Dry Creek Garden

On one of our hot, summer weekends, my husband and I visited Dry Creek Garden in Union City. It is part of Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park, and closely associated with Garin Regional Park in nearby Hayward. The Meyers sisters (Edith, Mildred, and Jeanette) donated 1200 acres from Dry Creek Ranch to the East Bay Regional Park District to create Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park.

Nearby wheat field

Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park

Their father, Henry H. Meyers (1867-1943) was an architect here in the Bay Area, and designed some landmark sites such as the Posey Tube, Highland Hospital, and Caldecott Tunnel. He also designed the family home in Alameda – Meyers House and Garden.

Gate post for Dry Creek Cottage

The three daughters were successful in their own right. Edith (1900-1971) became a pediatrician, and served as staff president at Children's Hospital. Mildred (1898-1982) studied architecture at U.C. Berkeley, passed the state exam in 1926, practiced with her father until his retirement in 1936, and then took over the practice. Jeanette (1905-1993) ran Dry Creek Ranch.

Fountain in the wild

Shady path through the oaks

My husband and I spent a leisurely hour in the shady Dry Creek Garden. We followed meandering paths, crossed charming bridges, explored the kitchen and rose gardens, enjoyed watching the free-range chickens forage for food, and sat on on various benches to observe nature.

Chinese lantern	Free-range chickens
Flower garden	More flowers

The two-acre garden is rather wild and tangled, with many interesting native and exotic plants and trees. Dry Creek is lined with wonderful stonework, and, unexpectedly, contained some water. Meyers Cottage is very charming and set in a shady stand of trees. It's easy to see why the Meyer family would gravitate to Dry Creek as a summer home.

Meyers Cottage surround by trees

Dry Creek (with a little water)

Follow the May Trail through shady oaks to access a 27-mile network of trails. Take the Ridge Loop Trail or the High Ridge Loop Trail for the views. Take the Dry Creek Trail for a mile to the southern tip of Jordan Pond in Garin Regional Park. Be sure to close the gate, since these hills are still used for cattle!

Cattle gate