Laguna Beach has no shortage of beautiful places, but some are easier to miss than others. in the hills above the coast, the Hortense Miller Garden is a 2.5-acre property preserved through a partnership with the City of Laguna Beach and visited only through docent-led tours.
Jason and I recently took the tour, and within minutes it was clear why this place is different. The garden isn’t manicured in the traditional sense. Instead, it unfolds gradually, with meandering paths, unexpected turns, and long views that stretch from canyon to ocean. There are more than 1,500 plant species.
At the center of the property sits a mid-century modern home, designed by Hortense Miller with her husband and architect Knowlton Fernald.
It’s functional, light-filled, and integrated into the landscape. During the tour, you move through rooms that still hold her paintings, journals, and art projects. The effect is intimate. This was a working home, not a preserved stage set.
Hortense Miller herself is the through-line that makes the entire property resonate. She was an early feminist, artist, scientist, author, and teacher. A lifelong learner. The garden reflects that mindset. This wasn’t decoration or status landscaping. It was exploration. Curiosity, built into the land over decades.
Hortense Miller, early feminist, artist, scientist, author, and teacher.
Miller donated the property to the City of Laguna Beach so it could be preserved and shared. She continued to live in the home until her death at 99, just one month shy of her 100th birthday. Today, the garden is accessible only through free, docent-led tours.
After the tour, we headed back through Laguna Canyon and stopped for lunch at Kitchen in the Canyon.
While Laguna Beach has no shortage of restaurants, we didn’t have time to linger downtown. Kitchen in the Canyon was easy to get in and out of, had straightforward parking, and was directly on the route home.
It sits next to Laguna Beer Company, which we love, though at 11 a.m. beer felt like a commitment we weren’t ready to make. Lunch, however, was perfect.
If you want to see a side of Laguna Beach that isn’t on the standard tourist loop, the Hortense Miller Garden is worth planning around.
Tours are free, but advance sign-up is required through the City of Laguna Beach or the Hortense Miller Garden site.
🟠 Sign up for a tour or call 949-464-6645
🟠 Tours run most Saturdays and one or two Thursdays a month at 9:45 am.
About Us: Lorna’s an OC native who loves historical fiction—especially Kristin Hannah—and has met some of her favorite people through her South OC book club. Jason’s a Brit who doesn’t read novels but does love gardening; most weekends, you’ll find him outside, talking to his tomato plants.
We started The Scene because there’s so much to see, do, and savor. Thanks for letting us be a small part of your weekend.