The Berkeley Botanical Garden
Perched high in the hills above the UC Berkeley campus in Strawberry Canyon is the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley. Once you’re up there it seems as though you are far removed from all but in fact, the Memorial Stadium (go Bears!) is just a mere roll down the hill. My friend Teri and I visited here on a glorious, sunny Friday last August and barely saw anyone the whole time we were touring this horticultural gem. The expansive garden covers 34 acres and is home to one of the most diverse plant collections in the world. I will take you around the garden exactly as we saw it.
Let me take you on a tour of The Berkeley Botanical Garden
This is what we saw right after entering in – the South African & New World desert gardens
In the South African garden
I love this Aloe capitata var. quartziticola
The panorama of the Japanese pool in the Asian garden
A Hydrangea paniculata, or Pee Gee Hydrangea, along the path above the Japanese pool
In the garden of old roses
The hybrid tea rose “Sunset Celebration”, honoring Sunset Magazine’s 100th anniversary
Dahlias in the garden of old roses
Dahlia “Thistle”
Dahlia “Thomas Edison”
A Monkey Puzzle Tree in the South American garden
Amaranth, one of the world’s “super grains”, in the Old World garden
Bouvardia ternifolia, or Firecracker Bush or Hummingbird Flower, in the Mexico/Central American garden
Physostegia virginiana, or False Dragonhood, in the herb garden
Heading into the Asian garden
Leading into the California garden
Redwoods – our state tree
Hanging Haleconia in the tropical house
Look closer – there’s a little frog!
Hibiscus schizopetalus, or Coral Hibiscus, in the tropical house
Echinopsis terscheckii, or Argentine Saguaro, in the New World desert garden
Echinopsis lamprochlora, or Green torch, putting out a bloom in the New World desert garden
Weinsartia hediniana in the arid house
Pachypodium lameri, or Madagascar Palm, in the arid house
Ceropegia ampliata, or bushman’s pipe or condom flower (interesting name!), in the arid house
This tiger flower was just outside the carnivorous plant house
These carnivorous plants, Sarrancenia flava var.ornata or yellow pitcher plants, are in a planter on wheels in the entry area
Here are a few things you might like to know before you go: there’s a parking lot across the street with a minimal charge, a shuttle bus operates from the UC campus up to the garden and there’s no food to be found (except a few snackies in the gift shop) anywhere up there. It’s a great place to picnic however. I was considering assaulting some picnicers for their lunch but wisely decided against it. We did have a yummy Thai lunch in one of the many restaurants down below in the colorful and delightful town of Bezerkley. It was a wonderful few hours spent at this glorious garden.
LINKS
http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu/
Here are previous posts from other botanic gardens in California I’ve visited that I thought you’d be interested in:
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
The Pacific Coast Hybrids
California Native Plant Week At The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
What’s In Bloom At The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
San Diego Botanic Garden
Plants And Sculpture At The San Diego Botanic Garden
Topiaries And A Living Roof
The Bamboo Garden At The San Diego Botanic Garden
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Nell, the founder of Joy Us garden, was born into a gardening family and grew up in Connecticut’s countryside. After living in Boston, New York, San Francisco, & Santa Barbara, she now calls the Arizona desert home. She studied horticulture & garden design, working in the field all her life. Nell is a gardener, designer, blogger, Youtube creator, & author. She’s been gardening for a very long time & wants to share what she’s learned with you.
