Thanks to the committed efforts of the Gardening
angles, the gardens of Mission San Juan Capistrano have undergone
a remarkable transformation.
When the group was formed, the Mission grounds
desperately needed help. There were struggling rose bushes and dusty
clumps of bird of paradise, but mostly there was bare earth. Now
there are well-tended roses, perennials, herbs, succulents, flowering
shrubs and Hollyhocks in abundance. The grounds have become the
work of passionate, skilled gardeners, offering plenty of ideas
for beautiful plant combinations.
Due to the tender loving care of the Gardening
Angels, Mission San Juan Capistrano has been named "The Jewel of
the Missions". Our annual Flower and Garden show, held each June
has been covered by OCN, CNN, the New York Times and featured in
Sunset magazine. We have also been the recipient of grants from
the South Coast Plaza Garden Show.
A magical Children’s Garden was established in
1997. Many other major improvements have been contributed by the
Gardening Angels; the Central Courtyard, Soldiers Barracks patio,
West Garden and Sacred Garden have added to the beauty of our National
Historic Monument, Cultural Heritage Center and birthplace of Orange
County - The Old Mission San Juan Capistrano.
Come visit the demonstration vegetable garden
featuring a pumpkin patch, tomatoes, and other edible items "home
grown on the grounds".
Gardening Angels
Transform Mission Gardens
As Mission San Juan Capistrano
prepares for its Annual Flower & Garden Festival, Mission Administrator
Mechelle Lawrence-Adams credits the Mission’s volunteer garden
club, the Gardening Angels, "for making the mission's beautiful
gardens elegant." The 35-member club can be found on the grounds
each Wednesday morning pruning, mulching, fertilizing, planting
and doing whatever else necessary to make the Mission gardens look
their best for visitors.
"We think of ourselves
as ‘spiffers’ of the Mission gardens," explains Jan
Sorensen, Gardening Angels’ President. The group’s biggest
rewards, she notes, are the many compliments the gardens have received
from visitors.
Volunteers Needed
The Gardening Angels organize the
Flower, Garden and Art Festival held each year on the second weekend
in June. The celebration will include beautiful exhibits, interesting
demonstrations, food, music, plants, garden related items and original
art.
Additional volunteers for the Gardening
Angels are welcome.
