2027 CNPS San Diego Native Garden Tour

There will be no tour in 2025—we are taking this time to reimagine and improve the experience, and we need volunteers to help us plan, organize, and promote the 2026 event.

In 2026, we will be featuring inspiring native plant gardens in South San Diego County – south of the I-8 and west of the I-125 – highlighting the beauty, sustainability, and ecological benefits of native plants. Surrounding communities and cities include North Park, Normal Heights, Lemon Grove, National City, Chula Vista, Bonita, Imperial Beach, Otay Mesa, Otay Ranch and East Lake.

We are looking for enthusiastic, organized plant lovers to help lead key aspects of the 2026 Native Garden Tour! This is a great opportunity to take on a leadership role, work with an amazing team, and help create a memorable community event that inspires people to plant more natives.
No prior tour experience needed—just a passion for native gardens and a willingness to take the lead!

Marketing & PR Lead
Help spread the word through social media, local media, and community outreach.

Sponsorship Lead
Reach out to businesses and organizations to secure sponsorships that support the tour.

Ticketing & Visitor Experience Co-Leads (2 positions)
Manage ticketing, docent coordination, and tour-day logistics. A great opportunity if you have a buddy you would like to team up with!

• Excited about native plants and eager to share that passion
• Comfortable taking the lead and making sure things get done
• Enjoy working with people and organizing a team
• Can commit some time

You won’t do this alone! You will have support from fellow organizers, CNPS board members, and volunteers, plus resources like CNPS Connect, our webmaster, a professional graphic designer, and our social media team to help make the job easier.

Make a meaningful impact by sharing your passion and skills for native gardens!

Not sure which role suits you best? No worries—we’re here to help you find the perfect fit.

Sign up below and join our team today!

Excited to share your native garden?

We’re looking for inspiring gardens in the South Bay to be featured in the 2026 CNPS San Diego Native Garden Tour, happening April 11 & 12, 2026.

This tour highlights sustainable landscaping, water conservation, and habitat-friendly design. If your garden meets the criteria below, we’d love to hear from you!

Before You Apply – Does Your Garden Qualify?

To be eligible for the tour, your garden must meet all of the following criteria:

• Contains at least 60% California native plants
• Is at least 2 years old (to ensure plant establishment)
• Has parking available for 10+ visitors
• Is located in the South San Diego County – south of the I-8 and west of the I-125 (only gardens from this region will be considered)

What You’ll Need to Apply

Before you start filling out the form, please have the following ready to upload:

• Garden Photos: 6–10 high-quality images showcasing your garden (wide-angle shots,plant close-ups, before/after if available).
• Plant List: A complete list of the native plants in your garden. You can submit this in one of two ways:
  • Generate a Calscape plant list at Calscape.org and paste the link in the form.
  • Upload your plant list file in Word, Excel, or PDF format.

If your garden meets these requirements: