One week a year The Bulb Guy opens his backyard to the public to share his bounty of bulbs. Rich Santoro, a.k.a. The Bulb Guy, has been planting thousands of bulbs in his San Jose back yard for the last 34 years. Since 2009 he has been sharing his garden with the public free of charge, but four years ago he added a collection can for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in San Francisco. Since then he has raised more than $19,000 for St. Jude’s – all in memory of his son Richard, “Boom,” Santora who died at age six from neuroblastoma in 1982.
Rich says ‘his son’s death has made him want to live a life with passion and an appreciation for every gift and good thing (Berryessa Sun Vol 59, No. 3, March 2016 by Aliyah Mohammed). His passion for life is obvious, he greets every visitor to his backyard with a smile and a handshake and treats everyone as a friend. When someone remarked that Rich has to take a week off work for the show he threw his arms into the air and said, “it’s my vacation!”
Rich also shows passion in his music. He and his sister, Joyce McCulloch, front a big band swing band called Millennium Sounds Orchestra. If you visit their facebook page you will hear that Rich can really swing! (i.e.Mack the Knife)
This year The Bulb Guy’s garden is open from March 23 – 31, 2019; from Noon to 5pm; 850 Gateview Court, San Jose, CA
For more information, view his website, http://www.the-bulbguy.com/
Love the photos! It was a fun visit! He is a very nice guy! Spent time talking to everyone there.
Thanks Barbie! We could get great ideas from his garden too!