South Coast Plaza inspires visitors to dress up drab dwellings with ‘Home in the Garden’ exhibition

The recent pandemic has forced many to find creative ways to transform their homes into a combination office, classroom and entertainment destination — for those, and others, South Coast Plaza’s “At Home in the Garden” is sure to inspire.

Now through Sunday, visitors to the Costa Mesa shopping complex can enjoy a free exhibition that highlights new trends in outdoor living and gardens. The event is designed to stand in for the site’s annual Southern California Spring and Garden Show, which featured seminars, garden vignettes and activities for young gardeners.

Visitors view “Stay-Cation Retreat,” a design collaboration between CB2 and Camille Beehler Landscape Design during the “Home in the Garden” show at South Coast Plaza on Friday, April 23, 2021.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

This year, four of the center’s home décor stores — CB2, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Pottery Barn and West Elm — have collaborated with Southern California landscape designers to create indoor gardens and al fresco spaces filled with ideas for taking the home experience to new levels.

On Friday afternoon, visitors strolled past home and garden exhibits on display at South Coast Plaza’s Crate and Barrell/Macy’s Home store wing, taking mental notes on items and ideas that might work at their own homesteads.

“Californica,” a design collaboration between West Elm and Koheid Design on display during the “Home in the Garden” show at South Coast Plaza on Friday, April 23, 2021.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

A centerpiece of the exhibition is a two-story, Amazon rainforest-inspired floral sculpture hand-crafted by designers at Fiesta Floats, the masterminds behind some of the most breathtaking and award-winning floats of the annual Rose Parade in Pasadena.

With the 2021 Rose Parade having fallen victim to the coronavirus pandemic earlier this year, “At Home in the Garden” may be the only opportunity fans will have to see the extraordinary artistry that goes into creating the behemoth floral displays.

“At Home in the Garden” takes place Friday and Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., 3333 Bear St., in Costa Mesa. Admission and parking is free. For more, call (800) 782-8888 or visit southcoastplaza.com/athomeinthegarden2021.

Visitors view a two-story Amazon rainforest inspired display designed and decorated with plants and flowers by the award-winning Fiesta Parade Floats, who create floats for Pasadena’s annual Rose Parade during the “Home in the Garden” show at South Coast Plaza on Friday, April 23, 2021.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

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