Floral City Guide: Costa Mesa

By
Sarah Bancroft
South Coast Plaza

Costa Mesa, located in Orange County, California, is known for its beautiful natural landscape and rich cultural heritage. With its warm and sunny climate, the city is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. 

From April 19-23, 2023, Fleurs de Villes VOYAGE will be touching down at South Coast Plaza, Southern California’s premium shopping and dining destination. Experience 18 fresh floral mannequins and spectacular installations celebrating the cultures, people and heritage of destinations around the world. Some of Southern California’s top floral artists will take inspiration from Mexico, South Korea, Paris and Italy to name but a few – delivering a feast of cultural storytelling that will connect the world through flowers like never before. 

Floral installations on display include a Scottish Highlands mannequin inspired by Hendrick’s Gin, another taking inspiration from renowned Chinese couture designer, Guo Pei and her upcoming exhibition at Bowers Museum, and a Baltimore-inspired floral tribute to the joyful, Tony award-winning musical, Hairspray which runs April 18-30, 2023 at Segerstrom Center for the Arts

Be sure to snap a selfie by a beautiful “flower-bombed” Aston Martin and visit the stunning storefront installations on display at Canada Goose, REISS and Mikimoto, the jeweler that designed custom earrings for Hong Chau, star of The Menu and best supporting actress nominee for The Whale at the 2023 Oscars. Vote for your favorite mannequin for a chance to win a luxurious staycation at The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, a transformative ocean-view resort experience near Laguna Beach.

Let’s take a look at native plants, local legends and floral attractions in the region.

NATIVE PLANTS

Orange County was once primarily known for its citrus production, specifically oranges. In the late 19th century, a man named William Wolfskill brought the first orange trees to the area and established a citrus plantation. Soon after, other entrepreneurs followed suit, and the region became a hub of citrus production, with oranges being the most important crop.

The region's reputation as a producer of oranges was cemented in the early 20th century, with the establishment of the Sunkist cooperative, which marketed oranges grown in Orange County across the United States. The orange blossoms also became an iconic symbol of the region, with their fragrant scent filling the air during the springtime. Today, while Orange County has diversified its economy, the orange tree and its blossoms remain an important part of the area's identity and history.

One of the most iconic native flowers of Costa Mesa is the coastal sagebrush, which is a small shrub that is known for its fragrant aroma and its delicate purple blooms. This plant is found throughout the coastal regions of California, and it is a critical part of the local ecosystem, providing food and habitat for many species of wildlife, including bees and butterflies.

Aside from its beautiful flowers, Costa Mesa is also rich in cultural heritage, and there are many interesting stories associated with the city's history. For example, according to local legend, the city was once home to a powerful sorceress who used her powers to control the weather and the local flora. This sorceress was said to have lived in a beautiful cottage surrounded by lush gardens filled with exotic and native flowers, where she used her powers to control the winds and the tides, making the coastal waters of Costa Mesa a haven for sailors and fishermen.

Costa Mesa, located in Orange County, California, is known for its beautiful natural landscape and rich cultural heritage. With its warm and sunny climate, the city is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. 

From April 19-23, 2023, Fleurs de Villes VOYAGE will be touching down at South Coast Plaza, Southern California’s premium shopping and dining destination. Experience 18 fresh floral mannequins and spectacular installations celebrating the cultures, people and heritage of destinations around the world. Some of Southern California’s top floral artists will take inspiration from Mexico, South Korea, Paris and Italy to name but a few – delivering a feast of cultural storytelling that will connect the world through flowers like never before. 

Floral installations on display include a Scottish Highlands mannequin inspired by Hendrick’s Gin, another taking inspiration from renowned Chinese couture designer, Guo Pei and her upcoming exhibition at Bowers Museum, and a Baltimore-inspired floral tribute to the joyful, Tony award-winning musical, Hairspray which runs April 18-30, 2023 at Segerstrom Center for the Arts

Be sure to snap a selfie by a beautiful “flower-bombed” Aston Martin and visit the stunning storefront installations on display at Canada Goose, REISS and Mikimoto, the jeweler that designed custom earrings for Hong Chau, star of The Menu and best supporting actress nominee for The Whale at the 2023 Oscars. Vote for your favorite mannequin for a chance to win a luxurious staycation at The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, a transformative ocean-view resort experience near Laguna Beach.

South Coast Plaza
South Coast Plaza

Let’s take a look at native plants, local legends and floral attractions in the region.

NATIVE PLANTS

Orange County was once primarily known for its citrus production, specifically oranges. In the late 19th century, a man named William Wolfskill brought the first orange trees to the area and established a citrus plantation. Soon after, other entrepreneurs followed suit, and the region became a hub of citrus production, with oranges being the most important crop.

The region's reputation as a producer of oranges was cemented in the early 20th century, with the establishment of the Sunkist cooperative, which marketed oranges grown in Orange County across the United States. The orange blossoms also became an iconic symbol of the region, with their fragrant scent filling the air during the springtime. Today, while Orange County has diversified its economy, the orange tree and its blossoms remain an important part of the area's identity and history.

One of the most iconic native flowers of Costa Mesa is the coastal sagebrush, which is a small shrub that is known for its fragrant aroma and its delicate purple blooms. This plant is found throughout the coastal regions of California, and it is a critical part of the local ecosystem, providing food and habitat for many species of wildlife, including bees and butterflies.

Aside from its beautiful flowers, Costa Mesa is also rich in cultural heritage, and there are many interesting stories associated with the city's history. For example, according to local legend, the city was once home to a powerful sorceress who used her powers to control the weather and the local flora. This sorceress was said to have lived in a beautiful cottage surrounded by lush gardens filled with exotic and native flowers, where she used her powers to control the winds and the tides, making the coastal waters of Costa Mesa a haven for sailors and fishermen.

COSTA MESA GARDENS AND ATTRACTIONS

Sherman Library and Gardens is a vibrant cultural center that provides the public an oasis of inspiration, education and appreciation of regional history, horticulture and the arts. The 2.2 acre property boasts a nationally renowned botanical garden and research library with collections related to the history of the Pacific Southwest. Visitors can stroll through the rose garden, a vegetable garden and a tropical conservatory, and participate in its year-round calendar of educational programs and seasonal exhibits for the community. In late April 2023, Garden Flow modern dance performances take place en pleine air, and a beautiful Fleurs de Villes VOYAGE-inspired floral mannequin will be displayed in the Tea Garden from April 19-23.

The 33rd annual Southern California Spring Garden Show will take place at South Coast Plaza April 20-23, 2023. This year’s theme, “At Home in the Garden,” pairs top landscape architects with home décor stores to create inspiring gardenscapes and outdoor living spaces. Unique plant and garden vendors will also be there to help you get inspired for spring.

Commissioned by the Segerstrom family in 1979, the modernist artist Isamu Noguchi’s California Scenario is a free, 1.6 acre public sculpture garden hidden by Costa Mesa office buildings that celebrates California’s landscape and native plants. It comprises a forest Redwood walk and desert land, and explores the ideas of water and land use with dramatic granite sculptures. 

Another popular floral attraction in Costa Mesa is Fairview Park, in the city centre. This park is famous for its extensive network of hiking trails, picnic areas, and lush green lawns, which are surrounded by vibrant flower gardens and some rare and endangered plant species. These gardens feature a variety of colourful blooms, including native California wildflowers such as golden poppies and California fuchsia.

California Scenario public sculpture garden
California Scenario public sculpture garden
Sherman Library & Gardens
Sherman Library & Gardens
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