Flower Power

San Diego has a storied history with gardens and their green inhabitants.  Last week we highlighted the botanical gardens, and thought we’d continue on the same theme, especially in light of the 91^st Annual Coronado Flower Show happening this weekend.  But, first we need to delve into the history of San Diego’s diverse vegetation and the person responsible for all the beautiful flora in our city.  

Kate Sessions was born in 1857 and went on to earn a degree in natural science from UC Berkeley in 1881, something that was unheard of in her day.  How she came to be known as the “Mother of Balboa Park,” and the only non-fiction historical woman in San Diego to receive her own full sculpture, is an inspiring tale. 

She left business school in San Francisco to accept a job in San Diego in 1883 and soon after purchased a nursery in 1885 and began to grow flower fields in Coronado, Pacific Beach, and Mission Hills.  In 1892 she negotiated with the city to lease 30 acres of land in Balboa Park (then called City Park) to expand her flower fields.  In return, she would plant 100 trees a year in the mostly barren park and 30 trees a year around San Diego.  She traveled to Europe and Mexico to collect different trees to plant in Balboa Park, and became a prominent figure in transforming the desert eco system of San Diego, which was mostly dirt and sagebrush.  She also co-founded the San Diego Floral Association in 1907, the oldest garden club in Southern California.   It’s no wonder she has an elementary school and park named after her in Pacific Beach. 

She started Mission Hills Nursery in 1910, which is still a neighborhood favorite, and the oldest nursery in San Diego.  Even if you are not planning on buying anything, it is still worth visiting.  Chickens meander around the grounds, you might catch a glimpse of a dozing cat, and the staff are not only welcoming and friendly, but incredibly knowledgeable.  Whether you have a question about a single plant or your entire garden, the employees here are so passionate about what they do, they are more than happy to answer your questions.  It’s hard to come away empty handed after perusing their large selection of native Californian plants, mini succulents, and rare varieties of plumeria, jasmine, and magnolias.  the Nursery is open seven days a week from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, but if it’s raining, they suggest Calling Ahead to make sure they’re operating that day. 

Kate Sessions would be thrilled that the Coronado Flower Show is going to have it’s 91^st show this weekend.  Happening in picturesque Spreckels Park in Coronado Village, this event is the largest tented flower show in the nation.  The history of the Flower Show is also an interesting one.  Established in 1922, the Coronado Flower Show was created to help unite a neighborhood using the beauty of flowers that was being torn apart by differing political views.   A few years later, the third weekend of April was designated to be the official weekend of the show, and the Coronado Flower Show became a community favorite.  There will be live music and beer and wine garden for the grown-ups.  A special children’s zone will be set that will include a craft area, floral arrangement classes, and the annual ‘Zoo’s Who,’ where fruits and vegetables are whimsically assembled to resemble animals.  The fun starts this Saturday (April 16^th) from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM and on Sunday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.  The entrance fee is $5 and children under 12 are free. 

 Who would have thought that Balboa Park owes its grandiose trees

 to a revolutionary woman from the 1880s, or that an annual flower

show was created to smooth over political discrepancies from over

a 100 years ago?!  San Diego has fascinating stories everywhere

you turn.  To become fully immersed in our captivating history, 

book a few days in Mission Bay at one of our Vacation 

Rentals, and start exploring.  We might suggest starting with

the Kate Sessions statue on the southwest corner of the Plaza near

the Sixth Avenue 

entrance.    

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.