13 Hidden Gardens and Green Spaces in Urban California
While California is renowned for its skyscrapers and urban landscape, many people miss greenery. Some of us are naturalists and can’t resist a good garden, but in California, most destinations are either overcrowded or aren’t that special. So here are some hidden gardens in California that are every naturalist’s dream:
Sherman Library and Gardens, Newport Beach
This botanical garden in Corona del Mar honors M. H. Sherman, the American developer behind multiple railway systems. The botanical gardens were bought and organized by Arnold D. Haskell, who had Sherman as a mentor. Gushing fountains, gorgeous pathways, and unique plants scattered along the way make it even more delightful. It features gingers, heliconias, orchids, ferns, herbs, and garlic.
The Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek
Every plant lover knows Ruth Bancroft, the gentle soul who delighted us with gardening skills and knowledge before passing away in 2017. The Ruth Bancroft Garden is a tribute to her loving memory, and a step inside this gated botanical garden will prove it. The garden is home to various native and exotic plants that can withstand the East Bay heat, so you’ll find sedums, aloe vera, agaves, echeverias, protea, and even banksia.
Conservatory of Flowers, San Francisco
The Conservatory of Flowers is a greenhouse and botanical garden standing since 1879, making it the oldest conservatory in the Western Hemisphere. Here, you’ll find tropical plants, including native species from South and Central America. Amazingly, the conservatory is free for all San Francisco residents, costs just $11 for non-SF residents, but is free for all visitors on the first Tuesday of every month.
James Irvine Japanese Garden, Los Angeles
Blessing nature lovers with a blissful environment since 1980, James Irvine’s Japanese Garden is more than just a place to store plants. The garden is a sanctuary for Japanese and Japanese-American art to bloom, so it also boasts stunning sculptures, including one by Isamu Noguchi, a world-renowned artist. The garden also features a 170-foot stream, which meanders down to the surface, symbolizing the journey of generations of Japanese Americans.
The Gardens of Lake Merritt, Oakland
Although this destination might look like an average city park from a distance, inside, you’ll find seventeen gardens, each crafted after a specific theme that adds to its allure. If you’d like to get as close to mother nature as possible, you’ll love the Bay-friendly Gardening, designed to mimic natural processes in all closeness. There’s also a rhododendron garden featuring gorgeous hybrids, a Bonsai garden, a Japanese garden paying homage to traditional roots, and a Mediterranean garden.
Huntington Library Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, San Marino
This is the best destination because it delights bookworms, naturalists, and art lovers. Aside from countless genres of literature, you’ll find magnificent artworks of the 18th and 19th centuries, but nothing beats its 120 acres of botanical gardens. The gardens include a Japanese garden, a Chinese garden, and even a desert garden featuring native plants, flora, and succulents worldwide. Camellia, roses, lilies, lotuses, cacti, xerophytes, and bonsais are some species you’ll find here.
Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens, Santa Barbara
The Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens hide a wondrous history; the park was donated to the city in the 1970s and only managed to become what it is today because of an anonymous funder, who turned out to be Alice Keck, hence the tribute. The gardens feature a beautiful landscape lined with gazebos and winding pathways. There’s even a man-made pond with koi and turtles. But what truly makes it unique is its sensory garden, a sectioned area designed to cater to visually impaired individuals.
South Coast Botanic Gardens, Palos Verdes Peninsula
Just 10 miles from the LAX lie thousands of plants embedded in an 87-acre landscape. At South Coast Botanic Garden, you’ll be able to walk through Coast Redwoods, Gingkos, and Pittosporum, all the while exploring plant species from South Africa and Australia. The botanic gardens feature over 150,000 landscaped plants and 2000 different species. Depending on the season you visit, you might even find hundreds of migratory butterflies resting on the trees during their journey.
Secret Garden, UC Davis
Taking the mission seriously, the Secret Garden at UC Davis is one of California’s most underrated green spaces. The Californian college is home to a massive arboretum, where you’ll find some of the most phenomenal plants, including native and exotic species, carefully preserved by the UC Davis biology department. It even has a section devoted to the Patwin Indians, indigenous people who used to live in the area.
Balboa Park Gardens, San Diego
Adjacent to the Timken Museum of Art lies the Balboa Park Gardens, a botanical building with stunning architecture and 350 species of plants. A massive pool stands in front of the building, reflecting the flowers planted alongside. The area boasts a variety of gardens, including a rose garden. At a distance stands the Marston House, while on the other edge, you’ll find a Japanese friendship garden featuring koi ponds and cherry blossom trees.
Heisler Park, Laguna Beach
A delight for every sea lover, this oceanfront park features gorgeous trails and closeted gardens that will make you praise the gods. The park’s closeness to the coast makes it an excellent spot for romantic walks with sweeping ocean views. Still, you’ll also find an ecological reserve dedicated to protecting marine and local terrestrial animals. Closer to Cliff Drive, you can spot a fantastic amphitheater, where frequent performances serenade visitors.
Filoli Estate and Gardens, Woodside
Spread over 16 acres, Filoli Gardens at the Filoli Estate feature rust-hued brick walls and open hedges overlooking the paved gravel pathway. The gardens use an Anglo-American Italian gardening style and feature excellent columns of vibrant plants that invite tourists. Filoli Gardens also house olive trees, rare fruits, and an orchard garden. Aside from the apparent greenery, deep pools and refreshing fountains mark the scenery and add a touch of wanderlust.
Garden of Fragrance, San Francisco
Located within the San Francisco Botanical Garden, the Garden of Fragrance is specifically designed to be enjoyed by the visually impaired. This garden is filled with highly aromatic plants and features Braille labels and raised planting beds. It’s a sensory delight hidden amidst the larger, more frequented areas of Golden Gate Park close to the Waterfowl Pond.
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Emese Maczko is a travel blogger behind Eco Lodges Anywhere. Having explored several destinations around Europe, the US, Indonesia, and Australia, and resided in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Luxembourg, Emese possesses a keen understanding of diverse cultures and an appreciation for the beauty of each destination she visits. She advocates for sustainable travel and ecotourism.