The sunshine in the Garden feels like a salve. A sigh of relief. Nature as evidence of hope and rebirth.

What’s left of the magnolias smell exquisite. Most of the rhododendron are nearly ready. And the puya on Smokebush Hill has decided to share its bee-loving bounty.

The days’ longer light stretches across the pond which a male and female mallard have been visiting lately. We’re hoping for ducklings! And we spent time sitting on the deck last weekend trying to count the number of bird songs we heard.

Even though the weeds are jumping to attention … we’re excited for you to come visit and discover spring.

The graceful words of Billy Collins say it best…

If ever there were a spring day so perfect,
so uplifted by a warm intermittent breeze

that it made you want to throw
open all the windows in the house

and unlatch the door to the canary's cage,
indeed, rip the little door from its jamb,

a day when the cool brick paths
and the garden bursting with peonies

seemed so etched in sunlight
that you felt like taking

a hammer to the glass paperweight
on the living room end table,

releasing the inhabitants
from their snow-covered cottage

so they could walk out,
holding hands and squinting

into this larger dome of blue and white,
well, today is just that kind of day.

Saturday and Sunday spring hours are up on our website through the end of May. Make some time to come visit. Ramble the paths. Bring a book. A friend. A sketchbook. Sit on a bench and listen to the bees and frogs. Come connect to yourself in nature.

Take a few hours to learn and create in the garden. We’re offering a series of six spring classes — which are filling fast.

• Set intentions and make marks using natural objects with meditation coach Debi Gollan and artist Jessica Williams.

• Learn to explore botanicals using cyanotype with Sonoma County artist Natalie Tremblay.

• Practice documenting your outdoor experiences with renowned nature journalist Kate Rutter

• Explore storytelling with your camera with San Francisco Chronicle photojournalist, Jessica Christian.

We try to hold two spots per class for teachers, students, or others who would benefit from a discounted rate. Email hello@westernhillsgarden to inquire.

Bring your garden club, your extended family, or your friends and neighbors to learn about the history, plants and trees, and current vision for Western Hills Garden. Email [email protected] to schedule.

Or, join the California Garden and Landscape Historical Society on May 20th at 10am on their tour of Western Hills Garden and Hidden Forest Nursery — two Sonoma County gardens with similar stories.

If you’ve visited the garden in the last 18 months, you may have been lucky enough to meet Kent, one of the WHG owners. He loves talking with folks, listening to stories from those who have been here before, and hearing reactions from new visitors. We’ve made many great connections through these conversations. He also joyfully makes bouquets to give to guests. Come by, and take one home if you like!

Become a member.

You’ll help sustain our preservation and stewardship work and make it easy to visit again and again. We have a number of levels starting at $50. Become a regular and watch the seasonal evolution take place. Or, buy one as a gift and offer the experience to someone else!

Make a donation.

We are preparing to launch a preservation fund campaign to build our operating runway. If you love the garden and support our work, please consider a tax-deductible donation of any amount. And if you or someone you know would like to talk about a major gift please reach out. We’d love to discuss our budget, plans, and longer-term vision.

We recently received an anonymous $3k donation which is incredible and thrilling! If this was from you — thank you, thank you, thank you!!

If you’re receiving this newsletter, you either opted into emails or were on a list shared with us by the previous owners. We hope you appreciate occasional News from the Garden.