Laguna Gardens
Like the succulents within them, pocketsize Laguna gardens proliferate throughout Laguna Beach, several alongside stairways leading to the Ocean.
These and several larger gardens, enhanced with sculptures and elegant furnishings, feature cacti and aloe, geraniums, daffodils, bougainvilleas, roses and nasturtiums, along with Torrey pines, ficus, cypress, eucalyptus and palms.
Many Laguna gardens grace the City's two-dozen public parks. Among these are: Alta Laguna looking out at mountains, oceans and canyons beyond manicured lawns and gardens; Crescent Bay featuring terraced gardens, opening to crashing waves; and the Montage with an exemplary beachfront garden.
In late 2010, I received an assignment from Orange Coast magazine to write a guide to Laguna gardens. In the midst of inclement weather, I visited dozens of public parks, each featuring gardens.
I walked for miles within these parks, looking at long vistas from canyon tops, looking west toward Catalina Island, often enjoying rose gardens alongside me. Within these Laguna gardens, I also admired numerous pieces of public art.
After days of sightseeing in this community that I live in and love, I chose nine parks to write about, all featuring their own unique Laguna gardens.
Please enjoy my article, "Down the Garden Path: Meander through Orange County's Most Famously Verdant City," appearing in March 2011 Orange Coast.
(Additional Laguna Gardens observations from earlier Orange Coast draft detailed below!)
Alta Laguna Park (Highest Laguna Garden)
With seven acres and 360-degree views, this windswept hiker's dream looks out at Saddleback Mountain, the ocean, Laguna and Aliso Canyons. The park leads to biking trails, lawns and gardens, featuring coastal sage and wild flowers, surrounding playgrounds, sports fields and courts, a bridge, gazebo and wire sculptures of whale tails, called Interlude, by Peter Busby. 3300 Alta Laguna Blvd.
Crescent Bay Point Park
This dramatic City park is a like a movie set, jutting out into the ocean as sea foam crashes around rock formations below. Decomposed granite walkways and benches punctuate lawns, plants and flowers, including aloe, cacti, geraniums, roses, daffodils and bougainvilleas, all surrounding a sea lion brass sculpture, Laguna Locals by Lagunan Terry Thornsley. 223 Crescent Bay Drive.
Heisler Park
Heisler's main attraction is a gazebo with magnificent views of rocky beaches, crashing waves and tide pools. Adjoining Main Beach and Crescent Bay Park, the park features numerous gardens, especially one magnificent rose garden. Several sculptures adorn this park including works by Jorg Dubin and George Stone. North Coast Highway at Cliff Drive and Myrtle Street. (Double Rainbow page features Heisler Park photograph.)
Main Beach
Good-looking beachgoers here are outshined by the magnificent ocean, white sandy beach, walkways, broad wooden benches, vast lawns, flowers, bushes and trees. Geraniums and majestic aloes flourish alongside ficus, Torrey pines, Lagunaria trees and Washingtonia palms. Check out Canyon Chess and Checkers by Laguna ceramic sculptor Marlo Bartels. South Coast Highway from Broadway to Laguna Avenue.
Bluebird Park
This children's playground has a space theme, featuring a rocket ship and six-foot mosaic glass tortoise. Blue, gold, orange and chartreuse play equipment, walls and ledges are echoed in color and integrated with native plants. There are Mexican marigolds, orange clock vine, plumbago, lemonade berries, California holly, blue hibiscus, carmel creepers, jade plants, aloe, saponaria and jacaranda trees. Cress Street and Bluebird Canyon Drive.
Moulton Meadows Park (Wilderness Laguna Garden)
Set in a blissfully quiet neighborhood high above the City, this is one of the most inaccessible parks. But once there, you might think you are in the country. Built on several levels with bluffs, it has numerous aloes, broad lawns, overgrown bushes, large trees for shade, ocean and mountain views, playgrounds, hiking trails, sports fields and a parcourse fitness circuit. Balboa Avenue and Del Mar avenues.
Treasure Island Park
Montage Public Gardens, also called Treasure Island, is jointly managed by the City and the Montage; the adjoining Montage resort maintains it, keeping it in pristine condition. On a bluff with immaculate lawns, along the rugged coastline, the park features drought tolerant plants including aloes, succulents, cacti, bougainvilleas, daylilies and California poppies. Check out two magnificent sculptures by Cheryl Ekstrom Wesley Drive and South Coast Highway.
Village Green
This work-of-art park by designers Fred Lang, Ken Wood and Ann Christoph is like an old town square. Two sculptured bronze gates herald playgrounds, a tree house, gardens with native plants and enormous trees. There is also a large stonework sculpture, Green Man with Red Birds by Julia Klemek, one of the finest public art pieces in Laguna. Catalina Avenue one block east of South Coast Highway.
Hortense Miller Garden
Perhaps the piece de resistance of Laguna gardens is the Hortense Miller Garden, featuring outdoor stairways, pathways, pergolas and numerous plants and flowers, such as lilac colored Japanese Wisteria, creating a segue to the nearby wilderness. This rugged environment surrounds the classic modern home, personal artwork, murals and woodcarvings created by the now deceased Miller who moved there in 1959. Guided tours (donations encouraged), 22511 Allview Terrace, Tuesday through Saturday, by City reservation at (949) 497-0716 or Hortense Miller Garden.
See Pacific Coast Highway page for more Laguna Beach public art.
