Save Our Heritage Organisation

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Saturday, May 7, 2011
May Day at the Marston House
San Diego's Garden Party
3525 Seventh Avenue · 10am-4pm

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Featuring Music, Art, & the Geranium George Project

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Come see the unveiling of the
2015 San Diego Exposition Centennial Geranium
Balboa Park
First time introduction and sale by the Geranium George Project!

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It's Mothers Day Weekend!! Spoil your mom and spend the day at the beautiful Marston House Museum & Gardens during the second annual May Day at the Marston House - San Diego's Garden Party on Saturday, May 7, 2011, 10am-4pm. This festive, all-day garden event features gardening and nature activities, art displays, music, and guided tours that fill the property's five, lush acres on the northwest corner of Balboa Park.

Between the art show, live music, fashion show, and tours, you can take time to relax, refresh, and visit with friends while enjoying refreshments (also included in the entry fee) in the formal garden, or sampling wine and cheese (additional fee) on the terrace during this daylong event.

"Now in its second year, May Day at the Marston House - San Diego's Garden Party celebrates the legacy of the Marston family, who were integrally involved in San Diego's art, garden and park communities. They entertained often outdoors as they helped lead and improve San Diego from this home for nearly a century," said Alana Coons, SOHO's Events and Education Director. "Last year being the inaugural year, we learned a lot about where we wanted to take the event , where to make improvements. One all inclusive fee rather than separately priced activities and more live music, with the event ending with a concert on the south lawn where guests are encouraged to bring blankets to relax on are all changes we think will please people even more."

Baked goods will be served in the beautiful formal garden, the site of many Marston family gatherings and parties hosted at the home since 1905. Tea and lemonade from our favorite local emporium, the Cosmopolitan Hotel & Restaurant, will complement the baked goods worthy of the turn-of-the-century-style surroundings.

During the afternoon, guests over 21 will enjoy California wines in their complimentary commemorative Marston House glass and enjoy regional fruit and cheeses co-hosted by the Cosmopolitan Hotel & Restaurant in an elegant Wine Garden on the terrace and lawn off the dining room of this historic Arts & Crafts-era house.

The event coincides with the beginning of National Preservation Month, sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and California Museums Month.

Highlights of the day's activities include:

The unveiling, introduction, and sale of the
2015 San Diego Exposition Centennial Geranium, Balboa Park
As one of San Diego's greatest benefactors, George Marston is also called the Father of Balboa Park, so it's very fitting that the Geranium George Project (GGP) has created and named in his honor the "Balboa Park" to mark and celebrate the 2015 San Diego Exposition Centennial. Individual sales begin May 7 at the San Diego's Garden Party at the Marston House.

Since 2005 the GGP has introduced many varieties significantly have been "Geranium George" and "Kate Sessions" to honor these legendary and influential San Diego residents, and to create Heritage Plants for the San Diego community to enjoy.

Jim Zemcik, who is the hybridizer, noted that he chose to work with this particular plant because "The bright orange and red bloom with its elegant frill to its petals captures the Spanish Colonial City on the Hill to perfection."

The San Diego Floral Association
The Marston house and gardens has an almost one hundred year connection to the association. As one of their early members, George Marston was an advocate for horticultural needs of the city, including Balboa Park.

As the oldest garden club in Southern California, founded in 1907, and the very first organization to occupy quarters in Balboa Park, it is also an integral part of San Diego's Garden Party - May Day at the Marston House. Activities will include making May baskets just in time for Mothers Day.

Plein-Air Art Show by San Diego Artists
San Diego has a long tradition of producing great plein-air painters; George Marston counted among his friends Charles Fries and Alfred Mitchell. They created murals for Marston's department store and for his home. Following in this tradition, some of San Diego's finest artists will exhibit and sell their works. A silent auction of paintings by these invited artists will augment this benefit.

Fashion Show
Another visual treat will be a high couture fashion show by Leonard Simpson of Fashion Forward™. The spring fashions will feature beautiful models strolling the grounds with designs by Alexander Lucque of Ecopaperdoll. Fashion Forward™, produced by Leonard G. Simpson is internationally known for their premier fashion shows and other high-profile entertainment projects. This year's show held on Mother's Day weekend is in memory of Mr. Simpson's late mother Gwendolyn Simpson.

Marston House Museum Tours
Free with general admission ticket. An abbreviated tour of one of San Diego's architectural treasures will give May Day visitors a peek into the home's many layers of history, arts and culture. Completed in 1905, the Arts & Crafts house was designed by Hebbard & Gill, San Diego's most illustrious architecture firm at the time.

Historic Garden Tours
The Marston House gardens represent the work of several renowned landscape designers and the Marstons, who were avid garden and open-space advocates. George and daughter Mary were thoroughly engaged in the designing, planning and implementation of the gardens.

Refreshments
Tea, lemonade and baked goods included with admission

Wine Garden - $10
Includes two glasses of wine in a keepsake Marston House wine glass (a $5 value) with cheese and fruit buffet co-sponsored by the Cosmopolitan Hotel & Restaurant. Additional glasses of wine can be purchased onsite for $6 each.

General Admission Tickets
$20 Adults · $10 Children (12 & under)
(Includes refreshments, tours of the House & Gardens, art show, fashion show, and concert)

Purchase Advance Tickets
Online HERE
Call SOHO (619) 297-9327 or (619) 297-7511
In person
- Marston House Museum Shop, 3525 Seventh Avenue;
- Whaley House Museum Shop, 2476 San Diego Avenue
Day of the Event Tickets may be purchased beginning at 10am

View video from last year's May Day celebration HERE

There is no parking on Seventh Avenue the day of the tour
For your May Day convenience there are several choices for parking. Utilize the ample free parking all along Balboa Drive, Sixth Avenue, Upas and Thorn Streets, as well as in the Inspiration Point parking lot (east side of Park Blvd. at Presidents Way). A Marston House/May Day event tram will be shuttling visitors every 15-20 minutes from Inspiration Point Tram Central to the edge of the estate where it's a short walk to the registration area in front of the Marston House Museum Shop at the carriage house to pick up or purchase admission tickets.

Public bathrooms are located in the parking area near the playground on Balboa Drive at Thorn Street, indicated on the parking map with an orange circle. The permanent facilities at the Marston House are limited, however, there will also be portable bathrooms set up on site.

Proceeds to benefit the restoration of the historic Marston House gardens. No refunds. Event takes place rain or shine! The cost of unused tickets may be considered a tax deductible donation to SOHO, a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization.

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Our Sponsors

       
     
  Funding provided by the City of San Diego Commission for Arts & Culture.

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