The Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden is hosting two special events this month, beginning with its annual Spring Open House on Saturday, March 14.

The open house will feature free garden admission all day, behind-the-scenes tours, a sale at the Grow Native Nursery and the grand opening of an exhibit called “A Living Legacy: The Collections of Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden,” on view through June 28.

Also on tap for this warm season-welcome are a pop-up mobile farmer’s market co-hosted by the Heritage Education Group, live music by Jill Warhol from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and complimentary light refreshments on the Garden Shop patio.

The world’s sage

Next up will be the RSABG’s Sage Festival, set for Saturday, March 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event, which celebrates Salvia species native to California, includes vendors with sage—related goods such as Padua Farms’ hand-made soaps and balms, raw honey from Bee Green and fresh native plant flower arrangements by Native Designs.

Guests can also enjoy native sage recipe tastings, the new Secrets of Sage exhibit in the Container Garden, a “See the Sages Salvia Stroll” and live music by the High Strung Trio. Other offerings at this herbal extravaganza include workshops in the California Courtyard, a sage scavenger hunt, a potpourri craft, The Hurricane Kitchen food truck and a chance to try your luck on the Wheel of Sage. Of course, the Grow Native Nursery will be stocked with many varieties of native sage. 

The Sage Festival is free with membership or standard garden admission, which is $8 general, $6 for seniors and students with valid ID and $4 for   children ages 3 and younger.

For information on the garden, which is located at 1500 N. College Ave. in Claremont, call (909) 625-8767 ext. 200 or visit www.rsabg.org/admission-and-hours