Plus: tours, wellness activities, workshops, and the return of guided garden walks
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A Family Day that fabricates fun, the return of Guided Garden Walks, and more
Have you seen the wildflower field lately? Based on the explosion of flowers there, you can tell we are heading toward a beautiful spring at Sunnylands, and we have numerous weekly activities and special events planned.
On February 25, we are hosting a free Family Day celebrating the exhibition, Variations to a Theme: William Haines at Sunnylands. Join us for a day of "fabricating fun," a variety of activities that explore fabric and fiber arts, from the use of inks and dyes to sewing and embroidery. Details below.
March, of course, marks the return of our Music in the Gardens series. A different musical act is featured live in the gardens each Sunday throughout March. Grab a lawn chair and a picnic if you like and join us. Musician lineup and other details below. Please review our picnic policy here.
Guided Garden Walks will be taking place on select Wednesdays, now through April, in the Sunnylands gardens. Join me for an hourlong stroll and learn about the gardens' history, design, ecology, and sustainability.
Our weekly wellness activities, free for the public to enjoy, allow for some gentle exercise and sunshine in the gardens. Free guided Bird Walks take place on Thursdays at 8:45 am while Yoga and Tai Chi in the Gardens both start at 10 am on Fridays and Saturdays, respectively.
March is a beautiful time of year to tour the historic Sunnylands estate. As a reminder, March tour reservations go on sale on Thursday, February 15, at 9 am Pacific time.
See you around!
Michaeleen Gallagher
Director, Sunnylands Center & Gardens
March tours on sale Thursday at 9 am (Pacific)
The 90-minute Historic House Tour takes guests inside the Annenberg home, highlighting the design and hospitality enjoyed by cultural icons for decades. Our guided outdoor tours, the Open-Air Experience and the Historic Walk, feature stunning views, midcentury modern architecture, sculpture, and the private golf course. See below for details.
Modernism Week lecture on William Haines' legacy
Join Anne Rowe, director of heritage, Sunnylands; Frank Lopez, archivist and librarian, Sunnylands; and Patrick Dragonette, interior designer, for a lively discussion at the Palm Springs Art Museum’s Annenberg Theater on Tuesday, February 20, about the life and legacy of Sunnylands’ interior decorator William Haines. Tickets required. Click or tap below for details and registration.
Go deep into the gardens with free guided walks twice a month
Learn about the Sunnylands gardens' history, design, ecology, and sustainability during a free, one-hour Guided Garden Walk. Offered on the first and third Wednesday of the month, February through April, at 8:45 am. Reservations not required. Free parking and admission. Click or tap below for details.
Art Exhibition Family Day: Fabricating Fun
Guests are invited to the Center & Gardens for a Family Day event on February 25 that celebrates the exhibition, Variations to a Theme: William Haines at Sunnylands. Enjoy a day filled with hands-on crafting experiences with various community art partners. Learn about fabric and fiber arts, inks and dyes, sewing, embroidery, and more. Free parking and attendance. See below for details.
Drop-in Tech Assistance Workshop at the Center
Need assistance with your computer or mobile device? Students from College of the Desert's Cyber Geek program will be in the Sunnylands studio on Wednesday, February 28, 9:30 am to 12 pm, offering free technical support, diagnostic services, software or hardware repair, and cybersecurity threat assessments.
Art Workshop—Bird Nests & Woven Wonders: Intro to Environmental Sculpture
Try an art workshop in the Sunnylands gardens that uses intricately woven bird nests as design inspiration. Use materials found in the gardens to create your own woven masterpiece. $39.99 per guest. Supplies and materials are provided. Space is limited. Saturday, March 2, 9:30 to 11:30 am. For details and registration, click or tap below.
Music in the Gardens: Live Sunday performances throughout March
Sunnylands’ annual Music in the Gardens concert series occurs each Sunday in March with a different musical act each week. The series begins with a performance by Jac Jacaruso on Sunday, March 3, from 11 am to 1 pm. Full schedule below. Free parking and attendance. Reservations not required.
Horticulture Experience: Designing Desert
Create a living desert terrarium in the Sunnylands gardens as you learn about the unique adaptations of cacti, succulents, and other plants that thrive in the desert ecosystem. $63 per guest. Plants and materials included. Space is limited. Wednesday, March 21, 5:30 to 7:30 pm. For details and registration, click or tap below.
Bird Walks have moved to Thursdays at 8:45 am
Try a free, 60-minute guided Bird Walk that introduces guests to many local and migratory bird species in the Sunnylands gardens. Now offered Thursdays at 8:45 am. Reservations not required. Binoculars recommended. Meet outside the Center entrance.
Weekly wellness programs in the gardens
Enjoy an hour of guided yoga or tai chi in a serene outdoor setting. Yoga in the Gardens takes place on Fridays at 10 am. Tai Chi in the Gardens is held on Saturdays at 10 am. Free parking and attendance. Reservations not required. Sun protection and water are recommended.
Sunnylands furnishings and décor on exhibition
In his signature Hollywood Regency style, William Haines designed and installed more than 450 pieces—tables, consoles, chairs, lamps, etc.—in the Annenberg home, bringing a unique glamour to the 25,000-square-foot residence that has played host to celebrities and world leaders since 1966. An exhibition of his work is now on view at the Center.
Beverages, light lunches, and tasty treats at the café
The Sunnylands café offers a broad selection of drinks (coffee, herbal teas, and soft drinks) and lunch options (sandwiches, wraps, and salads) as well as sweet treats (ice cream, cookies, muffins, and more). Enjoy stunning garden views from the outdoor patio. Click or tap below for the full menu.
Explore nine acres of accessible gardens
Try one of five self-guided audio walks that lead you through different areas of the Sunnylands gardens. Tap below to visit our Gardens Guide website with stunning plant images and detailed descriptions of more than 70 species. Open Wednesday through Sunday, 8:30 am to 4 pm. Parking and admission are free.
Visit the Sunnylands gift shop in store or online
The gift shop offers clever home décor items, intriguing books, catalogs, and notecards, as well as Sunnylands-branded accessories. Browse Wednesday through Sunday, 8:30 am to 4 pm, or online at any time and choose shipping or free pickup at checkout.
