The Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce and Visitors’ Bureau presents its 19th Tour des Fleurs on Saturday, July 17.

Farmers Market. Photo courtesy of Heather Barnes.

On the Coastside, we are always eager to show off our amazing flowers and plants, and Tour des Fleurs offers the public a once-a-year opportunity to tour our local nurseries, greenhouses, wineries and farms. Many of these businesses are not ordinarily open to the public, but during Tour des Fleurs they invite you for a “behind the scenes” tour of their facilities and operations. Some will share helpful tips to pruning and caring for flowers, others will share their keys to an efficient operation — whether it’s a nursery or winery — and some will share their colorful and fascinating family histories and how those histories shaped their businesses today.

Each tour package takes you to three different nurseries. You drive yourself to each nursery in your package and enjoy a one-hour guided tour. There are six different tour packages to choose from, and each tour package of three nurseries costs only $20.

Locations on tour this year include:

Goats at Harley Farms. Photo courtesy of Buzz Lawrence.

Bay City Flower Company: This third-generation family-owned business is one of the largest hydrangea growers and also one of the most efficient commercial potted-plant growers in the nation. Bay City grows for high-end commercial merchants such as Calyx Flowers and RedEnvelope. You can also find Bay City’s potted flowers and plants under the label Hana Bay Flowers in upscale garden centers.

Coastside Farmers Market: John Muller, 2002 Farmer of the Year with 30 years’ experience, will take you through our diverse farmer’s market — complete with flowers, fruits, vegetables, fish, herbs, handmade crafts and soaps, and much much more. This market is locally focused and folks will meet a dozen Coastside farmers in one fell swoop. Farmer John is a wealth of information and has represented American farmers on numerous governmental committees, and is the former mayor of Half Moon Bay.

Green Oaks Creek Farm & Retreat: Owner Stephanie Jennings will take you on a guided tour of her working organic farm, which offers educational programs for children and adults.

Harley Farms Goat Dairy: This dairy, the home of 300 Alpine goats, produces fresh award-winning cheese daily in what is now the last remaining dairy farm in San Mateo County.

Jacobs Farm/Del Cabo: Begun in 1980, Jacobs Farm/Del Cabo has now become the nation’s largest grower and shipper of fine organic culinary herbs and edible flowers.

La Nebbia Winery: Owner Kendyl Kellogg will take you on a guided tour of this private winery, where you will learn some valuable tips for grape growing, and sample wines with a unique edible flower pairing.

Nurserymen’s Exchange: Founded by Carl and Virginia Pearlstein more than 60 years ago, Nurserymen’s Exchange has grown into one of America’s leading wholesale home and garden companies. Its BloomRite brand, which is wholesale only, includes blooming plants, tropical plants and foliage, bulbs and packaged shrubs.

H. Pastorino & Son Company: Owner Hank Pastorino will guide you through hothouses, fields of flowers, and a unique on-site pottery shop.

Pie Ranch: Tour this diversified farm operation with fruit, vegetables, flowers, grains, beans, poultry and livestock. The afternoon also coincides with the ranch’s monthly community volunteer day, so people are welcome to stay and participate in a farm project, or join in the evening potluck from 6-7 p.m. and barn dance from 7-10 p.m.

Yerba Buena Nursery: Noted for native plants, ferns, a meandering babbling brook and a turn-of-the-century historic house, Yerba Buena Nursery is the pride of Kathy Crane, owner and tour guide.

For further information or to make reservations, please call the Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce and Visitors’ Bureau at 650-726-8380, extension 100, or visit the chamber’s website.