The upside of this winter’s endless rain is the spring superbloom taking place in every garden, backyard, park and roadside median around California right now—even SF and the Wine Country are afire with wildflowers!
It’s time to grab your friends, your family or just a good book and get out to see the cherry blossoms, roses, tulips and daffodils on parade in parks near you.
From the century-old Municipal Rose Garden of San Jose to the native flora of the Martha Walker Garden in Napa, there are dozens of famous gardens to visit around the Bay.
Check out the map and list below for 15 ideas for where to go for an eyeful and noseful of flowers this spring.
A Guide to 15 of the Best Gardens in the San Francisco Bay Area
Part of UC Berkeley, this unique garden makes you feel like you snuck onto the grounds of an abandoned mansion.
See the cherry blossoms surrounding this pagoda, koi pond and tea house.
With tropical, aquatic and carnivorous plants, there’s always something in blooming inside this Victorian greenhouse in Golden Gate Park.
Garden after garden of manicured spring blooms cover the grounds of this historic South Bay estate.
Bring a blanket and spread out a picnic after seeing the roses, salvia, waterfalls and children’s garden.
Walk among the rhododendrons, lilies, palms, bonsai and succulents at this glorious garden.
Wander over the ponds and through the pavilion of an authentic Japanese wood and stone garden.
Since 1894, this Golden Gate Park attraction has drawn visitors for its cherry blossoms, ponds and pagodas.
This green corner of the Ross Valley is a peaceful place to stroll through the flowering trees and beds. On-leash dogs are welcome on paths, too!
This native habitat garden includes redwood forest, oak woodland, bird and butterfly environments to explore.
Called “America’s Best Rose Garden,” this century-old, 5-acre park features nearly 200 varieties of roses.
Explore this natural, 10-acre space showing native blooms, shrubs and trees from around California.
This garden features an extraordinary collection of sculptural, unique dry garden plants from around the world.
Catch the end of the famed magnolia season or the start of spring blooms from 10 different climate areas in this historic Golden Gate Park arboretum that is free for city residents.
Specializing in plants from temperate East Asia and coastal California, the garden provides many tranquil paths and picnic spots in the hills of Sonoma County.