Date: Saturday, September 26

Time: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Place: The Portola Neighborhood 

Itinerary: On Sat. Sept. 19, the location of more than 20 community and private gardens will be listed at  https://m.facebook.com/portolagardentour/ and http://portolagardentour.com/

Cost: Free, but donations are encouraged.

Info at: https://m.facebook.com/portolagardentour/ and http://portolagardentour.com/

Once home to flower-growing enterprises and farms, The Portola is one of the City’s most diverse neighborhoods with a rich history.  Maltese, Italian and Jewish immigrant families settled in the Portola in the late-19th century, followed by African American shipbuilders who moved to San Francisco from the south during World War II. In the decades since, Latinos, Filipinos, Chinese, Vietnamese and others have planted roots in the Portola, a neighborhood that welcomes all. 

Roughly bordered by Silver Avenue to the north, Mansell Street to the south, San Bruno Avenue to the east and McLaren Park to the west, the Portola is one of the last undiscovered sections of San Francisco. Many of the homes have large yards – by San Francisco standards – as well as bay and city views. Designated San Francisco’s Garden District in 2016, the Portola has the added wholesome charm of growing one’s own food, having a yard big enough for the kids to play or for the dog to romp while enjoying the vistas of San Francisco, McLaren Park, the Bay and the Pacific.

The Portola Garden Tour began in 2007 as a fund-raiser for the Portola Branch Library. When the branch opened in 2009, the community decided to continue the popular event as a fundraiser and created The Portola Garden Scholarship at City College San Francisco for Environmental Horticulture and Floristry Department students. Over the years, more than 21 scholarships and six work projects have been awarded to promising students.

Donations accepted by check to Portola Garden Scholarship, Portola Garden Tour, 749 Colby Street, SF, CA 94134 or Venmo: @portolagardentour.