Getting to the Bay Area’s Blooming Places

It’s already bloomin’ beautiful in the Bay Area due to the early arrival of mild weather this spring.

Queen Wilhelmina’s Tulip Garden, Golden Gate Park (Photo by Gloria Koch-Gonzales)

By Georgia Lambert
Published: April, 2008 

Did you know that public transit can take you to within a short walk of parks packed with roses, fields of wildflowers and the vibrant flowering bulbs of a renowned tulip garden? These colorful destinations are among the 250-plus attractions featured in MTC’s recently updated and free Getting There on Transit guide. We provide the public transit carriers and/or basic route numbers; for schedules and additional information, go to 511.org or call 511.

With more than a thousand acres, Golden Gate Park is one of the most visited city parks in the United States. In addition to the three gardens listed below, Golden Gate Park’s destination gardens include the Strybing Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, the AIDS Memorial Grove, the Conservatory of Flowers, and the Rose Garden. For further information, visit http://www.parks.sfgov.org.

Garden of Shakespeare’s Flowers (GG Park) Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Middle Drive East

Established by the California Spring Blossom and Wildflower Association in 1928, this free garden features flowers and plants mentioned in the works of William Shakespeare. Crab apple trees are in flower in April; the garden also has blood-red poppies, daisies, violets, lady-smocks, cuckoo-buds, lilies and roses (which bloom at various times throughout the year), interspersed with panels that contain floral quotations from the plays.

Japanese Tea Garden (GG Park) Tea Garden Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive

Cherry blossoms are in full flower between March 15 and April 15. The azalea-covered waterfall and sweet wisteria are also part of the magic at the Japanese Tea House and Garden.

Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden (GG Park) John F. Kennedy Drive near Upper Great Highway

March 15 through April 15 is the best time to visit this renowned tulip garden on the west end of Golden Gate Park, near Ocean Beach. Vibrantly colored tulips interspersed with blue flowering annuals surround an authentic Dutch windmill (donated to the city by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands in 1902).

Oakland Rose Garden/Morcom Rose Garden 700 Jean Street, Oakland (510) 597-5039

With thousands of varieties of roses, this fragrant garden is tucked away from Oakland’s busy city streets, just off Grand Avenue. Inspired by the gardens of Florence and Rome, some of this park’s roses date from the 19th century. Certain varieties grow only in this rose garden and are points of interest for rose enthusiasts from around the world. Although the park is beautiful any time of year (and is a popular spot for weddings), the rose beds are at their blooming best from Mother’s Day in May through October.

Luther Burbank Home & Gardens Santa Rosa and Sonoma Avenues Santa Rosa (707) 524-5445

Arbor Day, March 7, celebrates the birth date of Luther Burbank (1849-1926), world-renowned horticulturist, who made his home in Santa Rosa for more than 50 years. Burbank introduced hundreds of ornamental flowers and experimented with plants for most of his career. More than an acre of gardens in this city park is open to the public free of charge all day, every day, from 8 a.m. to dusk. California poppies are in full bloom in early April, and roses will be popping buds in late April. Other special garden areas focus on cutting flowers, ornamental grasses, medicinal herbs, fruit trees and wildlife habitats. Unlike the gardens, the Luther Burbank home, which is now a museum, and greenhouse are only open April through October.

University of California Botanical Garden 200 Centennial Drive Berkeley (510) 643-2755

These gardens contain plants of wild origin from nearly every continent. Of particular interest in spring, according to the propagation coordinator, are the blossoming California lilacs (fragrant, colorful shrubs), the Douglas iris, various succulents (some with flowering spikes up to 12 feet tall) and marigolds. The Garden of Old Roses is also a popular attraction. Home gardeners may want to attend the Botanical Garden’s semi-annual plant sale, open to the public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 26, where many of the same types of plants featured in the Botanical Garden may be purchased.

Point Reyes National Seashore 1 Bear Valley Road Point Reyes Station (415) 464-5100

Early spring is the perfect time to visit Point Reyes. Its crashing waves, sandy beaches, lighthouse and rocky headlands are always picturesque. In late April and early May, the poppies and lupine are in full blossom at the Bear Valley Visitor Center area where the bus arrives and departs. Although not accessible by public transportation, on weekends through April, you can take ranger-led wildflower walks at Chimney Rock, where the scarlet pimpernel, columbine, blue larkspur, sky lupine, California poppy, monkeyflower, buttercup and wallflower blossoms are at their blooming best.