del Mar’s coastal ecosystem — and perhaps spot something spectacular, like the magnificent Agave whipplei that has been blooming there this spring.
All along the route, participants hunted for unique plants and features — including the striking Pincushion Protea — as part of a scavenger hunt. Completing all five gardens earned a well-deserved free scoop of ice cream at Saffron & Rose.
It was a day that reminded us why we do this work. Thank you to every volunteer, expert, community partner, and garden lover who made it such a success. We hope to see even more of you next year!
The Del Mar Garden Club has been contributing to the beauty of Del Mar since 1988. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit — your donations help keep our community gardens thriving. Learn more or donate at delmargardenclub.org.
About the Del Mar Garden Club
Founded in 1988 by Marnie Mahoney, the mission of the Del Mar Garden Club is to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening and contribute to the beauty of Del Mar. Each year, members contribute thousands of volunteer hours to create and maintain public gardens that serve as living classrooms, pollinator habitats, and peaceful gathering spaces for residents and visitors. Situated along the Pacific Flyway, the city of Del Mar provides essential rest and breeding grounds for migrating birds, endangered western monarch butterflies, and native bees. Through their expertise and stewardship, Del Mar Garden Club members contribute to the natural environment — ensuring Del Mar remains a thriving sanctuary for people and wildlife alike. To support the work of the Del Mar Garden Club or for more information, visit www.delmargardenclub.org.
