Around Town … with Robert Airoldi: Gilroy Gardens opens season with Fantastical Flowers Spring Celebration

A human-size “birdhouse” will greet guests and provide the perfect backdrop for fun family photo ops.

Photo courtesy Gilroy Gardens

By Robert Airoldi

Robert Airoldi

Something new is blooming at Gilroy Gardens. The 2023 season will get off to a colorful start in March with an exciting, all-new event: the Fantastical Flowers Spring Celebration. This two-month event will feature brightly colored blossoms, larger-than-life silk sculptures, and fun floral-themed food and family activities throughout the park.

From opening day March 25 through May 29, the park’s majestic gardens will be transformed with blooms big and small in every color of the rainbow. As guests stroll through the park, they’ll encounter colorful beds full of spring flowers in bloom as well as larger-than-life silk flower sculptures created by master artisans. A human-size “birdhouse” will greet guests and provide the perfect backdrop for fun family photo ops.

The Fantastical Flowers Spring Celebration is included with regular park admission and is free to 2023 premium and value members. Discount tickets and memberships are available at www.gilroygardens.org.

Looks like seniors at Merrill Gardens are happy. Out of more than 300 gardens across the U.S., the garden at Merrill Gardens at Gilroy, a Merrill Gardens senior living community, has earned Eldergrow’s Happiest and Healthiest Garden Award.

Eldergrow, an award-winning startup from Seattle, offers therapeutic gardening programs to seniors in residential and nursing care communities. “The program has been wonderful for our residents,” said Diane Atkinson, the executive director at Merrill Gardens at Gilroy.

The program offers elders a therapeutic connection to nature through enrichment classes on horticulture, culinary, and garden art. Led by expert educators, the programming provides communities with fun and engaging activities that have numerous wellness benefits.

Studies show horticultural therapy reduces depression, improves balance, coordination, and endurance, and lowers the risk factors for dementia by 36 percent.

Eldergrow has enjoyed partnering with Merrill Gardens at Gilroy as well.

Lilly Weissinger, the educator said, “This community is filled with compassion, and they do an amazing job in caring for the garden. This is simply a reflection of the care that they provide to their residents because if you have a healthy garden, you know you have a healthy community.”

They look forward to seeing the growth throughout 2023.

There won’t be the traditional Garlic Festival again this year, but the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival Golf Classic tees off Friday, June 23, at Gilroy Golf Course in support of the nonprofit association that has distributed more than $12 million to community groups since 1979.

The afternoon of golf, lunch on the course, and post-play Gourmet Alley-style dinner begin with a four-person scramble at 1 p.m. Fees for a single player are $179 (includes golf, lunch, and dinner), with dinner-only tickets (6 p.m.) priced at $45. To learn more about the event, the association or to sponsor, visit www.gilroygarlicfestivalassociation.com.

Think you can help the community? The Gilroy Foundation is seeking applications for the position of executive director. Celebrating 43 years as a part of the community, Gilroy Foundation was founded to help meet the community in the specific areas of health, education, recreation, technology, culture and civic services.

The application process is scheduled to close March 17. The job description and application process may be found at https://npag.com/gilroy-exec-director.

Details: www.gilroyfoundation.org.