Garden Party

Botanical Gardens date back thousands of years, with some of the first recorded ones in ancient Egypt.  These gardens were meant to not only celebrate the beauty of nature, but also to cultivate medicines and remedies created by flowers and plants.  San Diego has some world class Botanical Gardens, although these are no longer used for medicinal reasons, they are for our visual enjoyment and help conserve rare botanic species.

This weekend is a great time to visit the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas, a short 25-minute drive north from Mission Bay.  Not only are the flowers in full-bloom, but it’s also the annual ArtFest, happening this Saturday and Sunday (April 9^th and 10^th).   From 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, over 20 artists, from sculptors to painters to glass artists to potters, will all be showcasing and selling their best work.  On Saturday there will be a car show featuring the classic beach car, the Woody, brought to you by the San Diego Woodies Club.  You won’t want to miss the quick draw contest, where artists will create a stunning piece in a short period of time right before your eyes.   Feast on fresh sandwiches, salads and sweet treats available from The Feel Good Coffee Cart for those who work up an appetite.  Admission is $14 for adults; $10 for seniors, active military, and students $10; $8 for children ages 3 to 12 (children under 2 are free).  Parking is also an additional $2. 

If you cannot make it to the Botanical Gardens this weekend, we highly recommend planning a visit sometime this Spring.  The layout is mainly divided by diverse locations as Africa, Australia, and the Canary Islands.  There are also areas devoted to special genera of flowers, such as succulents, herb, and a special area that attracts birds and butterflies.  Bird watchers will definitely want to bring their binoculars.  The Garden also has some special areas devoted to children, that even adults will enjoy exploring.  Hamilton’s Children’s Garden allows kids to climb Toni’s Tree House in a jungle canopy setting and hop through an elephant foot tree forest.  The Seeds of Wonder Children’s Garden is designed for preschool age tots and includes a dinosaur garden, playhouse, and miniature garden railroad.  Both gardens were designed to help families connect and interact with nature.  Be sure and check out their Website to see which seasonal flowers are in bloom, and where in the garden you can find them.  With so many different eco-systems represented, this is a garden you’ll want to visit many times throughout the year.

Speaking of Botanical Gardens, we would be remiss if we didn’t

mention the iconic and brilliant Botanical Building in Balboa

Park.  Built in 1915 for the Panama-California Exposition,

this domed edifice houses over 2000 permanent plants, as well as

a rotating exhibit.  The incredibly unique selection of cycads, 

ferns, orchids, and tropical plants will keep visitors mesmerized, 

and the kids will love the carnivorous plant section, which includes 

the Pitcher plant and Venus Fly Trap, to name a few.  Try and find

the flower that smells of chocolate or the plant that smells of lemon

mint.  As you exit the building and you will be treat to the

serene Lily Pond and Lagoon, which is inhabited by gorgeous koi

and is surrounded by more lovely flowers.  Currently, the Botanical

Building is featuring an Easter Lily Display through April 28^th.

This white, trumpet-shaped flower is not only wonderful to behold,

but also has an intoxicating fragrance.  The Botanical Building is 

free to the public and open six days a week from 10:00 AM

to 4:00 PM, and closed on Thursdays.

After checking into one of Mission Bay Vacation Rental’s centrally-located properties, pay a visit to these fascinating gardens and drink in their tranquility and beauty.  We might not need these botanical oases for medicinal purposes anymore, but they do work wonders at putting a smile on one’s face.  Now, that’s just what the doctor ordered.