California Gardens Attractions
Bluebird Haven Iris Garden
Victorian show garden in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, landscaped with iris, daffodils, wildflowers, shrubs and trees, and surrounded by an iris nursery.
http://www.bluebirdhavenirisgarden.com
Bamboo Garden at Foothill College
In-depth information about the collection of 70 bamboo varieties grown in a two-acre garden in Los Altos. The plants are evaluated for their adaptability to the San Francisco Bay Area climate. Visitor information, events.
http://www.bamboogarden.org
Conejo Valley Botanic Garden
Garden in Thousand Oaks featuring collections of native plants, oak trees, water-conserving plants, and an abundant population of indigenous wildlife. Descriptions and information about events.
http://www.conejogarden.com
Conservatory of Flowers
The oldest existing public conservatory in the western hemisphere, located in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Information on tours, plants, and using the facility for events.
http://www.conservatoryofflowers.org
Cornerstone Gardens
Series of walk-through gardens in Sonoma showcasing innovative designs by various landscape architects. Information about the designers, events, and exhibits.
http://www.cornerstonegardens.com
Descanso Gardens
A 160-acre public garden in La Caņada near Los Angeles. Schedule of events, information on visiting, membership and volunteering.
http://www.descansogardens.org
Elizabeth Gamble Garden
Palo Alto community horticultural organization tends a property with a historic home, and formal and demonstration gardens. Virtual tour, featured plants, and information about events, education, and children's programs.
http://www.gamblegarden.org
Filoli Center
This 654-acre Bay Area estate garden represents the Golden Age of American Gardens, with house and gardens designed as complementary units. Events and educational programs, garden overview.
http://www.filoli.org
Fullerton Arboretum
Non-profit arboretum and botanical garden at California State University, Fullerton. Community resource for ecological, horticultural, and historical education. Visitor information, maps, plant database.
http://www.arboretum.fullerton.edu
Gardens at Heather Farm
Nonprofit education center in Walnut Creek serves as a living museum, a wildlife habitat, an outdoor classroom, and a place of beauty and enjoyment. Photos, information about membership and events.
http://www.gardenshf.org
Guadalupe River Park & Gardens
Three-mile ribbon of park land along the banks of the Guadalupe River in downtown San Jose, featuring rose and rock gardens, sister city tributes, and a historic orchard.
http://www.grpg.org
Hakone Gardens
Japanese gardens built in 1918 in Saratoga, featuring koi pond, Zen and tea gardens, and a bamboo park. Photo gallery, visitor information.
http://www.hakone.com
Japanese Friendship Garden of San Diego
Information and pictures covering the design, botanical collection, exhibits, events, and history of this garden located in Balboa Park.
http://www.niwa.org
Japanese Garden Suiho En
This garden of water and fragrance in Van Nuys is fashioned after 18th and 19th century stroll gardens. It incorporates a dry garden, a wet garden with promenade, and an authentic tea ceremony garden. Extensive descriptions, information, and photos.
http://www.thejapanesegarden.com
Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Its mission is to foster an awareness and appreciation of the role of plants in nature and in human affairs.
http://www.arboretum.org
Lotusland
Large estate and botanic garden created by Madame Ganna Walska near Santa Barbara, composed of smaller themed gardens (Japanese, Australian; succulents, cycads, bromeliads, cacti). Education programs, events, visitor information.
http://www.lotusland.org
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
This garden fronting directly on the Pacific coast includes woodland, perennial, rhododendron, dahlia, and camellia gardens, a fern canyon, and a pacifica iris collection. Photos, visitor information, and event calendar.
http://www.gardenbythesea.org
Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden
Located on the UCLA campus, this garden maintains a large botanical collection,with plant specimens from all over the world, including tropical and subtropical plants.
http://www.botgard.ucla.edu
Quail Botanical Gardens
Garden in Encinitas features rare bamboo groves, desert gardens, a tropical rainforest, California native plants, Mediterranean climate landscapes, and a subtropical fruit garden. Information about visiting, volunteering, children's and adult events and classes.
http://www.qbgardens.com
Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden
Located in Claremont, California, the Garden is home to 70,000 native Californian plants, representing 2,000 native species, hybrids and cultivars.
http://www.rsabg.org
Ruth Bancroft Garden
Private garden in Walnut Creek exemplifying a water-conserving design, featuring dramatic succulents, cacti, and arid-climate trees. Limited visiting hours. Photo gallery, visitor information, history and plant profiles.
http://www.ruthbancroftgarden.org
San Francisco Botanical Garden
Mediterranean gardens at Strybing Arboretum in Golden Gate Park presents mission and visitor information, detailed map, course catalog, and plant sale schedule.
http://www.sfbotanicalgarden.org
San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden
Devoted to the display and study of the plants and ecosystems of the world's five Mediterranean climate zones.
http://www.slobg.org
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
Located on 65 acres in historic Mission Canyon, it features over 1,000 species of rare and indigenous plants.
http://www.sbbg.org
Sherman Library & Gardens
Horticultural retreat in Corona del Mar, featuring a cactus and succulent garden, a tropical conservatory, rose, herb, and Japanese gardens. The library focuses on the history of the Pacific Southwest.
http://www.slgardens.org
South Coast Botanic Garden
Located on the Palos Verdes Peninsula near Los Angeles, among this garden's distinct areas are a rose garden, a garden for the senses, a Japanese garden, and a cactus garden.
http://www.southcoastbotanicgarden.com
UC Davis Arboretum
Living museum, outdoor classroom, and public garden with thousands of tree and plant species adapted to a Mediterranean climate. News, information about visiting, and calendar of events and programs.
http://www.arboretum.ucdavis.edu
University of California Botanical Garden
Features one of the most diverse plant collections in the United States, famous for its rare and endangered species. Information about collections, education, events, mission, and history.
http://www.botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu
University of California Riverside Botanic Gardens
Features thousands of plant species from around the world for visitors and researchers to see and study. The wealth of vegetation also creates a hospitable sanctuary for wildlife. Visitor information, events, history, and descriptions.
http://www.gardens.ucr.edu
University of California Riverside Botanic Gardens
Covers 40 hilly acres of scenic trails, specialty gardens, and geographical collections. Garden overview, visitor information, and event calendar.
http://www.botanicgardens.ucr.edu