Welcome to the Encinitas Garden Tour on Crest Drive

Two years ago we celebrated our 34th anniversary by going to the Encinitas Garden Tour at Cardiff by the Sea. We enjoyed it so much that we decided to go again for our 36th, this time held on Crest Drive in Encinitas.

Once again we boarded double decker buses at Mira Costa College on Manchester Avenue, but this time we traveled north to Santa Fe then climbed west to Crest Drive.

Houses began to be built on large lots on Crest Drive in the early 1940's mostly as summer retreats for those from the Los Angeles area.

Crest Drive runs along the crest of the hill and homes built on either side had views with lots running downhill. The first three pictures are at the top of the lot nearest the road. Glen is now at the back of the lot with views to the east.

The next few homes have gardens designed by Debora Carl.

Her signature gardens are made up of colorful, textural low-water plants which are perfectly suited to Southern California's Mediterranean climate.

Once again looking east.

An inner courtyard.

With Glen's beloved snake grass on the sunny west side of the same wall.

To reach this property, we had to walk down a very steep drive. The original lot had been subdivided into several smaller lots with homes.

The home on tour was at the bottom. My calves are still feeling it!

It was a property with concessions to kids; basketball standard on the front leveled out parking pad, swing in a tree, and the boys' club house up the hill with a lookout. Notice the found objects in the boys' garden.

After our steep climb out, the next house was the home of the garden designer Debora Carl. Her side yard was a "white garden." I loved the hanging blooms on this tree of which there were several.

Once again, there was an abundance of succulents including this wall garden.

It was located next to the entryway of an amazing kitchen. All the windows and entrances were totally retractable making a true indoor/outdoor space.

Outside the house was a walkway to the garden designer's studio.

Her husband had designed a veggie garden impervious to critters.

There were a wide variety of plants.

Their gardens were expansive and pathways wound back and forth down the hill. At the bottom there was a bocce ball court. Glen looks like he could be in Italy.

At the west end of the court was a fountain made from an old watering trough. The wall that Glen is sitting on, which also is surrounding the fountain, is built of broken concrete.

The next home was built of railroad ties back in the 1940's. Its garden, too, wound it's way down the hillside and was filled with color. Originally the backyard had been an avocado and citrus orchard and these branches are from one of the surviving avocado trees.

There were nasturtiums which had reseeded themselves down the hills on many of the properties.

The owner is an art therapist and this is the view east from her studio located about halfway down the lot.

This is the labyrinth planted as a community project several years ago as viewed from the studio deck.

Nearing the end of Crest Drive, there was a mid-century home with views east.

And also south. In the middle of this picture is Interstate 5 snaking down the far hill.

To the right of the artist, the owners had a netted enclosure with a PVC pipe frame. Inside were several homemade "grow boxes" built of plastic tubes.


Reminded me of my "Earthboxes" at home, which by the way are doing well. We are eating cucumbers, tomatoes, and Anaheim peppers. Green beans, carrots, summer squash, and bell peppers to come. Thanks to David and girls for watering my garden while we were in California.

There were not as many homes open for viewing down the west side of the street.

This owners of this lot were working on a newer garden. They had rebuilt the house, trying to stay true to an earlier home. There was a new fruit orchard and a community garden.

In the garage, I met this author, just 11 years old. I am holding the book I purchased for TJ and Heather to read. The retired elementary school librarian just couldn't resist.

They were also raising chickens.

I loved this backyard designed for a family. It had an outdoor kitchen and dining space, fire pit, sand volley ball court, in ground trampoline, and a pool with a long slide coming down the hill.

Next to the pool was an outdoor living room. If you look carefully, you can spot the owner and his daughter serenading the garden tour members. This dining area had a view to the west of the ocean.

The artists living in this home also had a view of the ocean.

And our friend, Woody, sitting in the front driveway.

We enjoyed our five hour garden tour and our lunch of grilled basalmic artichokes and chicken skewers at the garden festival in the orchard next to the first house. We are still recovering from our sunburns, sore calves, and my blisters because I wore the cute shoes instead of my tennis shoes. Will we go again? Most likely.

Oh, and we also ate at Pelly's again. You must try it. It's hiding in a strip mall south of Poinsettia Lane just west of the 5 in Carlsbad. You can tell the locals love it because it is always busy. So good! And don't pass up the Boston clam chowder.