Sherman Gardens Corona Del Mar
Shermans Gardens is located along Pacific Coast Highway in Corona Del Mar, California. What this garden lacks in size it makes up with beautiful displays of flowers and plants. The Herb Garden is not just for the show. Café Jardin, the onsite restaurant, uses the fresh herbs in the chef’s “coastal garden” cuisine. 2647 East Coast Hwy, Corona Del Mar, California.
Niguel Botanical Preserve
Located behind a community park in Laguna Niguel, this wonderful garden is like a diamond in the ruff. The garden is situated on 18-acres of hillside 4 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Most of the trails are steep, but there are plenty of places to rest and relax along the way. If you bring kids along on this trip, there is a nearby playground. Admission is free, parking is free, and the view from the park’s top is breathtaking. 29751 Crown Valley Pkwy, Laguna Niguel, California.
Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden
On the Long Beach State campus, you will find a beautiful little garden with some really hungry Koi Fish. The garden is just over one acre. But every corner is filled with trees, plants, and flowers. The garden is closed to the public on Saturdays when weddings and events are held. Admission to Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is free. 1250 Bellflower Blvd., California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, California.
Huntington Library & Gardens
Huntington Gardens showcases the best plants and fauna that Southern California has to offer. Garden areas for visitors to roam include Japanese, Chinese, Desert, Tropical, Australian, Rose, Shakespeare, Conservatory, and Jungle Gardens. There’s even a special Children’s Garden for the youngsters. Be prepared to do a lot of walking, so wear comfortable clothing and shoes. 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, California.
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
78 acres to explore more than a thousand plant species thriving in various sections of the garden. Mission Creek runs through the canyon and includes a rock dam constructed to supply water to nearby Mission Santa Barbara. The garden is situated in a valley with beautiful views onto the towering mountains behind the coastline. 1212 Mission Canyon Rd, Santa Barbara, California.
San Diego Botanic Garden
A 35-acre paradise of garden trails featuring flowering trees, plants from all climates around the world. A four-mile trail is divided into 24 separate gardens by climate. You will witness one of the world’s most diverse collections of plants. As you walk through canyons and hillsides, observing the habitats, many hidden nooks offer a chance to sit and relax. 230 Quail Gardens Dr, Encinitas, California.
Balboa Park Botanical Building
Built for the 1915-16 Panama–California Exposition, the Botanical Building features over 2,000 plants. Orchid displays ferns, trees, and flowers of all kinds and shapes. The building is almost as fruitful and the plants that live inside of it. Just outside the main entrance is the Lilly Pond that was also constructed for the California Exposition. Admission is free. Dogs are allowed in the park but not the Botanical Building.
Fullerton Arboretum
Located on 26 acres at the Cal State Fullerton Campus, the arboretum’s goal is to protect the earth’s plant treasures. Highlights are southern California native vegetation, a rare fruit grove, an 11,000 square foot organic vegetable garden, the Channel Islands garden, an extensive cycad collection, a conifer collection, a palm grove, community gardens, and a children’s garden. Fullerton Arboretum makes a great day trip destination for the whole family.
Myrtle Creek Gardens Fallbrook, CA
Part plant nursery, part arboretum Myrtle Creek is a pleasant place to spend an afternoon. Over 10,000 plant species are growing here, and most are perfectly suited to the local climate and terrain. There is a ton of history in these hills as well. 30 years ago, the Sherman family founded the nursery, but there are buildings on the site that date back to 1895. The Fallbrook Landmark Barn is perhaps the most impressive of the structures to be found in Myrtle Creek. 2940 Reche Rd, Fallbrook, California.
Japanese Gardens Van Nuys
If you like Star Trek, you will like the Japanese Gardens in Van Nuys. You may recognize the building in the above image as Starfleet Academy. Star Trek The Next Generation, Star Trek Voyager, and Star Trek Deep Space Nine all included scenes shot at the gardens. The building in real life is a water reclamation plant. Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, 6100 Woodley Ave, Van Nuys, California.
Conejo Valley Botanic Garden
33-acre garden located in Thousand Oaks, California. Admission and parking are free. The kid’s adventure garden is the most popular attraction here and is open on Sundays from 11-3. The garden also features a nature trail through plants and flowers separated by geographical regions. Park benches and picnic tables. The Garden is operated by the Gregor Medel Foundation, a non-profit organization.
South Coast Botanic Garden
Located in a former landfill, the South Coast Botanic Garden is a green oasis surrounded by urban sprawl. The 80 plus acre botanical garden and culture center features many different gardens, including a Mediterranean, Rose, Water-Wise, Garden of the Senses, Cactus, Children’s, Herb Garden, and Japanese Garden. 26300 Crenshaw Blvd, Palos Verdes Peninsula, California.
Descanso Gardens
This 150-acre gem was developed as a year-round retreat for urban dwellers and highlighted nature’s beauty through an internationally renowned botanical collection and seasonal horticultural displays. For kids, the Enchanted Railroad is a lot of fun. It allows you to ride aboard a 1/8th replica of a diesel train that travels around a Descanso Gardens section. 1418 Descanso Dr, La Cañada Flintridge, California.
Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden
Of particular interest are the perennial plants native to Baja and the far south of the state. More than 70,000 Californian plant species thrive at Rancho Santa Ana. Numerous informational signs provide guests with detailed information about the plants, birds, and butterflies on display. If you want to pick the minds of the resident experts, sign up for a guided tour. 1500 N College Ave, Claremont, California.
California State University Northridge Botanic Garden
A small one-acre garden hidden away in the center of the Northridge campus. Not too much to see here, but it’s a great place for students to escape class. Established in 1959, the garden features over one thousand plant species, most Californian native plants. Open weekdays only 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Alta Vista Gardens Vista CA
Along with hundreds of unique and interesting plants, the garden showcases sculptures and artworks throughout the grounds. Expect to find a new a unique sculpture at each twist of the trail, often accompanied by a bench with a wonderful North San Diego County view. Admission is free; donations are always welcome. 1270 Vale Terrace Dr, Vista, California.
Los Angeles County Arboretum
From sweeping lawns with peacocks that roam free to cactus gardens, hothouses filled with orchids, ponds with sunbathing turtles, and Asian gardens, this 127- acre historical site also serves as the summertime home of the California Philharmonic’s Concerts on the Green. 301 N Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, California.
Moorten Gardens Palm Springs
A little-known secret of visitors to Palm Springs, the gardens allow guests to stroll and view this vast and amazing collection peacefully. It’s a great — and shady — spot to wander or sit and enjoy the collection of more than 3,000 varieties of desert plants designed in concentrated habitats along a well-marked natural trail. 1701 S Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, California.
Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden
A small under an acre garden that is worth a look at if you are in the neighborhood. Located in Pollywog Park, the garden has a nice selection of California native and drought-tolerant plants. A visit to this garden will only last 20-minutes, so plan on heading to the Manhattan Beach Pier if you are visiting from out of town. Pollywog Park features a lake and a large children’s playground.
Wrigley Gardens Catalina Island
One of the island’s main attractions, the gardens feature a stunning monument to William Wrigley Jr. and a lush garden designed by his wife. The gardens showcase plants that are endemic to Southern California’s coast and islands, focusing primarily on Catalina Island plants. 1402 Avalon Canyon Rd, Avalon, Catalina Island, California.
Queen Califia’s Magical Circle Garden
This unique sculpture garden was created by French artist Niki de Saint Phalle. She was inspired by her visions of early California history, myths, and Native American culture to create the magical artworks found in the garden.
Gardens at Casa Romantica
Located in San Clemente, Casa Romantic is surrounded by beautiful gardens. They include the bluff top garden, native American garden, butterfly garden, herb garden, and cactus & succulent gardens. The gardens also feature a small amphitheater terrace.