Sigmund Freud was onto something when he said that “flowers are restful to look at” as they have “neither emotions nor conflicts.” In recent years, a post-COVID ritual has seen thousands of Californians hit the road to see wildflower superblooms in parks like Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Antelope Valley, and Death Valley.
The waves of golden poppies and rainbow swathes of wildflowers with beautiful names like evening primrose and apricot mallow are evocative as they are cleansing to the soul.
Now, a sweeping analysis of visitor reviews from 407 public gardens across the nation by KÜHL has done the heavy lifting, delivering another pastime to obsess over: visiting arboretums.
The outdoor lifestyle brand recently released a study ranking the best botanical gardens across the United States, and California placed two gardens in the top 10.
These gardens not only showcase strong specialized collections, but also offer water features, art and provide educational elements.
Super blooms may fade, but Californians can take a deep dive into some of the best horticulture in the nation at any time of the year.
Largest botanical garden in Orange County
The Arboretum and Botanical Garden at Cal State Fullerton is a 26-acre site devoted to conservation, with a focus on rare, threatened, and endangered plant species. The collection is divided into four biomes: cultivated, woodlands, Mediterranean, and desert.
The garden, which ranked 4th in the nation, features Southern California natives, a rare fruit grove, historic citrus and avocado collections, extensive cycads and palms, and a children’s garden. As part of the university, the facility follows the university calendar, with admission set at $5.
One of the leading arboreta in the state, the arboretum’s nursery plays an important role in propagating threatened plants, and the garden’s living collection is home to many rare and endangered specimens collected from the wild and historical cultivars.
On site is the historic heritage house, built in 1894 in the Eastlake-Victorian style prevalent in Orange County at the time. It is now a living museum of life at the end of the 19th century.
Read and linger at this horticultural oasis
The Sherman Library and Gardens in Corona Del Mar, a jaunt away from Newport Beach and San Diego, offers an intimate and refined plant-watching experience for the discerning garden visitor.
The 2.2-acre horticultural oasis rounded out the top 10 in KUHL’s rankings. The gardens feature over 100 species of palms from across the globe, 130 unique varieties of begonias, and a lush tropical conservatory featuring a koi pond, carnivorous plants, and an extensive orchid collection. There are also a succulent garden and tea garden with hanging baskets of fuchsia, begonias, and other seasonal favorites.
Visitors can take a whimsical stroll along brick walkways and take in bubbling water fountains and colorful flower beds.
The Sherman Library is a historical research library, focusing on the Pacific Northwest to southern California and parts of Mexico, and boasts a collection of more than 15,000 books, as well as archival collections of photographs, maps, and newspapers.
Tips for visiting a botanical garden
Unlike a trip to a wild super bloom, a visit to a botanical garden is an opportunity to pair the lush views with a bit of learning. To get the full experience, here are some helpful tips.
This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: California’s newest craze? A trip to the botanical garden
Reporting by Roseann Cattani, Salinas Californian / Salinas Californian
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
