The College of the Canyons Foundation’s Library Associates and Friends of the Gardens groups will host a Twilight Garden Party and Progressive Food and Wine Pairing event June 9, designed to showcase the relaxing ambiance of the college’s garden areas, while providing an overview of the ongoing Gardens of the Canyons project.
The event will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 9, in the COC Honor Grove located on the college’s Valencia campus.
At the event, guests will enjoy a walking tour of the Gardens of the Canyons areas led by master gardener Diane Benjamin and local gardening devotee Barbara Schulman.
Throughout the tour, COC faculty members will also be on hand to present attendees with an overview of how the college implements its gardens for teaching and learning activities, along with tips about how gardening can help provide access to affordable organic fruits and vegetables.
The Gardens of the Canyons is a collection of 21 gardens and natural areas which combine to form one of the college’s most significant scholastic and aesthetic resources.
Fourteen gardens are located at the Valencia campus, and seven are at the Canyon Country campus. At both campuses the gardens are interconnected to form a meandering fitness walk, with signs, maps and trail markers posted along the route. The gardens also serve as outdoor classrooms and laboratories for both students and community members, helping to foster innovation and interdisciplinary approaches to the study of conservation and sustainability.
In addition, guests will have opportunities to peruse the “Birdhouse Extravaganza” art exhibition that will be taking place in the COC Art Gallery, and get a sneak peak at the college’s soon-to-be-completed library expansion project.
To conclude the evening, attendees will enjoy a  red wine food pairing in the Library Rose Garden, hosted by longtime friend of the college and local wine enthusiast, Dr. Skip Newhall.
Tickets to the Twilight Garden Party and Progressive Food and Wine Pairing are $60 for couples and $35 for individuals. Proceeds from the event will benefit the COC Library Associates and Friends of the Gardens campus groups.
Attendees can RSVP by contacting the COC Foundation at (661) 362-3737. The deadline to register is Friday, June 1, at 5 p.m.
This event is being hosted with support from signature sponsor Whole Foods Market. Catering is being provided by specialty sponsors Salt Creek Grille and ISSI, the college’s food service contractor.
For more information about the college’s Gardens of the Canyons project visit www.gardensofthecanyons.com.