Gardens with Style Tour & Expo Blooms with Inspiration

Santa Margarita Water District welcomed over 70 customers to its annual Gardens with Style Tour & Expo on Saturday, April 19-an afternoon filled with garden inspiration, educational fun, and community connection.

The day began at the WaterWorks Demonstration Garden at SMWD Headquarters, where guests explored five unique, climate-resilient garden styles. Water Efficiency Specialists guided tours through the beautifully designed spaces, sharing insights into water-saving practices and offering expert tips on how to apply for landscape rebates.

This year's event placed a special spotlight on pollinators. A California Certified Nursery Professional from Green Thumb Nursery kicked off the Pollinator Hunt, highlighting vibrant flowering plants that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Attendees also had the chance to win fun prizes like SMWD bandanas, hummingbird feeders, and even a mini hummingbird garden in a decorative pot. Every guest went home with one of the most important pollinator plants of all-a native milkweed host-to help support the rapidly declining Monarch butterfly population.

After exploring the Expo, customers set out on a self-guided driving tour to five local homes showcasing various water-wise garden styles. Stops included two homes in San Juan Capistrano, two in Mission Viejo, and one in Rancho Santa Margarita. With around 50-60 guests visiting each home, hosts engaged in meaningful peer-to-peer conversations about garden maintenance, landscape design, and creating habitat-rich yards.

One attendee shared, "This is the first time I attended the Gardens with Style event. What a wonderful experience. It was a fun afternoon of learning about cultivating a habitat that is beautiful and with plants that are native to Southern California. The SMWD staff were knowledgeable and happy to spend time with my husband and me, and our neighbors who attended with us. Thank you for the wonderful giveaways, literature and fun."

We're grateful to everyone who joined us to celebrate sustainable landscaping and community connection.

Learn more about this annual event.

Curious what your garden style is? Learn more and take the Garden Style Survey.