The vernal equinox marks the transition to spring and the point where light and dark meet as equals. It is a time to embrace the changing of the seasons, encourage what has been germinating during winter’s fallow, and consider what might burst forth with the energy of spring. This is a time of year to honor what’s past and awaken our senses and spirits for what’s to come.
Join the teams behind Western Hills Garden and Mori House for a special celebration honoring the equinox. Take time to find inspiration from the budding trees and flowering plants. Embrace new beginnings, renew commitments to yourself, and prepare for the rest of the year. Reservations required.
This event is currently sold out.
Sign up for our waitlist and we will contact you if tickets open up and/or people cancel.
$40 for adults / children under 12 free /
$10 kids meal can be added.
Parking is limited at Western Hills Garden. Carpool or bike if you can.
Join us.
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food + drink
Enjoy a bowl of Morihouse擂茶Lei Cha, also known as “Thunder Tea Rice”- a Hakka Southern-Chinese rice dish with an array of vegetable toppings and a rich nourishing broth made of pounded green tea and seasonal spring herbs. As you wander the garden, savor a cup of Two Trees Tea House tea infused with floral and herbal tincture drops crafted by local herbalists Earth Allies.
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garden walks + tours
Take yourself or your group on a self-guided tour. Stop at one of the many seating areas around the garden to take in the view. Or join us on a short guided tour to learn more about the history and garden collection. Tours will leave periodically throughout the day and highlight what is in bloom.
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sensorial activities
Awaken your spring energy. Make a seed bomb. Find a tree muse. Set a spring intention. Listen to live music from different spots in the garden. Sketch. Share encouragement with others. Write a nature poem. For an extra cost, schedule a 1-on-1 herbal consultation with Earth Allies herbalists Hilary Go and Isabella Ayala DeCredico to welcome the seasonal change with an abundance of wellness & good health. Scroll for details on how to reserve a time.
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You will receive entrance to the garden; time to wander and discover the paths; participate in a guided tour if you’d like; food, drink, and many fun activities for adults and kids alike. Herbal consultations are an extra fee. Details comin soon.
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We will have people in the parking lots to help manage this. The main WHG lot can hold about 10 cars. The “owners” lot can hold 3. After that we will have overflow parking in the property above the garden.
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Yes! The Lei Cha is vegan and gluten free and there will be many seasonal toppings to choose from to make a nourishing, delicious bowl.
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Reach out to us at [email protected]. We will get back to you as soon as possible!
Activities.
Hear: listen to live music
Cellist and composer Michael Fecskes writes music with the intent to inspire the contemporary mind, body, and spirit. He will share pieces created specifically for the equinox from different points in the garden. Michael is also a teacher and the Artistic Director of ViVO Youth Orchestras, a non-profit organization in Sonoma, CA dedicated to providing instrumental music education to all children without cost to families. He currently splits time between Sonoma, CA and Florence, Italy.
Share: garden wisdom
Find our communal notebook and write a response to the prompt or letter left by the person before you. Write the story of the day, the season, and the rest of 2024. Share your hopes, dreams, fears, and wishes. Offer comfort to others. Help bring forth a groundswell of positive, fresh energy.
See: find a garden muse
Walk about the garden and focus your sights on what’s in bloom and what is budding. Consider the colors, textures, and nuance of each plant and tree. What shapes and structures do you notice? Is there one particular thing draws your attention or makes you catch your breath? Stop and examine a small section of garden and see how many specimens you can count. See how your body responds
Touch: make a branch bouquet ($)
Construct and take home a spring bouquet of branches from Western Hills Garden. We’ll have a variety of material to choose from. Gather what you like and put it together.
DIY Small bouquet: $15
DIY Large bouquet: $25
Pre-made bouquets: $30
Taste: flower + herbal drops
Our friends at Earth Allies will offer flower and herbal drop tastings. Their drops are made from organic flowers gathered at peak aroma & cold-processed to make an extract that captures its true, vibrational nature. If you’ve ever wanted to drink petals this is your chance.
Attune: herbal consults ($)
For a deeper experience schedule a personalized Earth Allies consultation to help you tune into your body and reset. Your private session will take place in the WHG Glasshouse. It will orient you toward a balanced way of leaning into food & herbs to nourish your wellness, nourish yourself. All clients receive 10% off of Earth Allies product line.
$45 for 30 minutes. Book/prepay here.
Walk-ups welcome.
Feel: set and share an intention
Take a few minutes to center yourself and set an intention for your personal spring awakening in our Japanese Garden. Choose a stone that speaks to you and take it home. Pick out a stone and place it on our intention alter for someone you know or a total stranger. Share goodness with yourself and others.
Touch: build a seed bomb
Get your hands dirty and make a seed bomb to take home. Inspired by an ancient Japanese practice called Tsuchi Dangothe, seed bombs were popularized in 1938 by a Japanese microbiologist/ farmer Masanobu Fukuoka (1913–2008). Environmental activists (and recently TikTokers) have used them to plant vacant lots and promote urban greening. Toss it in a hard-to-reach part of your own garden or another place that could use some natives.
