How to Enjoy Berkeley's Best Gardens

Graced with a mild, Mediterranean climate, the San Francisco Bay Area is overflowing with gardens galore for plant lovers to enjoy—and one of the cities boasting the best array of gardens—is Berkeley, in the East Bay. Here are some of the best spots in Berkeley to smell the roses and enjoy the flora and fauna.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. When visiting the gardens of the East Bay, a great place to start is the Regional Parks Botanic Garden. Located in beautiful Tilden Park in the Berkeley Hills, the garden is devoted to all things related to the preservation of California’s native plants. It’s a great way to see the state’s diverse flora and fauna in one place, while also enjoying a serene afternoon.
2. Spanning 34 acres on the University of California at Berkeley’s campus, the UC Botanical Garden is an outdoor, living museum that touts one of the country’s most diverse plant collections. Established over 100 years ago, the garden treats visitors to over 12,000 different kinds of plants from around the world, arranged by region.
3. Considered by many to be the finest rose garden in Northern California, the Berkeley Rose Garden is a wonderful way to spend the afternoon. Boasting 3,000 rose bushes and 250 varieties—not to mention amazing views of the San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge—the 3.5-acre terraced garden is at its most spectacular in mid-May.
4. A small family-owned retail nursery, Berkeley Horticultural Nursery (or “Berkeley Hort,” as locals call it) is nestled on two acres in a charming north Berkeley neighborhood. It’s the perfect place to browse through a vast array of plants set up in a natural outdoor environment—and get tons of ideas for your own garden. And the best part is—if you fall in love with a plant, you can purchase it and take it with you!
5. Marsha Donohue’s Garden is a little-known discovery. A small garden tucked behind a private residence at 3017 Wheeler in Berkeley, this garden is the pride of local artist Donohue. The living definition of “magic garden,” every turn through the garden reveals an enchanting new sculpture, plant or feature that dazzles the senses. Open to the public on Sundays only, a visit to Marsha’s garden may be brief, but will surely be one you will remember for a long time.
6. Try to experience the Cactus Jungle. For a change of pace, another great Berkeley garden is the Cactus Jungle nursery, home to many different types of cacti and succulents, low-water grasses, summer-drought bamboos, California natives, and so much more. All plants are organically grown and originate from all around the world.
7. The University of California Blake Garden, Kensington, is technically not in Berkeley, but the lovely, 10.6-acre garden used as a teaching facility for the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning is well worth the short side trip. It also happens to be the location of Blake House, the official residence of the University’s president.

Tips & Warnings

• Marsha Donohue's private garden is only open to the public on Sundays.
• Kensington's Blake Garden is closed on weekends.