On Saturday, September 6, the Garden Conservancy's Open Days program offers a rare, one-day-only chance to step inside five extraordinary private gardens in the City and in Pacifica. These are not just manicured landscapes; they're deeply personal spaces that reflect the unique passions of their owners. This exclusive event provides a fascinating look at many different approaches to gardening and a chance to meet the gardeners behind them. The participating gardens are:
Bernal Heights Hidden Garden. This garden could be described as a cottage garden, though aside from two apple trees, the only edible plants are two potted figs that serve as squirrel snacks. When the garden was established, it already had a diverse collection of trees, including a Norway maple, a ginkgo, a weeping cedar, and an Australian tree fern. The gardener, a native of the High Plains where every tree is revered, chose to keep all the original trees and planted more, adding three Tasmanian tree ferns, a palm, and a papaya. Tucked between two apartment buildings, this small, terraced garden is a shady haven, with an understory of plants that thrive in partial or full shade, such as camellias, begonias, and many varieties of ferns. The result is a lush, atmospheric garden that feels a bit like a jungle, with no hint of formality. While few of the plants are rare, the palm tree might be an exception. Situated below street level, the 1,000-square-foot garden feels like a tranquil, rural escape in the middle of a bustling urban environment.
Bernice’s Family Garden. In 1912, the De Martini brothers acquired eight lots in the Portola district with the intention of creating a family compound. They constructed a family home and a cottage for their mothers-in-law, while using the remaining lots as vegetable gardens, orchards, and playgrounds. As the lots were passed down through the family, the compound eventually shrunk to a single lot. The garden as it exists today was established in 1955, coinciding with the construction of the current home. It was designed as a typical San Francisco garden of its time, featuring a central green lawn surrounded by flowering and deciduous magnolias, camellias, and azaleas. Over the years, this space has evolved to provide shelter and serenity for the family. The garden originally served as a gathering place for visiting, conversation, and play. As the owners aged, it transformed into an urban oasis, with lush greenery visible from every window. This evolution allowed the family to "travel from their armchairs" when other forms of travel were no longer possible. Now, after almost 65 years, this garden stands as a testament to the time and patience required to create a space that offers both a link to the past and a refuge for the future.
Dry Garden on Surrey. This dry garden is a haven for succulents, the result of 15 years of cultivating tree aloes, yuccas, and agaves. It was designed organically, with the owner planting new additions as they were acquired. A significant portion of the garden's plants, about 90%, were traded, salvaged, or rescued from other homeowners who didn't want the "scratchy, pokey plants." Two of the most notable features are the very tall tree aloes, which were brought from Los Angeles in 2007. The gardener also acts as a Street Park Steward, and a median on Bosworth near Elk Street was planted by the owner almost a decade ago.
Josie's Palomino Garden. This oasis is an artistic blend of traditional and exotic plants, whimsical artifacts, and upcycled collectibles. The front yard, enclosed by an aged wood fence, features a collection of birdcages repurposed to house rare orchids, air plants, and other flora. Visitors can discover hidden nooks framed by religious icons, light-hearted kitschy displays, and reclaimed mementos from various cultures. The result of 30 years of experimentation, the garden reflects the gardener's Ecuadorian heritage and a patient, artistic passion for color and surprise. Outside the fence, several public projects are on display, including the "Pig Farm," the "House of Color," and the "Kiddie's Triangle," all set against a large eucalyptus grove.
Pacifica Collector’s Garden, Pacifica CA. Six years ago, Matt and Annie moved to Pacifica to create a home for their growing collection of agaves, aloes, and other succulents. Their 5,000-square-foot lot has been transformed into a showcase of drought-tolerant plants. Using recycled urbanite, they built raised beds and winding pathways of decomposed granite. The garden is filled with a vast array of rare and unusual xeric plants, including cussonias, dendroseris, and seed-grown Aloe polyphylla. As the owners of the sustainable landscape design business Xeric Oasis, which they run from their home, the garden serves as a living showroom. It features an ever-changing collection of new plants and interesting cultivars.
The gardens will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for registered guests. Tickets are $10 per person; $5 for members of the Garden Conservancy. Children 12 and under are admitted for free when accompanied by a parent or guardian. Visitors are reminded that no pets are allowed. All registrations must be processed online through the Garden Conservancy's website.
Fueling America’s passion for gardens, the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days™ program is the only nationwide garden visiting program. In 2025, Open Days marks its 30th year. Over three decades, Open Days has welcomed more than 1.4 million visitors into thousands of inspired private landscapes—from urban rooftops to organic farms, historic estates to suburban sanctuaries—in 41 states.
