Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens - Review
A visit to the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is a nice day trip for anyone in the Northern California Coast area.
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Currently the staff maintains twenty different garden areas with flowers, plants, trees and shrubs appropriate to different habitats that occupy the forty seven acre facility.
The picture on the left shows a view from the ocean bluffs looking to the Pacific Ocean.
The gardens advertise the bluffs as a land based whale watching site during the winter months.
Views from the bluffs during the other seasons are equally appealing for seeing local wildlfowers, birds and wildlife.
The bluffs are a short half-mile walk from the entrance and a visit to them is well worth the effort. Special needs visitors who arrive early have the option of using one of the gardens electric carts for transportation.
The walk to and from the bluffs takes you through and past many of the other gardens.
You hiking choice is seasonally optional, depending on which gardens have flowers in bloom or which gardens you might like to examine more closely. The Succlent Garden is a year round treat for cacti fans.
Spring is a great time for rhododendrons. The Dahlia Garden is in full bloom from late summer through early fall.
The gardens also host many seasonal activities. August, for example, means it's time for Art in the Park, an annual event where local artists, muscians and representatives of the Mendocino County wineries gather to celebrate and raise funds for the gardens.
The gardens also offer picnic tables, a seasonal cafe and a garden store, making it easy to plan for an entire day's worth of activities. Directions, admission prices and additional information are available using the link to the web site.
© 2007 Patricia A. Michaels