Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens California - you shouldn't miss dahlia season

Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens

Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens California is the most awesome gardens we have experienced in quite some time. We toured over the entire 47 acres seeing turkey, deer and fawns, fabulous plants and flowers, and ended the day with a picnic amongst the blooming dahlia garden. We consider ourselves the luckiest travelers most all the time. Traveling to Fort Bragg to go horseback riding in the forest and on the ocean for Kelly's birthday was scheduled. We knew that Fort Bragg was a small coastal town but we didn't expect to have these awesome botanical gardens right on the PCH. Another spectacular place on Highway 1 that we went to in northern California was at Point Reyes National Seashore, only 50 miles north of San Francisco. Highlights of Point Reyes National Seashore is the beautiful coastal bluffs and hiking Tomales Point Trail and seeing the Tule elk.

The botanical gardens extends into the Pacific Ocean. To get to the shoreline just walk the cool and shady trail full of pines and conifers. If you spend any amount of time on the beach you will certainly come across kelp and the sea palm. The ocean plant named the sea palm looks like a miniature rubbery palm tree and believe it or not it is harvested as an edible seaweed; not at the park though. During certain times of the year you could see the California Gray Whales migrating south or north. If they are migrating north then you just might see a baby Grey Whale.

In 1961 a retired nurseryman and his wife founded the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens and it finally opened in 1966. The botanical gardens is now run by the Mendocino Coast Recreation and Park District. The botanical gardens is known for their tender species of the rhododendrons. Because of the moderate climate along the northern California coast, in which there is a considerable amount of fog, the rhododendrons thrive here. The towering hybrid rhododendrons were planted here over 40 years ago and in March and April you can see them in bloom.

The landscape is ever-changing from one garden to the next and I loved the soft hills of the collection of heaths and heathers blooming with purple and lavender colored flowers. Bird watchers come here to mark off many species seen during the year because there is over 150 bird species seen at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden. Each season brings a new collection of flowering plants. In August when we were at the Gardens we saw dahlia, fuchsia, heritage rose, perennial, heather and hydrangea blooming. In early spring the rhododendrons, camellias, and magnolias are in bloom. The cacti, succulents and lilies bloom in the summer months. And from November to January you can see wild mushrooms popping up.

The entrance to the botanical gardens is through the gift store where there is a selection of garden related books and gifts. You can also purchase rhododendrons and native plants in their nursery. The Mendocino Coast Gardens has tours too. The main trails through the gardens are wheelchair accessible and it does lead to the ocean. If your dog is well behaved and leashed then he or she is allowed in the park too. The gardens is not open every day of the year so call beforehand.

Jason's thoughts - I have never seen flowers like this in my entire life. Absolutely the most beautiful garden I have ever been in. Call ahead to make sure the Dahlias are blooming and if they are GET HERE! You also get to explore many acres of other plants and the oceanside rocky cliffs as well. We even saw baby deer bouncing through the grounds. You will not be disappointed.
Kelly's thoughts - Stunningly beautiful. I would encourage visiting during dahlia season for sure. We were flabbergasted at the varieties and colors of these beautiful flowers. In Florida it is just too hot to grow dahlias so this was a first time experience for me, and one I will never forget.

Visit Lake Isabella California for more information.

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