Historic Homes Blog

The Floral Park Neighborhood, located in historic place North Santa Ana, will host its 16th annual Home and Garden Tour, April 26-27, 2008. In addition to the beautiful vintage homes and gardens open on the Tour, new historic markers will be visible throughout the tour area this year with interesting facts about the history of Santa Ana, Floral Park, and homes listed on the Santa Ana Historic Register.

Named “Best Neighborhood” in the Orange County Register’s Annual People’s Choice Best of Orange County, loral Park was discovered by over 2500 people who attended last year’s event. Whether experiencing a stroll through the beautiful vintage homes and gardens, searching for treasures at the antique and collectibles sale, viewing the classic automobile display or enjoying a snack at the food and drink concessions, attendees will surely leave the Floral Park Home & Garden Tour with nostalgic memories of a day well spent. Located in the northern tip of Santa Ana, Floral Park and its homes have been featured in publications such as The Orange County Register Orange County Home, Orange Coast, Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion, Southern California Home and Outdoor, The LA Times and OC Metro.

Floral Park was also named Neighborhood of the Year in 2005 by Neighborhoods USA (NUSA), primarily as a result of the annual Home and Garden Tour and its example of what a volunteer effort can bring to building a community. he tree-lined streets of the neighborhood capture the spirit of a simpler time from a bygone era. Once blanketed by orange, avocado and walnut groves, the neighborhood features original farmhouses that can still be seen throughout Floral Park and the sweet smell of orange blossoms still fill the air. In the early 1920s, during one of California’s building booms, developers began constructing homes in a wide variety of styles influenced by European architecture brought home by returning soldiers from World War I, as well as the international influences of Hollywood movies. The Floral Park area became a cornucopia of building styles to include Beverly Hills Bungalow, Hacienda, Spanish Eclectic, Mediterranean Villa, Mission, Farmhouse, English Tudor, French Normandy, Colonial, Federal, Georgian, Cape Cod, California Ranch, Storybook and Art Deco, all within a few blocks of one other.

Tickets can be purchased in advance for $25 by mail or online at www.floral-park.com. Tickets are also available for $30 on April 26 and 27 at booths located at Flower St. & Santa Clara and North Park Blvd. & Benton Way in Santa Ana. For more information please visit www.floral-park.com or call (714) 953- 5659.