Berkeley, California is a place we hear so much about. In fact, I once dreamed of attending graduate school there in art history; that never happened, but after living in Sacramento almost 10 years, it was hard for me to admit that I still hadn’t been there…so I recently decided to change that. We made the easy 90-minute drive and spent a wonderful day in Berkeley, most of it walking almost every path of the UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens. I was surprised not just by the beauty of this place, but also by how much my kids loved being there…we love to visit the UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens.
I knew I would love it when I saw this just past the entrance. I love quirky, and I have a soft spot for praying mantises. We have many of them in our yard.
I could have spent all day exploring every inch of the succulent areas:
But there were many other beautiful parts waiting for me.
My son loves plants, but I didn’t expect him to love the botanical garden as much as he did. I think he was the happiest I have ever seen him! He ran, jumped, climbed, yelled, and didn’t stop talking about everything that he was seeing.
No wonder he loved the gardens. We were surrounded by beauty the entire time.
The UC Berkeley campus is built on the steep terrain of the Easy Bay, and the botanical garden is at the top. The hills made for some pretty amazing views.
Despite the 70-degree temps in January, we saw very few people during our visit.
The Japanese section was a favorite.
The hills, greenhouses, quirky details, bridges, winding pathways, and unusually beautiful January weather were wonderful, but of course the best part was the plants.
I can’t wait to go back to this botanical garden. What are some of your favorite gardens? Have you visited the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden?
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This is super cool- I love finding places that are close to me that I’ve never heard of and are so cool. Can’t wait to visit the gardens for myself.
Oh, you definitely should!
Beautiful photos! I love plant and floral pictures and you captured them so well here. It’s been a few years since I visited UCB but i didn’t know they had a botanical garden. It looks like a wonderful place to visit. Some of my favorite gardens are Huntington in LA and the Rose Garden in Portland or any type of Japanese gardens.
I’ve definitely heard about the gardens in Portland, including the Japanese garden there. When I go to LA (maybe this year?), I will check out the Huntington garden. Thanks for the recommendation!
It’s a great place, I want to visit it again someday…
Heaps of Norwegian students and professors at UC Berkeley, so I’ve heard a bit about it. Didn’t know there was a botanical garden, though. Your photos are beautiful; it looks like a lovely place for a stroll – like walking in the deserts of the American West, perhaps….
I love that your little boy adores plants and gardens. One of my favourite gardens is Kew in London.
London has wonderful gardens! My father lived there about 15 years ago, and when I stayed with him, I used to walk past some of them almost every day.
Beautiful pictures! I like strolling through arboretums and botanical gardens like that. This one looks much bigger than many I’ve been to though. Very interesting!
I love arboretums and botanical gardens, too. This one is pretty huge.
Didn’t know about these gardens but love visiting any Botanical Gardens. Great that your son was so happy too – and love the shot of him.
In Vancouver I would wander the botanical gardens at the University of British Columbia – with it’s towering trees and plants from the world over. Also love the Van Dusen Gardens in Vancouver and was mightily impressed by the Butchart Gardens in Victoria – Canada’s best known public garden.
Next time I go to Vancouver, I think I should visit both the ones at the university and Victoria. We just love looking at plants and trees from around the world. My husband has a degree in horticulture, so he is a bit of a plant nerd, which is pretty cool, in my opinion 🙂
I love botanical gardens and this one looks especially peaceful.
Beautiful gardens! It’s nice not to have to fight crowds when visiting gardens – I guess most people don’t think of strolling gardens in the winter regardless the actual weather. I love the Butchart Gardens in Victoria but it’s been many years since we were there. We live practically next door to the Royal Botanical Gardens but I’ve only ever been on school field trips – definitely must visit soon.
I went to the gardens in Victoria when I was about 5. I’ve heard tons about them, so I MUST go back!
It does look like your son is having such a good time and what a cutie! I love the collage at the end.
I’ve never been to Berkeley’s- only to SF’s. Looks really nice !
– some of my favorite gardens are also abroad – the Heller Botanical Garden in Gardone Riviera (lago di Garda), and the Giardina di Delizia in Gargnano which is only open every May (same lake) you can find pics here http://bringingtravelhome.wordpress.com/2011/05/03/next-up-natures-art/
I would love to be able to visit those gardens in Italy. I really enjoyed the Boboli and Bardini Gardens in Florence but didn’t visit many others in Italy that I can remember.
I think I visited these gardens years ago when I lived in Oakland.
I love any type of garden. Your shots are wonderful, and I like that praying mantis.
Wow, can’t believe I lived in SF for four years and never made it here!
Hmmm… a soft spot for praying mantises? I guess they are kind of cool looking. I haven’t been to the botanical gardens. What a great idea.
My husband went to UC Berkeley and loves the area. I’ve only visited once – will have to check out the gardens next time.
Somehow I prefer “real” nature. If you can call it this way, like a forest for example. But gardens are perfect if you have kids.
UC Botanical Gardens have fantastic diversity, get better every year for me.