Mother Nature was clearly on the Manteca Garden Club’s side when Saturday turned out to be the calm before Sunday’s hail and rain. The more than 200 guests, many of them consisting of three-generation families, who celebrated spring by touring the six outstanding private gardens in Manteca for the 12th annual Manteca Garden Tour were able to enjoy the varied horticultural experience under cloudy skies but sans any precipitation. That came later on Sunday morning when, at about the time that the garden tour started the day before, hail half the size of marbles fell in some areas around Manteca including the rural south area accompanied by rain and high winds.

The magic number of visitors who showed up, including 30 who bought their tickets at the first house the day of the event, also gave everyone a very good chance of bringing home one of the more than 90 donated items for the opportunity drawing which was held at the last house, the largest of the featured gardens. It was here where the guests enjoyed Art Under the Redwoods. For the first time, the garden tour included an art show and painting demonstration by members of the Manteca Artist Guild. While guests sampled the cookies and drinks, they were serenaded by Guild member Tim Rued who played his harp, violin and nyckelharpa.

All proceeds will be used for student scholarships which are given to deserving high school seniors every year, and for their many beautification projects in the community.