The UC Botanical Garden, which is associated with University of
California at Berkeley, has over 13,000 plants from around the world installed
in naturalistic settings on 34 acres. The plants are arranged in nine major
geographic regions (such as Mediterranean, South Africa, Australasia, the
Americas, and California); and in special collections (such as Chinese Medicinal
Herb, old roses, cycads and palms, crops of the world, tropical, and carnivorous
plants).
My first visit was on a class tour that was led by Dr. Lawrence
Lee, one of my professors at Merritt College. Lee had worked at the UC
Botanical Garden early in his career, so knew many interesting facts about the
plants and history of the garden. The setting is spectacular—high in the
Berkeley Hills overlooking the San Francisco Bay. I have visited the garden
multiple times, in different seasons, and there is always something new and interesting
to see.
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Entrance to UC Botanical Garden, at Berkeley |
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Palm Collection |
I always seem to gravitate to the trees and palms; to the desert plants in Arid
House; and to the carnivorous plant collection. The California native plant
collection is extensive, and a valuable asset as we all try to learn more about
drought tolerant, and low water usage plants for our gardens.
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Arid House |
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One of the many interesting specialty collections |
The education program
hosts lectures, such as iPhone plant photography, botanical
painting, dyeing with plant materials, and native plants. Check their calendar
regularly for interesting offerings.
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Carnivorous plants |
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Needle grass |
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Yucca rostrata |
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Blueberries from New Zealand |
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Docent-led tours are available, or you can explore the garden
on your own. The gift store has a great collection of books and garden-related
items (gift worthy, if you want to do a little holiday shopping while enjoying
a beautiful garden). Their nursery offers many California native plants, and
their fall and spring plant sales are legendary.
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