The Mary Lou Heard Memorial Garden Tour Board meets nine months out of the year, planning and coordinating each year's garden tour. Since the pandemic, we've been meeting on Zoom instead of meeting in person in the Huntington Beach area. This has turned into an unexpected blessing, as five of us had to fight the Orange County Rush Hour Traffic. We usually take the month of December off, but this year we decided to get together in person and enjoyed having Christmas Tea at the beautiful Los Rios Tea House in San Juan Capistrano.
It was a lovely day that coincided with the city's tree lighting ceremony. We dressed in our tea party best and dined on the BEST SCONES ever (and they were heart-shaped)! Then followed soup and salad, and then tea sandwiches and fruit! Divine, delicious, delectable - downright heavenly! And of course, there were desserts ... I kept telling myself that Christmas calories don't count (ha ha ha!).
Our server Calvin was charming and so gracious, climbing through the bushes to take our picture, making menu suggestions, and sharing the best way to enjoy the cup of fruit. Sprinkle brown sugar over the fruit and then pour on a bit of cream. Oh my stars - it was so DELICIOUS! While the pandemic kept everyone apart for Christmas 2020, we felt so fortunate to be together this year.
Now I'm sure that many of you will be finding a new 2022 calendar under your Christmas Tree this year. So as soon as it's unwrapped, please turn to the April page and save the last Saturday (the 30th) and then flip to May and save the first Sunday (the 1st) for the 2022 Mary Lou Heard Garden Tour. If you also use the calendar on your phone, do this NOW! Then we hope you'll be enchanted by the new gardens and their hosts that will be joining us for the 2022 Tour!
Your MLH Memorial Garden Tour wishes you all a
blessed Christmas, Seasons Greetings, and a Happy 2022!
